Francisco Rivero/ Contributing Writer
Eight Panthers from the FIU women’s Track and Field team qualified for this year’s NCAA East Regionals set to take place on Thursday, May 24 at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. FIU will compete in four individual events and one team event, the 4×100 meter relay.
The individual events that FIU qualified for are javelin, shot put, hammer throw and the 400-meter race. Sophomore Megan Horne will be competing in the javelin event, Freshman Raqurra Ishmar in shot put, Junior Benia Gregoire in the hammer throw and Junior Lakeisha Kelley will compete in the 400 meter race also the 4×100 meter relay race. Also running the 4×100 meter relay are Junior Marissa McElveen, Junior T’Keyah Dumoy and Redshirt Senior Carla-Kay Mills.Head coach Eric Campbell was enthusiastic about his team competing in Regionals.“I’m very excited for them, I feel that it’s going to be a really positive experience for all of them”.
However, with any competition there has to be planning and preparations and this Campbell understands.
“It’s all about keeping it simple, not adding any more pressure than you have to. At this point in the season there’s not a whole lot of stuff you can do to prepare anymore. The key is just to stay healthy and be mentally prepared”.
Campbell said that Sun Belt schools are not a major concern to him and instead mentioned Clemson, Louisiana State University and University of Central Florida as schools that need to be worried about.
Two of the more accomplished athletes coming into the Regionals are sophomore Megan Horne (javelin) and junior Lakeisha Kelley (400 meter and the 4×100 meter relay).
Horne comes into competition already having been named the 2011 Sun Belt Conference Javelin Champion. Horne finished 13th in the 2011 Regionals after throwing 45.60 meters. Her personal best is 45.69 meters.
Despite being the 2011 champion, Horne feels no pressure entering the competition.
“To me, javelin is more of an individual event. I feel like I’m competing more with myself rather than others.”
Horne, a native of Australia, also realizes that slight improvements need to be made for Regionals.
“There are a couple of things I want to work on going into Regionals; the biggest two are timing and technique. Other than that, it’s too late in the season to change much, everything else is more of a head game”.
A second eye-opening competitor in this year’s Regionals is Lakeisha Kelly, who will compete in not only an individual event but also in the 4×100 meter relay. This is the second straight year she has qualified for this event.
Kelly had qualified to compete in two events in last year’s Regionals; however she was not healthy and therefore could not compete.
“Being that I was hurt last year and was not able to compete I’m very excited and looking forward to this year’s Regionals”.
Kelley is the only Panther that will be competing in two events in this year’s Regionals; however, its nothing new for the talented Kelley.
“It really isn’t a problem for me, if I could compete in more I would,” Kelley said.
This comes as no surprise to Coach Campbell, who is impressed by Kelley’s stamina. He tried tiring her out in conference by making her run six races but she was still ready to go.
FIU’s relay team is currently ranked No.8 in the nation and enters this year’s with high expectations. They seek to improve upon last year’s finish in the Regionals of eighth place.
“They’re just a great group of girls that have ran together for about two to three years,” Campbell said. “They have gotten to know each other very well.”
FIU needs finish at least in the top 16 in the individual events and in the top eight in the relay race to advance to the nationals, which take place June 6-9 in Des Moines, Iowa.
“I want to go to Nationals, but in order for that to happen we have to focused and keep a calm head,” Campbell said. “I don’t want my athletes to place a lot of pressure on themselves. I just want them to go out there and have fun and enjoy themselves and the moment”.
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