Jones, White Make NCAA National Championship Field
3/5/2013 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
BUFFALO, NY – University at Buffalo throwers Jonathan Jones and Shante' White have earned spots in this weekend's NCAA National Indoor Track and Field Championships. The full field of athletes headed to the national meet in Fayetteville, AR was released late Monday night.
Jones will compete in the men's shot put. He is seeded eighth among the 16 entrants with his top throw of the season coming at the Mid-American Conference Championships on February 22. Jones won the MAC title and set the MAC Championship mark with his throw of 64-3.25 (19.59m), nearly three feet better than his previous best of 61-5 (18.72m) headed into the meet.
White will compete in the women's weight throw and is seeded 11th of 16 entrants. She won the MAC title last month as she obliterated the UB record and her personal best with a winning toss of 69-8 (21.23m), adding more than six feet to her previous best and breaking Faith Thompson's UB record by more than four feet. She won the event by more than two feet.
"I feel that Jonathan is ready to complete at his highest level," said men's head coach Perry Jenkins. "He has worked hard all season and is ready to perform at the big show."
Women's head coach Vicki Mitchell commented on White's performance. "Shante' has reached her first NCAA Indoor Championship and is looking forward to the experience and opportunity to compete with the best of the best. Shante' has risen above many challenges to excel both athletically, setting school and conference records, and academically earning MAC and USTFCCCA All-Academic Honors. The greatest thing about Shante' is that she continually strives for higher levels. She does not let barriers get in her way; rather she uses them as learning experiences to continue to get better. As coaches, we are delighted to see her reach this level."
Both athletes will be competing on the first day of the two-day championships. The women's weight throw is scheduled for Friday, March 8 at 1:30 pm (ET) with the men's shot put slated for 4:15 pm (ET).
