Bowling Green State University Athletics
Seven Falcons Headed To NCAA Track & Field Regionals
May 20, 2021 | Women's Track and Field
Indianapolis, Ind. – The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) announced today the qualifiers for the regional round of track and field competition. Bowling Green will send seven competitors to the NCAA East Region Preliminary Round in seven events with an opportunity to qualify for the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field National Championships. The regional will take place in Jacksonville, Fla., hosted by North Florida, May 26-29. The women will compete on Thursday, May 27 and Saturday, May 29.
In each individual event, 48 competitors qualify for the East regional. Twenty-four teams qualify for the relay events. The top 12 finishers in each event will join the top 12 finishers from the West regional for a field of 24 at the national championships. The NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field National Championships will take place June 9-12 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.
Zaresha Neal has qualified for the NCAA Regional meet in two events – the shot put and the discus. Savannah Nevels and Iyanna Ross will also compete in a pair of events, the 1600 relay as well as an individual sprint event. Nevels will run the 100 and Ross the 400.
Bowling Green will send a relay team to the regional meet for the first time in program history. The 1600 relay team won the MAC Championship both indoor and outdoor, shattering the outdoor school record in the process.
Kaila Butler is the top seeded Falcon at regionals, earning a No. 10 ranking in the hammer throw. Butler qualified for the NCAA National Championships two years ago and was named a second-team All-American.
Under tenth-year coach Lou Snelling, the Falcons have sent 32 representatives to the regionals in the past nine years. Student-athletes have equaled or better their seeds in 26 of those 32 appearances (81 percent). Over the course of his tenure, every student-athlete seeded in the top 19 at regionals has finished inside the top 12 and advanced to the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field National Championships.
BGSU's schedule of events is listed below and capsule information about each event follows.
THURSDAY, MAY 27
1:30 pm – Hammer Throw (10. Kaila Butler)
6:00 pm – Shot Put (40. Zaresha Neal)
7:00 pm – 100 First Round (44. Savannah Nevels)
7:25 pm – 400 First Round (42. Iyanna Ross)
SATURDAY, MAY 29
1:30 pm – Discus (27. Zaresha Neal)
3:15 pm – Triple Jump (37. Brianna Richard)
7:05 pm – 100 Quarterfinals (44. Savannah Nevels)
7:20 pm – 400 Quarterfinals (42. Iyanna Ross)
9:15 pm – 1600 Relay (19. Chasatea Brown, Savannah Nevels, Ryen Draper, Iyanna Ross)
IYANNA ROSS
HOW TO QUALIFY FOR NATIONALS
400
The field of 48 will be broken up into six heats of eight competitors each. The top three in each heat, plus the next six fastest times will narrow the field to 24 for the quarterfinals – also to be contested at regionals. The remaining field of 24 will be broken into three heats of eight competitors each and the top three finishers in each heat, plus the next three fastest times, will move on to the NCAA National Championships.
ROSS' NCAA REGIONAL HISTORY
First Appearance
NUMBERS TO KNOW
Date/Time of First Round – Thursday, May 27, 7:25 pm
Date/Time of Quarterfinals – Saturday, May 29, 7:20 pm
Ross' Seed - 42
Ross' Career and Season-Best Time – 53.91
2019 Quarterfinal Qualifying Time – 53.60
2019 National Qualifying Time – 52.51
HOW TO QUALIFY FOR NATIONALS
TRIPLE JUMP
The field of 48 will be broken up into four flights of 12 competitors each, based upon seed. Student-athletes seeded 37-48 will compete in the first flight and the second flight will be those seeded 25-36. The third flight will be those seeded 13-24 and the final flight will be the top 12 seeds. Each competitor will get three attempts and the student-athletes with the top 12 distances will move on to the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field National Championships.
