Beckford and Men’s 4x100 Relay Qualify to National Championship Finals in Austin

May 26, 2023

RESULTS JACKSONVILLE, Fla., May 26, 2023 – The University of South Florida track and field team completed the third day of the NCAA East Preliminary rounds in Jacksonville, Fla., with Romaine Beckford (Portland, Jamaica) punching his ticket to Austin, Texas, in the high jump along with the 4x100m relay team."We had three entries today and advanced two to the NCAA Final Championship," head coach Erik Jenkins said, "Romaine makes his fourth trip to the NCAA Championship while our men's 4 x 100 relay makes their first ever trip in school history. They earned their spots in tough conditions against the best in the NCAA."Beckford, who earlier this year won to the NCAA Indoor Championships, finished seventh in the East Prelims with a best jump of 2.14 meters (7-0.25) and advances to the championship finals.

The men's 4x100m realy team of Danelson Mahautiere, Shevioe Reid, Jaleel Croal, and Zayquan Lincoln punched their ticket to the Austin after running a time of 39.84 seconds to finish ninth in the event and becoming the men's relay to advance to the national meet.

To wrap up the third day of competition, the 4x400 relay team of Reid, Daunte O'Banion, Michael Bourne III, and Monte Parker ran a time of 3:11.55, good for ninth in the program's all-time list.

On Saturday, Annia Ashley kicks off the day in the first round of the women's high jump at 2:30 p.m. while Sanique Walker will be looking to punch her ticket in the women's 400m hurdles quarterfinals at 7:25pm.

To close out the prelims on Saturday, the women's 4x100 relay of Je'Nyia Burton, Jadaja Baxter, Terren Peterson, and Shaniya Benjamin run at 5 p.m., while the 4x400 relay of Benjamin, Burton, Zahria Allers-Liburd, and Doneisha Anderson runs at 8:45 p.m.

Twelve in each individual event and 12 relay teams at the East Prelims will advance to the NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas from June 7-10.

About USF Track and Field

The USF track and field team has earned 56 All-America selections and at least one All-American in 10 of the last 12 years, including a record eight athletes claiming 11 honors in 2021. Romaine Beckford won the 2023 NCAA Indoor Championship in the men's high jump. Tampa native Shaniya Benjamin set a program record earning three All-American honors during the 2021 outdoor season, while triple jumper Matthew O'Neal, a 2016 graduate, became USF's first six-time NCAA All-American. Bulls have posted two NCAA runner-up finishes since 2013 - O'Neal (triple jump, 2016) and Courtney Anderson (high jump, 2013). Head coach Erik Jenkins took over the program in 2020 and in the 2021 outdoor season the Bulls posted seven program records and 40 top 10 all-time program marks. USF hosted the 2018 NCAA Track and Field East Preliminary and the 2021 AAC Outdoor Championship at the USF Track and Field Stadium located on the east end of campus.

– #GoBulls –

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