LIVE RESULTS
HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana junior Adonson Shallow has already all but guaranteed himself a spot in the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, and the door hasn't closed on more members of the team joining him. Three other Lions have one final attempt to reach national standards at the LSU Last Chance Meet Friday in Baton Rouge.
Shallow's weight throw effort of 68 feet 11.75 inches (21.02 meters) to win last weekend's Southland Conference Championships was well past the NCAA provisional mark, and safely into the national meet in head coach Sean Brady's eyes. Shallow also reached a provisional mark in shot put, going 60 feet 2 inches (18.34 meters) in taking a second league title, but there is less certainty about that being good enough to earn him a spot for that event. He may attempt to improve Friday, although an injury suffered earlier this week may force him to sit out.
Joining Shallow at the Carl Maddox Field House will be senior Faisal Muhammad, who will attempt to qualify in weight throw. Muhammed's best effort this season was 62 feet 8.75 inches (19.12 meters) at the Arkansas State Kickoff Classic on Dec. 5, 2009. The provisional standard is 63 feet 11.72 inches (19.50 meters).
Two sprinters will attempt to run into nationals in the 60 meter dash, junior Shannon Grover and senior Andon Mitchell. Both had their best times of the season at conference. Grover finished in 6.87 at Friday's preliminaries, and then Mitchell crossed the line at 6.83 in the finals Saturday. The provisional qualifying standard is 6.71 seconds.
“They've had tremendous indoor seasons and they're very close,” Brady said. “We want to give them every opportunity we can to better their chances of getting into the NCAA meet. These guys have worked very hard.”
Student-athletes can guarantee themselves NCAA spots by reaching automatic standards. Of those who hit the provisional marks, the governing body will take at least 16 competitors per event. In the case of ties, more will be selected.
Men's weight throw is the first event of the LSU Last Chance Meet, beginning at 2 p.m. Men's shot put follows at 3:30 p.m. Preliminaries in the men's 60 meter dash are scheduled for 6:30 p.m., with finals expected to get underway at 7:10 p.m.
Live results will be available via LionSports.net.