RICHARD'S NCAA REGIONAL HISTORY
First Appearance
NUMBERS TO KNOW
Date/Time of First Round – Saturday, May 29, 3:15 pm
Richard's Seed - 37
Richard's Career and Season-Best Distance – 41-7 (12.67m)
2019 National Qualifying Distance – 42-9.5 (13.04m)
HOW TO QUALIFY FOR NATIONALS
SHOT PUT
In the East region preliminary round, the shot put will be broken up into four flights of 12 competitors (top 12 in flight four, seeds 13-24 in flight three, seeds 25-36 in flight two, seeds 37-48 in flight one). Flights one and two will compete simultaneously on separate, but similar, competition venues, followed by flights three and four doing the same. Each of the 48 student-athletes will get three throws and the top 12 will advance to the NCAA National Championships.
DISCUS
In the East region preliminary round, the discus will be broken up into three flights of 16 competitors (top 16 in flight three, seeds 17-32 in flight two, seeds 33-48 in flight one). Each of the 48 student-athletes will get three throws and the top 12 will advance to the NCAA National Championships.
NEAL'S NCAA REGIONAL HISTORY
Shot put – 2019, 38th place (49-0.75 / 14.95m)
Discus – 2019, 16th place (170-2 / 51.88m)
NUMBERS TO KNOW (SHOT PUT)
Date/Time of First Round – Thursday, May 27, 6:00 pm
Neal's Seed - 40
Neal's Career and Season-Best Distance – 51-9.75 (15.79m)
2019 National Qualifying Distance – 53-5.75 (16.30m)
NUMBERS TO KNOW (DISCUS)
Date/Time of First Round – Saturday, May 29, 1:30 pm
Neal's Seed - 27
Neal's Career and Season-Best Distance – 173-8 (52.94m)
2019 National Qualifying Distance – 172-2 (52.49m)
HOW TO QUALIFY FOR NATIONALS
HAMMER THROW
In the East region preliminary round, the hammer throw will be broken up into three flights of 16 competitors (top 16 in flight three, seeds 17-32 in flight two, seeds 33-48 in flight one). Each of the 48 student-athletes will get three throws and the top 12 will advance to the NCAA National Championships.
BUTLER'S NCAA REGIONAL HISTORY
Hammer throw – 2019, 12th place (201-7 / 61.45m)
NUMBERS TO KNOW
Date/Time of Competition – Thursday, May 27 / 1:30 pm
Butler's Seed - 10
Butler's Career and Season-Best Mark – 213-5 / 65.06m
2019 National Qualifying Mark – 201-7 / 61.45m
HOW TO QUALIFY FOR NATIONALS
1600 RELAY
In the East region preliminary round, the 24 teams qualifying for the 1600 relay will be broken up into three flights of eight teams each. The top three teams from each flight, but the next three fastest teams will advance to the NCAA National Championships.
1600 RELAY NCAA REGIONAL HISTORY
First Appearance
NUMBERS TO KNOW
Date/Time of Competition – Saturday, May 29 / 9:15 pm
1600 Relay Seed - 19
1600 Relay Season-Best Time – 3:37.27
2019 National Qualifying Time – 3:33.84
HOW TO QUALIFY FOR NATIONALS
100
The field of 48 will be broken up into six heats of eight competitors each. The top three in each heat, plus the next six fastest times will narrow the field to 24 for the quarterfinals – also to be contested at regionals. The remaining field of 24 will be broken into three heats of eight competitors each for the quarterfinals and the top three finishers in each heat, plus the next three fastest times, will move on to the NCAA National Championships.
NEVELS' NCAA REGIONAL HISTORY
First Appearance
NUMBERS TO KNOW
Date/Time of First Round – Thursday, May 27, 7:00 pm
Date/Time of Quarterfinals – Saturday, May 29, 7:05 pm
Nevels' Seed - 44
Nevels' Career and Season-Best Time – 11.79 (11.58 wind-aided)
2019 Quarterfinal Qualifying Time – 11.56
2019 National Qualifying Time – 11.38
In each individual event, 48 competitors qualify for the East regional. Twenty-four teams qualify for the relay events. The top 12 finishers in each event will join the top 12 finishers from the West regional for a field of 24 at the national championships. The NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field National Championships will take place June 9-12 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.
