May 24, 2012
Meet Central | East Preliminary Meet Program 
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Fresh off a solid performance at the SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships, the Vanderbilt track and field team will send six athletes to the NCAA East Preliminary in Jacksonville, Fla.
The event begin Thursday, May 24, at the University of North Florida and runs through Saturday, May 26.
The first action for a Commodore will come on Thursday evening, when Kristen Findley runs in the first of four preliminary heats of the 1,500 meters. Findley’s seed time of 4:16.57 came at the SEC Championships in Baton Rouge, where she set a school record, finished fourth and met the Olympic B-standard.
The top-five finishers in each heat, plus the next four top times, move on to the quarterfinals. The quarterfinals will be run on Saturday. The top five from each quarter, plus the top two times, will move on to the NCAA Championships.
The other running event will see Kristen Smith compete in the 5,000 meters. Smith’s seed time of 16:21.22 puts her in the second of two preliminary heats.
The road to the NCAA Championships is a little clearer for Smith. The top-five finishers in each heat, plus the next two top times, will move on to Des Moines.
On the field side, Vanderbilt will have two competitors in both the high jump and pole vault.
Ellie Tidman and Brionne Williams will compete in the high jump. Williams mark of 1.78m (five feet, 10 inches) came at the Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket Invitational and is tied for 18th entering the preliminary. Tidman’s top mark of 1.77m (five feet, 9.75 inches) came at the Colonial Relays.
The high jump takes place on Friday night. The top-12 finishers will advance to the NCAA Championships.
Meagan Martin and Morgan Toone will compete in Friday’s pole vault. Martin’s mark of 3.97m (13 feet, 0.25 inches) is 23rd entering the regional and came at the SEC Championships. Toone’s top jump of 3.90m (12 feet, 9.5 inches) came at the Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket Invitational and is tied for 30th in the region.
The top-12 in the pole vault will also advance to Des Moines.
For live results and a webcast of selected times, visit Meet Central on UNFOspreys.com.
