UPDATED WITH COMPETITION TIMES WITH EACH ATHLETE (5/23/23)
LIVE RESULTS
MONROE, La. – Five ULM track & field student-athletes were selected to compete at the NCAA East Regional Preliminaries, beginning Wednesday, May 24, and continuing until Saturday, May 27, in Jacksonville, Florida.
Ali Eren Unlu (high jump) and
Callan Saldutto (javelin) were selected to compete for the men, while
Eunice Ilunga Mbuyi (long jump and triple jump),
Olaia Becerril Alvarez (long jump) and
Kimone Campbell (800 meters) were selected for the women.
It is the second-straight regional appearance for Unlu and Mbuyi, while Saldutto also is selected for the second time in his career after qualifying in 2021.
Unlu was named Sun Belt Conference Field Performer of the Year and First-Team All-Conference in both the indoor and outdoor seasons. He ranks sixth nationally in the high jump after setting a new personal record at the Sun Belt Conference Outdoor Championships, clearing 7-3.75 (2.23 meters) to win his second conference title after winning the indoor championship. It was just his fourth outdoor meet of the season after finishing as a First-Team All-American in the high jump during the indoor season. He also claimed a high jump championship at the Mount SAC Relays on April 14 and finished third at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays. He was 25th at last year's NCAA East Preliminaries, clearing 6-8.75 (2.05 meters). Unlu competes in the high jump at 1 p.m. CDT Friday.
Saldutto set a personal best by 12-5 to win the javelin at the SBC Outdoor Championships, earning him First-Team All-SBC recognition. He threw 241-8 (73.67 meters) at the SBC meet to win the event by 20-5 (6.23 meters). His throw at the SBC Championships ranks 13th nationally. He has competed in three meets during the outdoor season, winning the javelin at the Warhawk Classic (210-3, 64.09 meters). He placed 13th at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays with a heave of 227-9 (69.41 meters). He competed at the 2021 NCAA East Preliminaries, finishing 44th with a throw of 195-2 (59.49 meters). He missed most of the 2022 season with an injury. Saldutto is the first ULM athlete to compete at the NCAA East Preliminaries, with the javelin set to start at 12:30 p.m. CDT Wednesday.
Mbuyi led the women by winning both the long jump and triple jump at the SBC Outdoor Championships to earn First-Team All-SBC honors. She won the long jump with a distance of 19-11 (6.07 meters) and the triple jump at 42-11.5 (13.09 meters) to claim both titles for the second-straight outdoor season. She has competed in nine meets in the outdoor season, winning five triple jump titles and two long jump crowns. She set a new personal-best distance of 44-7.5 in the triple jump, placing fourth at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays. Her triple jump mark ranks 11th nationally while her season-best long jump of 20-1.75 is tied for 94th nationally. Last year, she placed 22nd at the NCAA East Preliminaries in the triple jump at 41-7.25 (12.68 meters) and was 28th in the long jump at 19-1.5 (5.83 meters). Mbuyi competes in the long jump at 5 p.m. CDT Thursday and closes out ULM competitors in the meet with the triple jump at 5 p.m. CDT Saturday.
Campbell won the 800 meters in 2:07.21 at the SBC Outdoor Championships to be named First-Team All-SBC. She has competed in seven meets in the outdoor season and has won the 800 three times, including titles at the Louisiana Classics and LSU Battle on the Bayou. She set a personal-best time of 2:06.19 to finish second at the Mississippi State Maroon and White Invite in a time that ranks tied for 93rd nationally. It is her first NCAA regional selection. Campbell competes in the first round of the 800 at 6:50 p.m. CDT Thursday.
Alvarez was named Third-Team All-Conference after finishing third in the long jump at the SBC Outdoor Championships with a distance of 19-3.5 (5.88 meters). She has competed in eight meets during the outdoor season, winning three long jump titles. She won her division of the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays, won the Bobcat Invitational and took the crown at the Warhawk Classic. Her season-best mark of 20-9 (6.32 meters) at the Bobcat Invitational ranks 35th nationally. It is her first NCAA regional selection. Alvarez competes in the long jump at 5 p.m. CDT Thursday.
