The Tennessee track & field teams are sending nine more participants to this year’s NCAA East Preliminary Rounds than last. After qualifying 18 athletes in 18 events in 2011, the Big Orange program has qualified a combined 27 athletes in 22 events for the 2012 meet, which will be held May 24-26 in Jacksonville, Fla., at the University of North Florida’s Hodges Stadium.

Fifteen Lady Vols in 13 events and 12 Vols in nine events will take part in the meet, which serves as a qualifier for the NCAA Outdoor Championships, slated for June 6-9 in Des Moines, Iowa. The top 12 finishers in individual events and relays at the East and West Preliminary Round meets will advance to Des Moines.

UT women’s qualifiers include senior Annie Alexander (discus throw, shot put), senior Bianca  Blair (100m hurdles), sophomore Linda Hadfield (pole vault), sophomore Aslynn Halvorson (discus throw), senior Ashley Harris (4x100m relay), junior Jessie Harrison (discus throw), junior Kia Jackson (100m, 4x100m relay), senior Brittany Jones, (100m, 200m, 4x100m relay), senior Laquoya Kelley (hammer throw), junior Martinique Octave (4x100m and 4x400m relays), senior Chanelle Price (800m), sophomore Kianna Ruff (800m, 4x400m relay), senior Brittany Sheffey (1500m), junior Nijgia Snapp (800m, 4x400m relay) and senior Ellen Wortham (400m hurdles, long jump, 4x400m relay).

The men’s qualifiers are freshman Tyler Anderson (long jump), redshirt freshman Tavis Bailey (discus throw), Terry Benson (400m hurdles), sophomore Chase Brannon (pole vault), senior Desmond Brown (long jump), junior Arnez Hardnick (4x100m relay), redshirt freshman Matthew Hoty (shot put, discus throw), freshman Jamol James (100m, 200m, 4x100m relay), junior Reggie Juin (4x100m relay), sophomore Jarael Nelvis (4x100m relay) and senior Robert Rasnick (pole vault).

... read the rest of the story by Subscribing now.