April 14, 2003

In what has become a banner year for both Men's and Women's Track, Coach Brenda Calhoun-Cash's women's team has quietly accomplished something that hasn't happened at Memphis in a long time.

Three Lady Tigers have earned marks that qualify them for NCAA Regionals this May in Columbus, Ohio. The format has changed for NCAA Qualifying in outdoor track. No longer are automatic bids awarded to athletes. Now everyone must advance through regional meets. Memphis will send at least five athletes to Columbus for the NCAA Mid-Eastern Regional.

No official records are available prior to 1985. And although the standards are slightly lower for NCAA Regional Qualifying than it was for NCAA automatic qualifying, still it marks the first time in school history any female athlete has qualified for NCAA post-season competition.

Lisa-Marie Hyman became the first Lady Tiger to qualify when she leaped 12.58 meters at the Big Cat Classic in the Triple Jump. The C-USA Indoor Triple Jump Champion is poised to defend her outdoor title in the event as well. The 4x100m Relay team comprised of Keenan Gibson, LeKeshua Solomon, Chanel Dunn and Sue-Ann Bowen ran a time of 46.11 at the Baldy Castillo Meet hosted by Arizona State. That time was good enough for a ticket to NCAA Regionals.

Finally, Gibson, who has flirted with NCAA qualifying times throughout her career at Memphis achieved the mark last Saturday at the Lee Calhoun Memorial. Gibson ran a 11.73 in the 100m dash which was good enough for an invitation to regionals.