Men's Track: Two reach nationals
Monday, March 9 2009 - NCAA Indoor ChampionshipsKevin Murphy / Sports Editor
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Holm and Boey did not hit automatic marks on the track this weekend, but they have done enough to put themselves at the NCAA Indoor National Championships.
"Basically, they're both qualified," Eastern assistant coach Geoff Masanet said.
The competition, or the number of athletes who will compete at the national championships, will depend on the number of provisionally and automatic marks set by individuals. The NCAA Indoor Championships are on Friday and Saturday at Texas A&M in College Station, Texas.
The automatic mark set forth by the NCAA means the athletes have a better chance of being selected to compete at the NCAA Championships Friday and Saturday.
The accepted entries for the NCAA Championships will be released at 8 p.m. today.
Masanet said Boey and Holm are basically in, barring some weird event.
"I ran down the hall and was super excited," Boey said. "It was of the best feelings in the world."
The last Panther to participate at the indoor national meet was Gabe Spezia in 2000.
Boey qualified for the 200-meter dash and Holm qualified for the 800-meter run.
"I really didn't know I was going to be an NCAA qualifier my first season," Boey said. "I can be All-American as a red-shirt freshman."
Boey won the 60-meter dash and finished third at the Arkansas Last Chance Meet on Friday night in Fayetteville, Ark.
Boey is ranked 20th in the 60-meter dash (6.66 seconds). The automatic time is 6.63 seconds. In the 200-meter dash, he is ranked 13th in 20.93 seconds.
The automatic time is 20.83 seconds.
Boey said he is not sure if he will compete in the 60-meter dash, but said he originally used that event as a warm-up to the 200-meter dash.
Boey said by far, the 200-meter dash is his best race.
Holm will also be competing at his first national championship.
"I feel happy for Dave," Masanet said. "He's been doing all the work."
Holm is ranked 13th in the 800-meter run (1 minute, 48.86 seconds). The automatic time is 1:48.
Holm finished fourth in the 800-meter run (1 minute, 50.70 seconds), and senior Clint Coffey finished fifth in the event (1:52.97).
Junior Chandra Golden finished fourth in the 60-meter hurdles at the Randall Tyson Center in Arkansas.
Senior sprinter Shawana Smith won the 200-meter dash at NCAA Last Chance meet hosted by Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., on Saturday.
Smith ran the dash in 24.51 seconds, which tied the school record set by Kyra Lobbins in 2005.
Freshman DeMarcus Brooks won the 60-meter dash but did not hit a qualifying time. Sophomore Marcus Williams, senior Brenton Pegues and junior Ian Winston also competed at the Notre Dame Last Chance meet.
Kevin Murphy can be reached at 581-7944 or at kjmurphy@eiu.edu.