Zaresha Neal has qualified for the NCAA Regional meet in two events – the shot put and the discus. Savannah Nevels and Iyanna Ross will also compete in a pair of events, the 1600 relay as well as an individual sprint event. Nevels will run the 100 and Ross the 400.
Bowling Green will send a relay team to the regional meet for the first time in program history. The 1600 relay team won the MAC Championship both indoor and outdoor, shattering the outdoor school record in the process.
Kaila Butler is the top seeded Falcon at regionals, earning a No. 10 ranking in the hammer throw. Butler qualified for the NCAA National Championships two years ago and was named a second-team All-American.
Under tenth-year coach Lou Snelling, the Falcons have sent 32 representatives to the regionals in the past nine years. Student-athletes have equaled or better their seeds in 26 of those 32 appearances (81 percent). Over the course of his tenure, every student-athlete seeded in the top 19 at regionals has finished inside the top 12 and advanced to the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field National Championships.
BGSU's schedule of events is listed below and capsule information about each event follows.
THURSDAY, MAY 27
1:30 pm – Hammer Throw (10. Kaila Butler)
6:00 pm – Shot Put (40. Zaresha Neal)
7:00 pm – 100 First Round (44. Savannah Nevels)
7:25 pm – 400 First Round (42. Iyanna Ross)
SATURDAY, MAY 29
1:30 pm – Discus (27. Zaresha Neal)
3:15 pm – Triple Jump (37. Brianna Richard)
7:05 pm – 100 Quarterfinals (44. Savannah Nevels)
7:20 pm – 400 Quarterfinals (42. Iyanna Ross)
9:15 pm – 1600 Relay (19. Chasatea Brown, Savannah Nevels, Ryen Draper, Iyanna Ross)
IYANNA ROSS
HOW TO QUALIFY FOR NATIONALS
400
The field of 48 will be broken up into six heats of eight competitors each. The top three in each heat, plus the next six fastest times will narrow the field to 24 for the quarterfinals – also to be contested at regionals. The remaining field of 24 will be broken into three heats of eight competitors each and the top three finishers in each heat, plus the next three fastest times, will move on to the NCAA National Championships.
ROSS' NCAA REGIONAL HISTORY
First Appearance
NUMBERS TO KNOW
Date/Time of First Round – Thursday, May 27, 7:25 pm
Date/Time of Quarterfinals – Saturday, May 29, 7:20 pm
Ross' Seed - 42
Ross' Career and Season-Best Time – 53.91
2019 Quarterfinal Qualifying Time – 53.60
2019 National Qualifying Time – 52.51
BRIANNA RICHARD
HOW TO QUALIFY FOR NATIONALS
TRIPLE JUMP
The field of 48 will be broken up into four flights of 12 competitors each, based upon seed. Student-athletes seeded 37-48 will compete in the first flight and the second flight will be those seeded 25-36. The third flight will be those seeded 13-24 and the final flight will be the top 12 seeds. Each competitor will get three attempts and the student-athletes with the top 12 distances will move on to the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field National Championships.
RICHARD'S NCAA REGIONAL HISTORY
First Appearance
NUMBERS TO KNOW
Date/Time of First Round – Saturday, May 29, 3:15 pm
Richard's Seed - 37
Richard's Career and Season-Best Distance – 41-7 (12.67m)
2019 National Qualifying Distance – 42-9.5 (13.04m)
ZARESHA NEAL
HOW TO QUALIFY FOR NATIONALS
SHOT PUT
In the East region preliminary round, the shot put will be broken up into four flights of 12 competitors (top 12 in flight four, seeds 13-24 in flight three, seeds 25-36 in flight two, seeds 37-48 in flight one). Flights one and two will compete simultaneously on separate, but similar, competition venues, followed by flights three and four doing the same. Each of the 48 student-athletes will get three throws and the top 12 will advance to the NCAA National Championships.
