FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A successful career came to an end for ULM senior high jumper Heather Davis at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Fayetteville, Ark., in the qualifying rounds on Wednesday afternoon.
Competing in her third NCAA championship event, Davis couldn’t get her timing down on her approach and finished 22nd after clearing a height of 1.70 meters. To advance to Friday’s final round, the Spring, Texas, native needed to clear a height of 1.77 meters, but narrowly missed on each of her three attempts from 1.74.
“That is a height that Heather normally makes,” ULM head coach J.D. Malone said. “It’s unfortunate for her because all she needed to do was clear one more bar – top 1.74 – and she would have been in the finals. It just wasn’t her day today.”
One of only three female student-athletes in the history of the ULM track and field program to advance to the NCAA Championships in a single event three times during their career, Davis’ awards by the bayou include six Sun Belt Conference high jump championships – three indoor and three outdoor – and an NCAA Mideast Regional Championships.
Davis finishes her Warhawk career with three of the top five heights in her event in program history and as one of only two female student-athletes to clear a height of 1.80 meters.
“She has been a three time conference champion and has done a lot for us over the years,” Malone said. “Obviously she is disappointed and we are disappointed for her for not making the finals, but it is a real credit to her that she was once again here. She has been as consistent performer for us as anyone else and one of the best high jumpers in the nation.”
Rain, lightening and the threat of a tornado pushed freshman javelin thrower Richard McKay’s back more than two hours. With the start of the event after 10 p.m. on Wednesday, the DeRidder, La., native couldn’t carry the momentum from a strong regional qualifier and finished 12th in his flight with a long throw of 62.38 meters.
“It was a tough field in the javelin,” Malone said. “Richard pretty much had to throw a personal best to be able to qualify for the finals and just wasn’t able to do it. Still, it is very impressive for a freshman to be here competing amongst the best athletes. He has a very bright future in front of him.”
McKay’s throw ranked 22nd in the field, but placed him just over two meters away from the needed mark to reach the event finals.
For the ULM track and field team, the elimination of Davis and McKay at the NCAA Outdoor Championships marks the end of a successful campaign. The ULM men’s team placed third in the Sun Belt Conference Championships while the women’s team placed fifth. Combined, the two squads sent nine individuals competing in 11 events to the NCAA Mideast Regional.