JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – ULM sophomore high jumper
Ali Eren Unlu and sophomore triple jumper
Eunice Ilunga Mbuyi punched their tickets to the NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas, after finishing in the Top 12 of their respective events at the NCAA East Regional Preliminaries at Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium.
The duo are the first ULM outdoor track & field national qualifiers since Jemal Parham Jr. in 2016. It is the first time ULM has sent multiple athletes to the NCAA Championships since Kyle Kent and Luther Ambrose in 2010.
Unlu punched his ticket on Friday, finishing 10th in the men's high jump by clearing 6-10.25 (2.09 meters). He makes his first trip to outdoor nationals with the experience of finishing as an All-American at the NCAA Indoor National Championships in March. He improved his regional mark by 1.5 inches (0.04 meters) over last season to make the cut in 2023. The First-Team All-Sun Belt Conference and Field Performer of the Year selection ranks sixth nationally in the high jump after setting a new personal record at the SBC Outdoor Championships, clearing 7-3.75 (2.23 meters) to win his second conference title after winning the indoor championship. He also claimed a high jump championship this season at the Mount SAC Relays on April 14 and finished third at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays.
Mbuyi closed out regional action on Saturday by finishing eighth in the women's triple jump at 44-0 (13.41 meters) to earn her first trip to nationals. It is just the third time in her career she has posted a mark of 44-0 or better, doing so twice in the same weekend at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays and the Bobcat Invitational. She narrowly missed being a double qualifier after finishing 13th with a personal-best jump of 20-3.5 (6.18 meters) in the long jump on Thursday. She was a First-Team All-SBC selection after winning both events at the SBC Outdoor Championships. 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 10 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 Texas Relays. Her triple jump mark ranks 11th nationally. She improved upon her regional performance last season, where she finished 22nd in the triple jump and 28th in the long jump.
Also competing at the NCAA East Preliminaries for ULM was
Olaia Becerril Alvarez in the long jump. The junior finished 29th at 19-5.5 (5.93 meters).
Kimone Campbell ran in the 800 first round on Thursday and placed 44th in 2:09.89. For the men,
Callan Saldutto concluded his season on Wednesday in the javelin, placing 46th with a throw of 189-7 (57.78 meters).
NCAA East Regional Preliminaries Women's Results – ULM Only
NCAA East Regional Preliminaries Men's Results – ULM Only
