By: by Emily Diekelmann
Meet Information
Men's Start List
Live Results
Josh McNair-shot put- 1 p.m.
Joshua James- 400 hurdles- 4 p.m.
Gianni Catalano- 800- 8 p.m.
Kendall Parks- 110 hurdles- Fri. 1 p.m.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Continuing their quest towards the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships in two weeks, four athletes from the Kennesaw State men’s track and field team are n the road to Indiana for the NCAA East Region Preliminaries May 26-28. Josh McNair, Joshua James, Gianni Catalano and Kendall Parks represent the men’s squad with Mackenzie Howe as the lone female representative.
“We are looking forward to three days of great competition among the nation's best during the preliminary round of the NCAA Championships at Indiana University this week,” head track and field coach Andy Eggerth said. “We've had a lot of time since the conference championship to prepare and peak for this competition, so I'm anticipating some great results! It sounds like the weather might be a little sketchy, so we're hoping for the best, but getting our minds right for the worst so we're ready to come out on top either way.”
Having already broken the school record in shot put twice this season, McNair gets one more shot at etching his name into the Kennesaw State record books. The mark that helped him to make this week’s meet happened at the Clemson Final Qualifier. McNair threw the shot 17.06 meters or almost 56 feet which broke his previous held record of 17 meters even. In his final season as an Owl, McNair knows how important this event is and he plans to give it everything he has.
“My expectations are simple, go out there and do what I've been trained to do,” McNair said. “As a thrower we have a saying, "make your last throw, your best throw", so that is what I am looking to do. If I continue with what I have been doing, trust in my training and lay it out there, there is no doubt about what I can do. I've worked hard up to this point and I'm going to give it my best shot, and let the chips fall where they may.”
Competing in the track postseason for the second straight season, junior Parks will try again to make it to Nationals in the 110 meter hurdles. After three straight meets finishing with a time of 14.10, Parks blew the clock out of the water at the Atlantic Sun Outdoor Conference Championships, finishing in 13.76 seconds. The first place finish not only secured him a spot in prelims but also gave him an All-Conference bid.
“All the hard work and training I have done this year has finally paid off,” Parks said. “I am glad I am able to make it for the second time but I hope to have a better outcome than last year. I am not just running for myself I am running for my teammates. "
Getting their first and final shot at making it to Nationals, James and Catalano are competing in the 400 meter hurdles and 800, respectively. James earned himself a spot in the prelims during the A-Sun Outdoor Championships as well. He finished first in the race for an All-Conference award in 52 seconds, but he also broke the school record in the event as well.
“I am excited and anxious to compete this weekend against some of the country's best athletes,” James said. “I am not nervous, mainly because I know that Coach Eggerth has me in peek physical shape.”
Running what may be his final race as an Owl, Catalano has had a lot of success in the 800 throughout his career at Kennesaw State. Winning the race several times at indoor conference, he added another All-Conference award at the outdoor championships this year. His qualifying time, however, came two weeks later at the Florida State Twilight Meet. His time of 1:49.99 gave him the 31st best time in the region and a spot at the starting line on Thursday.
“We are really excited for this chance to run with the best in the country,” Catalano said “We have been waiting four years to get this chance and now we just want to make the best of it.”
McNair kicks off competition for Kennesaw State with the shot put at 1 p.m. on Thursday. James races the 400 hurdles at 4 p.m. with Catalano at 8 p.m. Parks gets his shot at Nationals on Friday 5 p.m. McNair can advance to Nationals if he finishes in the top 12. James, Catalano and Parks must finish top 24 to advance to the quarterfinals on Friday and Saturday.