DISCUS
In the East region preliminary round, the discus will be broken up into three flights of 16 competitors (top 16 in flight three, seeds 17-32 in flight two, seeds 33-48 in flight one). Each of the 48 student-athletes will get three throws and the top 12 will advance to the NCAA National Championships.
NEAL'S NCAA REGIONAL HISTORY
Shot put – 2019, 38th place (49-0.75 / 14.95m)
Discus – 2019, 16th place (170-2 / 51.88m)
NUMBERS TO KNOW (SHOT PUT)
Date/Time of First Round – Thursday, May 27, 6:00 pm
Neal's Seed - 40
Neal's Career and Season-Best Distance – 51-9.75 (15.79m)
2019 National Qualifying Distance – 53-5.75 (16.30m)
NUMBERS TO KNOW (DISCUS)
Date/Time of First Round – Saturday, May 29, 1:30 pm
Neal's Seed - 27
Neal's Career and Season-Best Distance – 173-8 (52.94m)
2019 National Qualifying Distance – 172-2 (52.49m)
KAILA BUTLER
HOW TO QUALIFY FOR NATIONALS
HAMMER THROW
In the East region preliminary round, the hammer throw will be broken up into three flights of 16 competitors (top 16 in flight three, seeds 17-32 in flight two, seeds 33-48 in flight one). Each of the 48 student-athletes will get three throws and the top 12 will advance to the NCAA National Championships.
BUTLER'S NCAA REGIONAL HISTORY
Hammer throw – 2019, 12th place (201-7 / 61.45m)
NUMBERS TO KNOW
Date/Time of Competition – Thursday, May 27 / 1:30 pm
Butler's Seed - 10
Butler's Career and Season-Best Mark – 213-5 / 65.06m
2019 National Qualifying Mark – 201-7 / 61.45m
1600 RELAY
CHASATEA BROWN, RYEN DRAPER, SAVANNAH NEVELS, IYANNA ROSSHOW TO QUALIFY FOR NATIONALS
1600 RELAY
In the East region preliminary round, the 24 teams qualifying for the 1600 relay will be broken up into three flights of eight teams each. The top three teams from each flight, but the next three fastest teams will advance to the NCAA National Championships.
1600 RELAY NCAA REGIONAL HISTORY
First Appearance
NUMBERS TO KNOW
Date/Time of Competition – Saturday, May 29 / 9:15 pm
1600 Relay Seed - 19
1600 Relay Season-Best Time – 3:37.27
2019 National Qualifying Time – 3:33.84
SAVANNAH NEVELS
HOW TO QUALIFY FOR NATIONALS
100
The field of 48 will be broken up into six heats of eight competitors each. The top three in each heat, plus the next six fastest times will narrow the field to 24 for the quarterfinals – also to be contested at regionals. The remaining field of 24 will be broken into three heats of eight competitors each for the quarterfinals and the top three finishers in each heat, plus the next three fastest times, will move on to the NCAA National Championships.
NEVELS' NCAA REGIONAL HISTORY
First Appearance
NUMBERS TO KNOW
Date/Time of First Round – Thursday, May 27, 7:00 pm
Date/Time of Quarterfinals – Saturday, May 29, 7:05 pm
Nevels' Seed - 44
Nevels' Career and Season-Best Time – 11.79 (11.58 wind-aided)
2019 Quarterfinal Qualifying Time – 11.56
2019 National Qualifying Time – 11.38
Players Mentioned
Multi-Events
/ Women's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Sprints/Relays
/ Women's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track and Field
Sprints/Jumps/Relays
/ Women's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track and FieldBGSU In the Nest : Track and Field
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Saturday, January 13