Seven members of the Ohio State men’s track and field team qualified for the NCAA championships over the weekend at preliminaries in Bloomington, Ind.
All-American junior Michael Hartfield added to an already successful year and qualified in the long jump by placing fifth with a jump of 7.74 meters.
“Making nationals is a great feeling because it gives you recognition as being one of the best in your event,” Hartfield said. “I’m just trying to stay humble and hopeful.”
With a season-high jump of 7.95 meters at the Drake Relays earlier in the season, Hartfield has the potential to advance further in the NCAA championships.
Junior Thomas Murdaugh qualified for NCAA championships in both the 400-meter dash and the 4-by-400-meter relay. In the 400-meter dash, Murdaugh finished 11th overall with a time of 46.34 seconds.
Murdaugh, along with senior Aaron Roberts, sophomore Korbin Smith and sophomore Marvel Brooks, finished eighth in the 4-by-400-meter relay with a time of 3:06.5. For Roberts, the relay team’s Big Ten championship and NCAA qualification have capped off an incredible senior season.
“It’s an undescribable joy to finally make it to nationals my senior year,” Roberts said. “I’ve been training for 10 years for this opportunity, and I’m blessed and thankful that I have a chance to compete at NCAAs.”
In the distance field, junior Jake Edwards qualified for the NCAA championships with a 12th-place finish in the 1,500 meter run with a time of 3:48.23.
Junior Cory Leslie posted a career-best 8:40.49 in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, nearly five seconds faster than his previous career high, which he posted at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships.
“It feels great, and I’m excited,” Leslie said. “I’m looking forward to getting there and competing against the best in the country.”
The NCAA championships will take place June 8–11 in Des Moines, Iowa.
