GAINESVILLE,
Fla.—Campbell University junior Sam Tilly won the long jump at
the NCAA East Regional Friday night at Percy Beard Track on the
campus of the University of Florida qualifying him for the NCAA
Championships in two weeks.
Tilly
soared 24-08.25 feet on his both his second and fourth jumps
beating out North Carolina State's Dexter Adams by half an
inch.
"I am
really overwhelmed," Tilly said. "I was confident coming into the
meet that I could qualify for the NCAA Championships, but I really
didn't think that I would win. I just can't stop smiling right
now."
The Port
Charlotte, Fla. native becomes Campbell's first male track and
field athlete to reach the NCAA Outdoor Championships since Ernie
White qualified in the decathlon in 1985. He is the first-ever
regional champion in Campbell history.
"This is
a big day for Sam and a big day for Campbell University," Campbell
head coach Jim Patchell said. "I had a good feeling coming in that
he had a chance to win. The conditions were really poor for jumping
and the other jumpers folding, while Sam rose to the
challenge."
Tilly
entered the meet ranked third in the region with his jump of
25-02.75 feet at the Carolina Fast Times on April 14. Desmond
Hamilton from Rider entered the meet ranked number one in the
region and finished fifth (24-05.50) while Adams entered ranked
second.
The top
five finishers in each event at the regional advance to the NCAA
Championships which take place June 6-9 in Sacramento, Calif.
Jerome Simpson from Coastal Carolina and Clemson's George Fields
also qualified for the national meet. The top eight finishers at
the national meet earn All-American honors.
"My goal
from the beginning of the season was to be an All-American," Tilly
said. "I never put a limit on what distance I wanted to achieve,
just that I wanted to be an All-American."
The long
jump gets underway at 4:00 pm on June 6 at Hornet Stadium on the
campus of Sacramento State with qualifying. The finals are
scheduled for 6:30 pm on Friday, June 7.
Alicia
Valtin will look to join Tilly at the NCAA Championships when she
competes in the 3000 meter steeplechase tomorrow night at 8:10 pm.
The Campbell senior ranks 12th in the region with her
time of 10:24.72 she set on April 26 at the Penn Relays.
Campbell University
NCAA Championship Qualifiers
Sam Tilly
– Outdoor Long Jump (2007)
Heather
Lee – Outdoor 5000m (2004)
Eric
Bergemann – Indoor High Jump (2002, 03)
Ernie
White – Outdoor Decathlon (1985)
Orville
Peterson – Outdoor Decathlon (1983)
