Congrats to Covert and Howelett!

[Dane Pound]

For moving on to nationals with their performance (and a little luck).

 

COVERT & HOWLETT ADVANCE TO NCAA DIVISION I TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS

 

Gainesville, Fla. – University at Albany’s Teresa Covert and Brandon Howlett qualified for the NCAA Division I championships in women’s 100-meter hurdles and men’s discus throw, respectively, on Saturday, may 29 at the NCAA East Regional Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The two-day competition was held at the University of Florida’s Pearcy Beard Track.

 

Covert, a senior from Susquehanna, Pa., needed a committee review to advance after she was originally placed sixth in 100-hurdles final. The top five finishers in each event qualify for the NCAA championships in Austin, Texas on June 9-12. After UAlbany coach Roberto Vives asked for the committee to reread the results, the officials ruled that Covert and Villanova’s Monique Morgan finished in a dead heat for fifth. In order to break the tie, the two athletes were instructed to rerun the race to determine the NCAA representative. The Villanova coaching staff conceded the spot when they determined Morgan would not be able to compete again due to an injury.

 

"I saw her at the line as finishing fifth," Vives said. "It was a tough angle for the officials with Teresa (Covert) running in lane one, so asked the committee to take a look at it. I am happy it worked out for her and Brandon (Howlett). They were our most valuable team members throughout the season, so it’s nice to see them make nationals."

 

Covert, a two-time America East Conference champion in the 100-hurdles, became the first UAlbany track athlete to qualify for the NCAA Division I nationals last year. She officially posted a season-best time of 13.47 seconds in this evening’s race.

 

Howlett, a junior from New Haven, Conn., is the first UAlbany male athlete to reach the national championships. He posted his second-best throw of the season with a toss of 181-feet to finish fourth among the regional competitors. Howlett set the school record (184-0.50) with a second-place finish at the America East outdoor meet on May 2. North Carolina State’s James Rowell won the discus with a mark of 190-07.

 

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NCAA East Regional Men’s & Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Championships

 

(Pearcy Beard Track, Gainesville, Fla.)

 

Women’s 100-Meter Hurdles Final

 

1. Lashinda Demus (South Carolina), 12.99, 2. Ebony Foster (North Carolina State), 13.04, 3. Andrea Bliss (Florida), 13.05, 4. Kellie Wells (Hampton), 13.34, 5. Teresa Covert (Albany), 13.47, 6. Monique Morgan (Villanova), 13.47, 7. Jessica Czaikowski (West Virginia), 13.61, 8. Shameka Marshall (Rutgers), 13.64), Hyleas Fountain (Georgia), DNS.

 

Men’s Discus Throw Final

 

1. James Rowell (North Carolina State), 190-07, 2. Ryan McIntyre (Florida), 184-04, 3. Lucais MacKay (Georgia), 183-11, 4. Brandon Howlett (Albany), 181-00, 5. Nate Michael (Navy), 178-02, 6. Marqus Johnson (Florida State), 176-07, 7. Chad McClendon (Georgia), 176-01, 8. Thomas Carey (St. Francis, Pa.), 171-09.