ULM Warhawks

ULM NCAA East Preliminary Participants / Top Season Performances

NCAA East Preliminary / Updated Event Schedule

TAMPA, Fla.  – Four members of the ULM track and field team have qualified to compete in the 2018 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field East Preliminary Championships, set for May 24-26 at the University of South Florida.
 
Among the Warhawks selected to participate in the NCAA East Preliminary are Levaughn Battick, Alton Clay, Jemal Parharm and Cole McKnight. The qualifiers, who advance from both the East and West (hosted by Sacramento State) Preliminary Championships, will compete in the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, scheduled for June 6-9 in Eugene, Oregon.
 
Battick, who earned a spot in the men's 110-meter hurdles, has taken part in four events over the course of the spring. He has a pair of first-place finishes in the 110m hurdles to his credit, which came at the Warhawk Classic (14.45) and LSU Alumni Gold (14.40) on April 14 and 21, respectively. His best time of the 2018 outdoor season came at the Sun Belt Championships on May 13, when he bolted down the track in 14.01 to finish third. His season-best 14.01 ranks 38th nationally. Battick also took part in the Southern Miss Open where he closed the 110m hurdles in a time of 14.76, placing fifth.
 
"Levaughn will need to run a personal best to advance to quarterfinals, but he has been running well," ULM head coach J.D. Malone said. "He had a huge PR in the Sun Belt final and has the experience of running in this meet last year. If he can make the quarterfinals, anything can happen."
 
Clay qualified in both the discus and hammer throw events for ULM at the East Preliminary. He is responsible for the most top five finishes of any Warhawk in the outdoor season (15), which also includes the shot put, earning four first-place finishes along the way.
 
Three of Clay's four first-place performances occurred in the hammer throw, which include the Bobby Lane Invitational (63.26 meters), Southern Miss Open (65.37 meters) and Warhawk Classic (63.29 meters). His most recent top-five finish took place at the Sun Belt Outdoor Championships, where he placed second despite a heave of 63.29 meters. His season-best throw (65.37m) ranks 20th nationally.
 
Clay also produced five top-five finishes in the discus, which includes a first-place effort at the Southern Miss Open (51.34 meters). His season-best mark in the discus (174-3 / 53.11m) came at the Sun Belt Outdoor Championships two weeks ago and ranks No. 36 nationally. Clay has managed to make the discus travel at least 50 meters in four of the six events in which he has participated in this spring.
 
"Alton will need to step up his hammer throwing to advance, but he has proven that he is capable of performing when it counts," Malone said. "Weather may very well have an impact, but we think he will need to throw in the 68-meter area to advance. His discus will need a strong improvement to be in the top 12. (Assistant coach) Stephen (Saenz) feels good about his chances and has worked very hard to get him ready. He has had a minor foot problem that he has been dealing with, but that seems to be much better."
 
Parharm, an All-American who is responsible for league indoor and outdoor titles over the course of his Warhawk career, will compete in the men's long jump event this weekend. In the outdoor season, he has claimed first-place at both the Warhawk Classic (7.49m) and the Southern Miss Open (7.57m), which established his best leap of the spring. His season-best 7.57m long jump ranks 29th nationally. Parharm, who was among the top five finishers in four events, was second (7.42m) in Louisiana Classics and fourth (7.49m) at the Sun Belt Outdoor Championships.
 
"Jemal has the ability to jump 7.80 on any given day, which will advance," Malone said. "He has been consistently in the 7.40-7.50 range all season, which bodes well for a big jump on Thursday. Again, weather may have an impact and how he handles the rain or possible delays. I know Coach (Glenn) Smith has him ready."
 
McKnight reaches the East Preliminary in the javelin after a standout freshman season, which resulted in three first-place finishes and one second-place performance. He stood atop the podium in the Warhawk Classic (59.73m), Southern Miss Open (60.77m) and the Sun Belt Outdoor Championships (68.25m), which resulted in his best heave of the slate. His season-best mark (68.25m) ranks No. 13 nationally. McKnight took second at the LSU Alumni Gold with a toss of 67.20m.
 
"Cole is ranked 13th and has the capability of being in the top 12 and advancing to Eugene if he just keeps throwing what he has been the last month," Malone said. "His season is on an upward projection and usually throwing in the 68-meter area will get you in." 
 
ULM track and field fans can watch a live stream of the NCAA Division I East Preliminary Championships as FloTrack Pro subscribers. The subscription will include access to all FloTrack live broadcasts, video on-demand from all events, documentaries, technique videos and more. Coverage of the preliminary competitions will be available at www.FloTrack.com.