June 11, 2014
EUGENE, Ore. - WKU senior thrower Jessica Ramsey finished 14th in the hammer throw and the Hilltoppers' 4x100-meter relay advanced to Saturday's finals to highlight WKU Track and Field's opening day at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field on Wednesday.
Ramsey held seed in the hammer throw to garner Second Team All-American status with a heave of 198'8 (60.56m). Ramsey's All-American honor is the first of her career as she recorded her second longest toss of the season. She will have two more opportunities for All-American honors in Thursday's discus and Saturday's shot put competitions.
The quartet of Ja'Karyus Redwine, Ventavius Sears, Emmanuel Dasor and Elvyonn Bailey blazed its way to a fifth-place finish in the semifinal round of the 4x100-meter relay with a school record time of 39.18 seconds. The clocking re-set the relay's record of 39.52 seconds that it set at the NCAA East Preliminaries on May 29 in Jacksonville, Fla.
The fifth-place semifinal finish advances the 4x100-meter relay to Saturday's finals, which will consist of eight relays racing at 4:03 p.m. (CT) on Saturday. The Hilltoppers join Texas A&M, Florida, LSU, USC, Iowa, Arizona State and Alabama in the finals. WKU's qualification for finals is the first ever by a WKU relay and ensures First Team All-American status.
The Lady Toppers' 4x100-meter relay did not qualify for Saturday's finals but did collect honorable mention All-American status with a 19th-place finish. Sandra Akachukwu, Gelela Cooley, Chioma Agwunobi and Carrol Hardy teamed for a time of 45.11 seconds, which helped WKU finish five positions higher than its seed entering the race.
Ramsey will compete in the discus throw on Thursday at 4 p.m. (CT) while the Hilltoppers' 4x400-meter relay, which is seeded third, will race in the semifinal round at 8:20 (CT). For more information on WKU Track and Field, follow the program on Twitter at @WKUTrackField or visit WKUSports.com.
