University of Delaware Athletics
Photo by: NIC TERRY PRODUCTIONS
A Program-Best Five Blue Hens Earn Trip to NCAA Track & Field Outdoor Championships First Rounds
5/18/2023 1:00:00 PM | Track & Field
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The season isn't quite over yet as the University of Delaware track & field team continues their season with a program-best five student-athletes earning berths to next week's NCAA Track & Field Outdoor Championships First Rounds in Jacksonville, Fla. Megan Albamonti (javelin throw), Myrissa McFolling-Young (discus throw), Chioma Njoku (hammer throw), Marie-Frederique Poulin (400m hurdles) and Halima Scott (400m) became official entries into the postseason event on Thursday afternoon.
It's a full circle moment for McFolling-Young as she will make a return to the NCAA First Rounds since 2019 in Jacksonville for the second time in her career. McFolling-Young qualified for the discus throw with a mark of 53.74m, which was good enough for 24th place in the East Region. The last time McFolling-Young was at Jacksonville, she threw the discus for 44.30m. The product of Smyrna, Del. has two wins this spring, including claiming her first-ever CAA gold medal.
Looking to steal the show in their first-ever appearance in the NCAA First Rounds of their careers will be Njoku, Poulin and Scott. Njoku will lead the way for the Blue Hens in the hammer throw thanks to her school-record throw of 59.45m, a mark that sits 43rd (42nd after declaration) in the East Region. The Newark, Del. native posted two wins during the spring campaign.
Poulin had a day at the CAA Championship where she clocked a school-record time of 58.83 to capture the bronze medal. Poulin, the Trois-Rivières, QC Canada native, tallied two wins this season and her qualifying time sits 48th (46th after declaration) in the East Region.
Scott also had a special outing at the CAA championship where the Camden, N.J. native ran a new program record time of 53.01 to win the silver medal. Scott has won two of her races this season as her qualifying time ranks 36th (28th after declaration) in the East Region.
The University of North Florida will serve as hosts of the NCAA East First Rounds which officially starts next Wednesday, May 24. Njoku will open the competition for the Blue Hens in the hammer throw on Thursday, May 25 at 10 a.m., followed by Albamonti in the javelin throw at 1:30 p.m., Scott in the 400m at 7:25 p.m. and Poulin in the 400m hurdles at 8:20 p.m to close out day two of the competition. McFolling-Young will compete on May 27 at 1 p.m. in the discus throw while both Scott and Poulin will be looking to make it to Saturday's quarterfinals after Thursday's performances.
California State University, Sacramento and Sacramento Sports Commission will serve as hosts of the West First Rounds.
The qualifiers out of these two regions will compete in the NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championships, which are held from June 7-10 in Austin, Texas, hosted by the University of Texas at Austin, a location the Blue Hens have familiarized themselves with competing at Texas Relays earlier this season.
BLUE HENS on SOCIAL MEDIA
For the latest on University of Delaware Cross Country/Track and Field, follow the Blue Hens via social media on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Albamonti becomes the first Blue Hen in program history to reach the NCAA First Rounds in three consecutive seasons. She enters next week ranked second in the region, 14th in the nation, with a season-best mark of 55.33m in the javelin. The Westerly, R.I. native has four wins this spring including capturing the CAA gold medal for the third-straight year, becoming the first three-peat champion in recent history (2021-23).This year's outdoor schedule was tailored to better prepare our athletes to compete at a regional/national level and it's certainly paying off," said head coach Kenyetta Iyevbele. "Qualifying five individuals to compete at First Rounds of the big dance is an accomplishment that our program has never seen before. It's an honor to work with such an incredible group of athletes. I'm proud of everything they've already achieved this season and so thrilled to watch them showcase their talents against the best in our region. It's showtime! Go Hens!
It's a full circle moment for McFolling-Young as she will make a return to the NCAA First Rounds since 2019 in Jacksonville for the second time in her career. McFolling-Young qualified for the discus throw with a mark of 53.74m, which was good enough for 24th place in the East Region. The last time McFolling-Young was at Jacksonville, she threw the discus for 44.30m. The product of Smyrna, Del. has two wins this spring, including claiming her first-ever CAA gold medal.
Looking to steal the show in their first-ever appearance in the NCAA First Rounds of their careers will be Njoku, Poulin and Scott. Njoku will lead the way for the Blue Hens in the hammer throw thanks to her school-record throw of 59.45m, a mark that sits 43rd (42nd after declaration) in the East Region. The Newark, Del. native posted two wins during the spring campaign.
Poulin had a day at the CAA Championship where she clocked a school-record time of 58.83 to capture the bronze medal. Poulin, the Trois-Rivières, QC Canada native, tallied two wins this season and her qualifying time sits 48th (46th after declaration) in the East Region.
Scott also had a special outing at the CAA championship where the Camden, N.J. native ran a new program record time of 53.01 to win the silver medal. Scott has won two of her races this season as her qualifying time ranks 36th (28th after declaration) in the East Region.
The University of North Florida will serve as hosts of the NCAA East First Rounds which officially starts next Wednesday, May 24. Njoku will open the competition for the Blue Hens in the hammer throw on Thursday, May 25 at 10 a.m., followed by Albamonti in the javelin throw at 1:30 p.m., Scott in the 400m at 7:25 p.m. and Poulin in the 400m hurdles at 8:20 p.m to close out day two of the competition. McFolling-Young will compete on May 27 at 1 p.m. in the discus throw while both Scott and Poulin will be looking to make it to Saturday's quarterfinals after Thursday's performances.
California State University, Sacramento and Sacramento Sports Commission will serve as hosts of the West First Rounds.
The qualifiers out of these two regions will compete in the NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championships, which are held from June 7-10 in Austin, Texas, hosted by the University of Texas at Austin, a location the Blue Hens have familiarized themselves with competing at Texas Relays earlier this season.
BLUE HENS on SOCIAL MEDIA
For the latest on University of Delaware Cross Country/Track and Field, follow the Blue Hens via social media on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Players Mentioned
Throws
/ Track & Field
Throws
/ Track & Field
Throws
/ Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & FieldHighlight: T&F Home Meet - 4/28/23
Monday, May 01
Built To Win: NGWSD x Community
Tuesday, February 14
Feature: T&F - Black History Month -w/ Kenyetta Iyevbele
Monday, February 06
Delaware Blue Hens All-Sport Video 2021-22
Friday, December 09
