May 27, 2007

DES MOINES, Iowa - Jared Connaughton, the two-time defending Southland Conference 200-meter champion, clocked a time of 20.94 seconds for fifth place and an automatic berth at the NCAA Midwest Region Track and Field Meet late Saturday.

Connaughton will compete at the NCAA Outdoor Championship, June 7-9, in Sacramento, Calif., in both the 200 meters and as a member of the 4x100-meter relay team that advance early Saturday after finishing second with a time of 39.65. The time is the third fastest in school history.

Connaughton who won the SLC title with a 20.76 two weeks earlier, qualified for the finals with a 20.99 on Friday afternoon.

Connaughton, an 11-time all-SLC performer, will be joined by senior hurdler Jon McDowell who advanced in the 110-meter hurdles with a second place time of 13.69.

The Mavericks finished tied for 14th in the region with 20 points. Oklahoma won the Midwest region title with 75.33 points.

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