Lian Lucas and Andrea Mosher lived to run another day when both qualified for the finals of the NCAA Mideast Regional Friday evening.
Lucas took fifth in the prelims of the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.52, qualifying her for Saturdays 6 p.m. final in Baton Rouge. If Lucas places in the top five Saturday, she automatically qualifies for nationals in Austin, Texas June 9-12. Mosher will also run Saturday after placing ninth in the prelims of the 400-meter hurdles Friday. Her time of 59.38 was a season best for the sophomore from Fenton, Mich.
Andrea got off to a rough start on her first two hurdles, assistant coach Chris Bailey said. But once she got through the first 200 meters, she ran very well the rest of the way.
Lian also ran a very good race, Bailey added. She got off the blocks well and that was the key for her the rest of the way. I was really happy with her performance.
Mosher was a national qualifier last year in the 400 hurdles and Bailey sees no reason why she cant make the return trip again this year.
Once you get to nationals, you dont want to just be happy to be there, Bailey said. Andrea is a very determined and focused runner who has high goals for herself.
In the womens 4x100 relay, Lucas teamed up with Brittney Hourd, Lindsey Arnold and Cherise Devers to finish 11th in the prelims with a time of 45.99, but it did not qualify them for Saturdays finals. Jen Klostermann also did not qualify for Saturdays finals in the 800-meter run, but still ran a season best with a time of 2:09.72.
On the mens side, no one qualified for Saturdays finals. Gergely Bata and Pierre Woods finished tied for 11th in the high jump with leaps of 6 feet, 9 inches, while Woods finished 20th in the 110 hurdles (14.25). In the 1,500-meter run, Jeremy Doherty placed 22nd with a time of 4:23.73.
In the throwing events, Mark Jackson finished 26th in the hammer (171-3).
Latisha Johnson will compete in the womens shot put Saturday, along with the 4x400 relay team of Lucas, Arnold, Devers and Mosher.
