May 28, 2005

NORMAN, Okla. - UTA freshman long jumper Quinchun Carey turned in a leap of 24-feet, 3.75-inches to claim seventh place at the NCAA Midwest Regional Track Championships here Friday.

Carey will go into a pool of sixth, seventh and eighth-place finishers from other regionals and may be selected as one of eight at-large qualifiers for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships June 8-12, in Sacramento, Calif.

Carey's effort was a bright spot on an otherwise gloomy day in Norman and threats of rain hovered over the competition throughout the afternoon.

Coby Morrison qualified for today's 400-meter hurdle final with a time of 51.42 for the eighth-fastest time.

None of the other Mavericks fared as well Friday.

Senior Pauk Whitty clocked a time of 14.27 for 11th place in the 110-meter hurdles preliminaries. Mavs standout Adam Stafford did not compete after pulling up with an injury prior to the race. Sophomore Jon McDowell finished 13th in the 400-meter hurdles with a 52.17. The 4x100-meter relay placed 10th with a 40.25.

As a team, UTA is tied with New Mexico for 21st place after the opening day of the meet with two points. Bg 12 member Kansas led the meet with 34.