Reuben Jones Qualifies for NCAA Regionals in 100, 200

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May 12, 2007

Virginia’s Reuben Jones hit NCAA Regional qualifying marks in both the 100 and 200m dashes today at the IC4A Championships held in Princeton, N.J., running personal-best marks that moved him up the charts in school history. His 10.49 in the 100 was only only the fastest qualifying time for the IC4A finals but also makes him the second-fastest performer in school history, behind only school record holder Gerald Howard. Teammates and school record holders Tomika Ferguson and Kellen Blassingame also both qualified for the NCAA Regional meet in the long jump and 400m, respectively.

Jones’ time in the 200 of 21.17 not only qualified him for the NCAA regional meet but also moved him up to the no. 4 spot all-time in Virginia history. Blassingame, the school record holder in the 400m, earned a qualifying mark with his 47.01, the fastest time for a Cavalier in 2007. These two combined with teammates Brian Lee and Cedric Peerman to post the fastest qualifying time in the 4x100m with a 40.94. Also qualifying for the finals were 1500m runners Kevin Tschirhart, Jan Foerster and Andrew Jesien.

Ferguson qualified for the NCAA regionals in the long jump with her 6.08m (19′ 11.5″), the best mark for a Cavalier long jumper in 2007. She already has qualified for the meet in the triple jump. Erin Crawford, who has already qualified for the NCAA regional in the intermediate hurdles, has qualified for the finals of that event at the ECAC meet. She will also join Keshia Ashe, Tiffany Roberts, and Ayla Smith in the finals of the 4x400m relay tomorrow. Teammate Janne’a Bridgeford will compete in the finals of the 100m and 200m dashes after posting an 11.93 and a 24.47 in the semifinals.

Full results: Women: 100m: Bridgeford, 11.93q; Wise, 12.05; 200m: Bridgeford, 24.47q; Wise, 25.11; 800m: Sloan, 2:13.76; 1500m: Casscells, 4:30.03; Light, 4:39.34; 100HH: Ashe, 14.82; 400IH: Crawford, 1:00.27q; Smith, 1:01.45; Ashe, 1:03.66; 4x100m: 46.48; 4x400m: 3:45.05q; 4x800m: 9:07.03; LJ: Ferguson, 19′ 11.5″, 2nd; Tershel, 18′ 10.5″ Disc: Bilmanis, 144′ 6″

Men: 100m: Jones, 10.49q; 200m: Jones, 21.17q; 400m: Blassingame, 47.01q; 800m: McHale, 1:55.61; 1500m: Tschirhart, 3:49.02q; Foerster, 3:49.16q; Jesien, 3:49.76q; 4x100m: 40.94q; PV: Lewis, 16′ 0.75″, 8th; McClurg, 16′ .75″