THE FLATS – Two Jackets, Jamir Gibson and Zach Jaeger, head to Austin, Texas this week for the NCAA Outdoor Championships. The national will take place from Wednesday, June 7 to Saturday, June 10.
Tech will compete in three events on Wednesday and Friday. Jaeger will kick off the first day for the Jackets in the men’s 3000m steeplechase semifinals at 7:02 p.m. CT. Gibson is set to compete in the men’s shot put finals at 8:30 p.m. CT. Friday’s competition will include the men’s discus, steeplechase finals at 7:35 p.m. and 8:24 p.m. CT.
In the 3000m steeplechase semifinals, the top five individuals from the two heats plus the next best two times will advance to the finals.
First Team All-American honors will be awarded to the top eight individuals in their respective events. Athletes who place in the next eight places (9-16) earn Second Team honors and the final eight finishers (17-24) will be named as Honorable Mention All-Americans.
Gibson and Jaeger earned their spots at the NCAA Championships through their performances at the NCAA East Preliminaries in Jacksonville, Fla.
Gibson was the first Jacket to punch his ticket with a season-best performance in the men’s shot put. He placed 10th overall with a mark of 18.90 meters (62-0.25) which ranks second on Tech’s Men’s Outdoor All-Time Performers List. His success continued in the men’s discus as he recorded a mark of 55.14 meters (180-11) and claimed the final qualifying spot. Gibson is Tech’s first men’s double NCAA qualifier since 2009 when recent Hall of Fame inductee, Steve Marcelle, qualified in the same two events.
Jaeger will make his debut appearance at the NCAA Championships this week. At the NCAA East Preliminaries, the Penn Relays champion ran an exciting race in the men’s 3000m steeplechase. Jaeger earned his fourth-place finish in his heat with an impressive final kick. He passed the runner ahead of him with the fastest split of in the final lap to punch his ticket to the big show. Jaeger placed ninth overall with a qualifying time of 8:47.47.
COMPETITION SCHEDULE
Wednesday, June 7: Men’s 3000m Steeplechase (Semifinals, 7:02 PM CT), Men’s Shot Put (Finals, 8:30 PM CT)
Friday, June 9: Men’s Discus (Finals, 7:35 PM CT), Men’s 3000m Steeplechase (Finals, 8:24 PM CT)
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