WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - - For the third time in school history, Monmouth University will send two athletes to the NCAA Championship Finals, as junior Errol Jeffrey (Brooklyn, N.Y./Transit Tech [Bronx C.C.]) and senior Rachel Watkins (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills) will compete for the Hawks at the 2013 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships at the University of Oregon, beginning on Wednesday June 5.
Jeffrey, who advanced to the NCAA Championship Finals in the shot put, finished sixth at the NCAA East Preliminaries last weekend with his throw of 60' 08", and competes in the shot put on Wednesday June 5 at 5:30 p.m. (8:30 p.m. EST).
Jeffrey became the third shot putter in the program to qualify for NCAAs in the last five years, joining Larry Lundy (2009) and All-American Vince Elardo (2012).
“Errol has improved a great deal in his three semesters with us and has put in many hours of very hard work with Coach [Abe] Flores," noted head coach Joe Compagni. "Getting over 60-feet was a big goal this year that he has met, and even bigger throws are certainly ahead for him.”
Watkins, who has broken her school record in the 400 hurdles in four straight races, ran 58.28 to finish fourth in her heat, and sixth overall at the East Preliminaries, competes in the 400 meter hurdle semifinals on Wednesday June 5 at 6:00 p.m. (9:00 p.m. EST). If Watkins advances, she will run in the finals on Friday June 7 at 4:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m. EST).
Watkins, who became only the second female in Monmouth history to qualify for NCAA Finals in school history (Tisifenee Taylor; All-American in the long jump in 2007; 2008 Olympic Trials competitor), became Monmouth's first athlete male or female to qualify for the NCAA Finals in a track event.
Compagni stated, “Rachel has had a tremendous career for us in the high jump, 100 hurdles, 400, 4x400 and 400 hurdles. We could not be happier that she gets to close out her career at the NCAA Championship Finals, in an event where she has broken the school record her last four races in a row.”
2013 NCAA Championship Central (Meet Schedule):
• June 6 at 6:50 p.m. ET: ESPN3
• June 7 at 7:30 p.m. ET: ESPNU
• June 8 at 5 p.m. ET: ESPNU
MEET INFORMATION
The 2013 NCAA Championships will be hosted by the University of Oregon June 5-8 at Historic Hayward Field.
NCAA MEET OFFICIAL WEB PAGE
For meet information, schedules, entries, history and much more, visit the official meet page on the NCAA's website.
