HPU’s Emery achieves Olympic Trials ‘B’ standard in 100-meter

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Sophomore Evan Emery of the High Point University men’s track & field team ran 10.28 in the 100-meter dash at the Florida Relays on Friday, the exact time needed to provisionally qualify for the U.S. Olympic Trials. He placed fifth overall in the prestigious event in Gainesville, Fla.

Emery placed third in his heat and fifth overall in the 100-meter dash at the Florida Relays. Florida’s Jeff Demps and Florida State’s Kemar Hyman ran quicker than Emery in the first heat. In Emery’s heat, he was bested only by post-collegiate sprinter Chris Hargrett (10.19) and Jackson State’s Brent Lee (10.25). Demps is a five-time NCAA champ in the sprints.

Emery also placed fifth in his heat and 26th overall in the 200-meter dash. His time of 21.42 was off his season-best and HPU record 20.87 from the HPU VertKlasse Meeting on March 24.

Emery’s 100-meter time is faster than his previous HPU record of 10.31 but does not count as a new school record because it was wind-aided. The 10.28 still counts toward qualifying for the NCAA Championship and Olympic Trials. Emery opened the season running 10.31 in the finals of the 100-meter dash at the Wake Forest Open on March 17. His career best coming into 2012 was 10.64.

By achieving the Olympic Trials ‘B’ standard, Emery will be eligible to compete in the U.S. Olympic Trials based on where he ranks among all competitors in the nation. The ‘A’ standard is 10.18. The Olympic Trials take place June 22-July 1 in Eugene, Ore.

Emery was High Point’s only competitor in the Florida Relays as the majority of the team went to the Duke Invitational and junior distance runner Jacob Smith ran in the Colonial Relays at William & Mary. High Point competes in the Johnson C. Smith Invitational next weekend before heading to the Big South Championship in Myrtle Beach, S.C., April 19-21.