Elon Track and Field Trio Advance to NCAA East Prelims

ELON, N.C. – The Elon University women’s track and field team will have three members of its squad represent the program at the 2017 NCAA East Preliminary Round on May 25-27, hosted by the University of Kentucky. Senior Kimberly Johansen, redshirt junior Bre’anna Warren and junior Bryanna Hames all qualified for the meet as released by the NCAA on Thursday, May 18.

2017 NCAA Track and Field Prelim Qualifiers

For the fifth straight season, the Phoenix will have an athlete compete at the regional meet, its longest stretch in school history. The NCAA Selection Committee accepted the top-48 performers in each individual event and the top-24 relay teams in both relays to compete at each site hosting the NCAA Preliminary Rounds for a total of 96 individuals and 48 relays competing nationwide.

Hames returns to the NCAA East Prelims for the second straight season after qualifying in the discus throw. An All-CAA performer and school-record holder in both the discus and the outdoor shot put, the Charlotte, N.C., native enters with a mark of 52.57m in the discus as Elon’s highest ranked athlete at No. 22 in the region.

Johansen will compete at her third NCAA East Prelim with the Chelmsford, England, native taking part in the 1,500-meters. She earned a pair of CAA titles in both the 800 and 1,500-meters at the 2017 CAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships and enters with a time of 4:23.05 in the 1,500-meters.

Warren will make her debut at the NCAA East Prelims in the discus throw. The Greensboro, N.C., native enters with a qualifying mark of 50.65m in the event, the second-best mark in school history. She also received All-CAA honors in the discus at the league championship meet after finishing third overall.

When competing in the NCAA Preliminary Rounds, the top-12 finishers in each open and relay event will qualify for the national semifinal and final rounds of the 2017 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships scheduled to run June 7-10 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.