Thursday, May 24
Tampa, FL
2 p.m.
Ball State University
at
NCAA East Preliminary Championships
NCAA Bound: Track & Field’s Regan Lewis Qualifies for NCAA Outdoor Championships
May 24, 2018 | Track & Field
VIDEO LINK: Regan's Jump at 1.80m
TAMPA, Fla. - - After successfully clearing the bar at a season-best height of 1.80m Thursday afternoon at the NCAA East Preliminary Round, Ball State junior high jumper Regan Lewis advances to battle for the title of NCAA High Jump Champion at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships held June 6-9 in Eugene, Oregon.
"I'm so proud of Regan," head coach Brian Etelman said. "This is not only a wonderful achievement for her personally but is quite reflective of how far our program has come in such a short amount of time."
In a battle of the top 48 high jumpers in the region Thursday afternoon at the USF Track & Field Stadium, Lewis cleared the first four heights on the bar progression and was one of the final 12 jumpers remaining to earn a chance to compete for a national championship.
"Regan handled business like a professional today," Etelman said. "Sometimes the preliminary meet is about showing up on the day that matters most and surviving. It's fitting that one of our toughest and most resilient competitors earned her way to nationals in such a meat grinder of a competition."
The three-time defending Mid-American Conference high jump champion, Lewis cleared both 1.65m and 1.70m on her first attempt Thursday.
After missing 1.75m on her first attempt, Lewis battled back and cleared it on her second to enter the fourth round tied for 15th among the 21 remaining jumpers.
In the 1.80m round, Lewis once again missed the height on her opening jump. However, she was able to clear her season-best mark in her second attempt to finish tied for eighth in the competition and advance to compete for the title of NCAA High Jump Champion.
"I hope our supporters and fans understand Regan will be competing for an NCAA national title in a couple weeks and show her the respect and appreciation she has earned," Etelman concluded. "What a great time to be a Cardinal!"
With the effort, Lewis becomes the first Ball State track & field student athlete to advance to the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships since Amanda Barnhart qualified for the long jump in 2008.
In addition, Lewis is just the second Ball State student-athlete to battle for a national title in the high jump. The other is two-time NCAA All-American Bonita Harrington who placed fourth at the national championships in both 1983 and 1984.
Lewis' quest to become the second national champion in program history, with the other being LaTasha Jenkins in the 200m dash (1999), begins at 3 p.m. on June 9 at Hayward Field in Eugene.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State track & field, follow @BallStateSports and @BallStateTFXC.
TAMPA, Fla. - - After successfully clearing the bar at a season-best height of 1.80m Thursday afternoon at the NCAA East Preliminary Round, Ball State junior high jumper Regan Lewis advances to battle for the title of NCAA High Jump Champion at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships held June 6-9 in Eugene, Oregon.
"I'm so proud of Regan," head coach Brian Etelman said. "This is not only a wonderful achievement for her personally but is quite reflective of how far our program has come in such a short amount of time."
In a battle of the top 48 high jumpers in the region Thursday afternoon at the USF Track & Field Stadium, Lewis cleared the first four heights on the bar progression and was one of the final 12 jumpers remaining to earn a chance to compete for a national championship.
"Regan handled business like a professional today," Etelman said. "Sometimes the preliminary meet is about showing up on the day that matters most and surviving. It's fitting that one of our toughest and most resilient competitors earned her way to nationals in such a meat grinder of a competition."
The three-time defending Mid-American Conference high jump champion, Lewis cleared both 1.65m and 1.70m on her first attempt Thursday.
After missing 1.75m on her first attempt, Lewis battled back and cleared it on her second to enter the fourth round tied for 15th among the 21 remaining jumpers.
In the 1.80m round, Lewis once again missed the height on her opening jump. However, she was able to clear her season-best mark in her second attempt to finish tied for eighth in the competition and advance to compete for the title of NCAA High Jump Champion.
"I hope our supporters and fans understand Regan will be competing for an NCAA national title in a couple weeks and show her the respect and appreciation she has earned," Etelman concluded. "What a great time to be a Cardinal!"
With the effort, Lewis becomes the first Ball State track & field student athlete to advance to the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships since Amanda Barnhart qualified for the long jump in 2008.
In addition, Lewis is just the second Ball State student-athlete to battle for a national title in the high jump. The other is two-time NCAA All-American Bonita Harrington who placed fourth at the national championships in both 1983 and 1984.
Lewis' quest to become the second national champion in program history, with the other being LaTasha Jenkins in the 200m dash (1999), begins at 3 p.m. on June 9 at Hayward Field in Eugene.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State track & field, follow @BallStateSports and @BallStateTFXC.
Players Mentioned
Jumps
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