Eleven Redbirds Qualify To Compete At NCAA Track and Field West Preliminary

INDIANAPOLIS – A total of 11 Illinois State men's and women's track and field standouts have officially punched their ticket to participate in the 2017 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field West Preliminary Round in Austin, Texas, May 25-27.

The University of Texas at Austin will serve as host to the 2017 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field West Preliminary. The three-day competition takes place at Mike A. Myers Stadium and will feature some of the nation's premier student-athletes. 

On the women's side, seven Redbirds will head to Texas with hopes of advancing to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon.  Senior Morgan Keller is qualified in both the shot put and discus, and will be joined in the shot put competition by Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor champion Brandy Thomas. Keller will also have a familiar face competing in the discus competition as well, as teammate and MVC outdoor champion Sydney Laufenberg also stepping into the circle.

Amanda McClain also returns to the NCAA West Preliminary for the second year in a row to compete in the long jump for Illinois State.  MVC Freshman of the Year D'Jenne Egharevba will make her first regional appearance in the 100-meter dash and Rayanne Wright will join the field in the 800-meter run.  Rounding out the group on the women's side is Demetria Anderson, who will take the track in the 100-meter hurdles.  

A quartet of men will also head to Texas to compete for the Redbirds in hopes of moving past the preliminary round. MVC Freshman of the Year Derrius Rodgers, following an appearance at the NCAA Indoor Championships, heads to the regional to compete in both the 100- and 200-meter dashes. He will be joined on the track by Jack Anstey in the 800 meters and Jaylen McConico in the 110-meter hurdles. Anthony McRoberts rounds out the group and is also a double qualifier in the high jump and triple jump.

Athletes who rank among the top 48 in their respective events earned berths into the NCAA Preliminary Rounds. The best 24 relay times also advanced to NCAA prelims. Athletes with the top 12 times/marks and the best 12 relay teams at both the East and West Preliminary Rounds sites will qualify for the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon, June 7-10. 

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