North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack To Open Outdoor Season at Carolina Relays
3/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Track
RALEIGH, N.C. - The NC State track and field team is quickly transitioning to outdoor season as it prepares for the Carolina Relays in Chapel Hill, N.C., on March 20-21. The Wolfpack will send its sprinters, jumpers and throwers, as well as several freshmen competing unattached to participate in the early meet.
The competition is the first outdoor meet of the year for the Pack, as it works towards qualifying for national meets. The early goal is to earn ACC qualifying marks, then work up towards nationals.
Outdoor Qualifying
The outdoor season brings a new type of national qualifying. The top 48 in each individual event and the top 24 relay teams will attend regional competitions. To secure a spot at nationals, athletes must place within the top-12 of each event to advance to nationals.
NC State is qualifying to attend the East Preliminary in Jacksonville, Fla., on May 28-30 to compete for a spot at the NCAA Championships.
Back In Action:
Many of NC State's point scorers from the conference championships will be back in action during the weekend. Nicole Chavis, Jule Rich, Jonathan Addison, Quashawn Cunningham and Paisley Simmons will compete both days, while SeQuoia Watkins and Megan Moye begin their season on Saturday.
Donelan's Debut:
The Pack added thrower Patrick Donelan to the roster. The Wake Forest transfer has one outdoor season of eligibility remaining. He primarily competes in javelin, and will open competition for the Pack on Friday.
adidas Raleigh Track Club:
Several NC State freshmen will have the chance to gain some valuable competition experience over the weekend while competing for the adidas Raleigh Track Club. Zack Langston and Jack Hagood will race in the mile run, Vanessa Bateson will run in the 800m, and Aaron Thomas, Alec Thomasand Rachel Bartolomeo will compete in the 2,000m steeplechase.
Indoor Wrap Up:
Last week's NCAAs marked the end of a successful indoor season in which the Pack added multiple All-Americans and ACC Champions.
Chavis in the weight throw and the distance medley relay (DMR) team consisting of Moye, Tiana Patillo, Kenyetta Iyevbele and Samantha George placed among the top eight at nationals to earn first-team All-America honors.
Chavis repeated as an All-American, while breaking the school record in the weight throw on two different occasions throughout the season, while the DMR team earned the program's first All-America honors in the event and broke the school record three times during the season.
Addison and Alexis Perry also competed at nationals to earn second-team All-America honors in the long jump.
At the conference championships, Addison won ACC Co-Field MVP behind a gold medal performance in the high jump and silver in the long jump. He has also picked up Southeast Region Field Performer of the Year.
Wrapping up the highlights at the ACCs was Perry, who won gold in the women's long jump, and Chavis and Erika Kemp both earned All-ACC honors.
