Eastern Kentucky University student-athletes Haley Yost and Nickson Rotich made their debuts at the NCAA East Region Track and Field Preliminary Championships Thursday at the UK Track and Field Complex.
It was the first-ever regional appearance for Yost and Rotich. Both turned in solid performances, but neither advanced past the first round.
Yost, a sophomore from New Tripoli, Pennsylvania, pulled off the 1,500 meters/800 meters double on Thursday. She won gold in both events at the OVC Outdoor Championships two weeks ago in Alabama.
Yost just missed advancing to the quarterfinals of the women’s 1,500 meters, placing 30th out of 48 competitors with a time of 4:25.7. She entered the meet ranked 40th in the event.
Less than three hours later, Yost took 38th in the women’s 800 meters with a time of 2:10.9. She was ranked 45th in the half-mile.
Rotich, a freshman from Eldoret, Kenya, also placed 38th in the men’s 800 meters with a time of 1:52.1 He was the first EKU man to run the 800 meters at an NCAA regional meet since 2008.
EKU’s steeplechase triumvirate – juniors Jamaine Coleman and Jakob Abrahamsen and freshman Samuel Abascal – will run in the quarterfinals of the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase on Friday night at 9:00 p.m.
— www.EKUSports.com —
Steve Fohl
Associate Director of EKUSports Communications
