BOONE, N.C. -- Appalachian State men's track & field athletes
Elliott Graves and
Tristian Shaver have qualified for the NCAA East Preliminary Round in Jacksonville, Fla. from May 23 to May 25.
Both Graves and Shaver will be making their second consecutive appearance in the event.
Graves will represent the Mountaineers in the 400-meter hurdles. His time of 51.50 in the event, set at the Sun Belt Championships last weekend, ranks 24th in the region. Last season, Graves advanced to the Quarterfinals, where he finished 23rd. Graves has won three straight Sun Belt titles in the 400-meter hurdles and will compete in the First Round on May 23 at 5 p.m., with the Quarterfinals taking place on May 24 at 7:15 p.m.
Shaver enters the meet with the 23rd best height of 17-1.50 (5.22m) in the pole vault, set at the Pepsi Florida Relays earlier this season. His mark also ranks second in the pole vault in school history. At the Sun Belt Championships last weekend, Shaver placed fourth in the pole vault with a mark of 16-8.00 (5.08m). He will compete on May 23 at 4:30 p.m.
Forty-eight athletes qualify for the preliminary first round in the east and west regional. The top-12 finishers from each preliminary site qualify for the NCAA Championships in Austin, Tex. from June 5-8.
