Tyriq Hors­ford of Mis­sis­sip­pi State Uni­ver­si­ty booked his spot in the fi­nals of the Na­tion­al Col­le­giate Ath­let­ic Ad­min­is­tra­tion (NCAA) Di­vi­sion One (D1) Out­door Cham­pi­onships af­ter he fin­ished ninth in the men’s javelin of the East Re­gion­als in Jack­sonville, Flori­da on Wednes­day evening.

The five-time Carif­ta Games cham­pi­on was the first T&T ath­lete in ac­tion and se­cured his name in the star­tlist for the medal round with his 71.25-me­tre ef­fort in group three in the men’s javelin first round. Hors­ford of lo­cal club Zenith, fin­ished ninth in his group. How­ev­er, his throw held up as he ninth best over­all among the 48 com­peti­tors.

The Par­latu­vi­er-born ath­lete has earned his third trip to the NCAA Fi­nals. He was fourth in 2021 and third in 2019. The 2017 Com­mon­wealth Youth Games sil­ver medal­list did not par­tic­i­pate in the 2022 East Re­gion­als, due to in­jury.

Pitts­burgh's Clement Camp­bell (Mem­phis Pi­o­neers) fin­ished in 24th in the men’s long jump with a 7.38m wind-as­sist­ed ef­fort. He missed on qual­i­fy­ing for the NCAA Fi­nals as on­ly the top 12 ad­vanced.

In the West Re­gion­als in Sacra­men­to, Cal­i­for­nia, the Min­neso­ta trio of Kion Ben­jamin (Mem­phis Pi­o­neers), Car­lon Hosten (Abi­lene Wild­cats) and Devin Au­gus­tine (Point Fortin New Jets) qual­i­fied for the men’s 100m quar­ter­fi­nals set for Fri­day (May 26).

Ben­jamin was third-quick­est in the first round with 10.20 af­ter he won heat one. Hosten was 17th-fastest with his 10.36-clock­ing to fin­ish fourth in heat five. Au­gus­tine was just be­hind in 18th af­ter he al­so ran 10.36 to take third spot in heat four.

Au­gus­tine and Hosten al­so se­cured lanes in the 200m quar­ter­fi­nals. In the 200m first round held lat­er in the evening, Au­gus­tine sped to the fourth-swiftest time of 20.44. He was sec­ond in heat six. Hosten ran the 11th-best clock­ing of the round post­ing 20.59 to take fifth po­si­tion in heat two. The 200m quar­ter­fi­nals are set for Fri­day al­so.

Leroy Rus­sell III (Arkansas) was hop­ing fol­low on the suc­cess of his com­pa­tri­ots in the men’s 800m first round. How­ev­er, Rus­sell was 31st in 1:50.21, miss­ing on a top 12 plac­ing to move on the 800m quar­ter­fi­nals.

The women was to hold cen­trestage Thurs­day (May 25).

At the East Re­gion­als, Leah Bertrand (Ohio/Sim­plex) is in the 100m first round and will be seek­ing to fin­ish in the top 24 to guar­an­tee a lane in the quar­ter­fi­nals on Sat­ur­day (May 27).

Al­aba­ma/To­co TAFAC throw­er Cherisse Mur­ray is among the starters in the women’s shot put. Mur­ray will be out of fin­ish among the top 12 to ad­vance to the NCAA Fi­nals in June 7-10.

In the West Re­gion­als, Ak­i­lah Lewis (Min­neso­ta/Con­corde) will be seek­ing to match her Min­neso­ta school-mates and be among the top 24 in the women’s 100m first round, to sail through to the quar­ter­fi­nals.

The NCAA East and West Re­gion­als con­tin­ue un­til Sat­ur­day (May 27).

The 2023 NCAA Di­vi­sion One Track and Field Cham­pi­onships are card­ed for Austin, Texas from June 7-10.

T&T ath­letes re­sults

East Round One

Men’s javelin first round- 9th Tyriq Hors­ford (Mis­sis­sip­pi State/Zenith) 71.25

Men’s long jump first round -24th Clement Camp­bell (Pitts­burgh/Mem­phis Pi­o­neers) 7.38w

West Round One

Men’s 100m first round - 3rd Kion Ben­jamin (Min­neso­ta/Mem­phis Pi­o­neers) 10.20; 17th Car­lon Hosten (Min­neso­ta/Abi­lene Wild­cats) 10.36; 18th Devin Au­gus­tine (Min­neso­ta/Pt.Fortin New Jets) 10.36

200m first round - 4th Au­gus­tine 20.44; 11th Hosten 20.59

800m first round - 31st Leroy Rus­sell III (Arkansas) 1:50.21

Up­com­ing events

East Round One

Day Two Thurs­day (May 25)

100m First Round: (Leah Bertrand (Ohio State/Sim­plex)

Shot out-Cherisse Mur­ray (Al­aba­ma/To­co TAFAC)

Day Three Fri­day (May 26)

Dis­cus First Round: Jaden James (LSU/Fa­ti­ma)

4x100m First Round: Pitts­burgh (Clement Camp­bell/Mem­phis Pi­o­neers)

4x400m First Round: LSU (Sha­keem Mc Kay/Abi­lene Wild­cats)

WEST Round One

Day Two - Thurs­day (May 25)

100m-Ak­i­lah Lewis (Min­neso­ta/Con­corde)

Day Three - Fri­day (May 26)

High jump First Round: Aaron An­toine (Kansas State/Neon Wolves)

100m Quar­ter­fi­nals: Kion Ben­jamin (Min­neso­ta/Mem­phis Pi­o­neers); Devin

Au­gus­tine (Min­neso­ta/Pt. Fortin New Jets); Car­lon Hosten (Min­neso­ta/Abi­lene

Wild­cats)

4x100m First Round: Min­neso­ta (Hosten, Au­gus­tine, Ben­jamin)

4x400m First Round: Min­neosta (Hosten, Ben­jamin, Au­gus­tine, Jay­den

An­toine/Neon Wolves); Illi­nois (Kashief King/Pt. Fortin New Jets)