By: by Emily Diekelmann
Full Results
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Representing the final track athlete competing this week, Kendall Parks closed out his junior season Saturday at the NCAA East Preliminaries. Having made it to the quarterfinals after a top 24 finish on Friday, he narrowly missed making Nationals that are in Des Moines, Iowa in two weeks.
Racing in the first heat of the 110 meter hurdles, Parks would compete against athletes from Georgetown, Kentucky, Syracuse, Miami, Ohio State and Florida. Crossing the finish line in 14.08 seconds, he finished in 19th just a few spots shy of making it to the Track and Field Championships.
“It is frustrating seeing Kendall come up short when all he had to do was repeat the success he already had this year,” head track and field coach Andy Eggerth said. “In the prelims, he hit a hurdle hard and that cost him a lot of time. I think in the quarterfinal, he was trying to run too safe and run a clean race instead of not face enough. Hopefully this will leave him hungry. With a great off-season of training, he can come back to be an All-American next year.”
Although he didn’t make it to Nationals, Parks had a very successful junior season. During the Atlantic Sun Indoor Conference Championship, he received an All-Conference award for the 60 hurdles. He also broke the school record in the event during the first meet of the season, Early Bird Invitational.
Outdoor season provided more records to be set for Parks. At Florida State Twilight Meet, Parks crossed the line in 13.85 to shatter the previous 110 meter record. He added another conference championship at the A-Sun Outdoor Championship, winning the 110 hurdles in a swift 13.87.
The track season isn’t totally over as senior Josh McNair represents the final athlete to compete this season. On Thursday McNair qualified for Nationals in shot put by finishing 11th. He broke his previous held school record by throwing 17.85 meters. McNair will travel on June 8-11 to Iowa to become a national champion and All-American.
