HOUSTON, Texas – Two Tigers competed today at the Cameron Burrell Invitational at the University of Houston, looking to improve upon their ranking on the NCAA Division III list in the hunt for a national qualifying bid. The top 22 athletes in each event, and the top 16 teams in each relay, after May 15, will qualify for the NCAA Division III National Championships at SPIRE Institute in Geneva, OH, on May 22.
Pierce Jackson (Addison, Texas / Dallas Jesuit), currently ranked 22nd in Division III in the men's javelin, threw 50.51m for sixth place. His PR throw of 60.02 currently ranks him at the final nationally qualifying spot, but that could change before season's end. While his best mark would have taken the final qualifying spot in 2024, Jackson will vie for an improved throw before May 15 to better his odds.
Bocar Diagana (Edina, Minn. / Edina), who came into the meet tied for 26th in Division III in the men's triple jump, secured a PR of 14.30m to take second place. Eclipsing his previous best of 14.27m, the jump moves him up enough to take sole position of 26th place nationally. Over the next two weeks, Diagana will look to find some extra distance, as it took a jump of 14.53m to make nationals in 2024. The current mark in 22nd place sits at 14.32m.
More Tigers in the Hunt
Jackson and Diagana are not the only Tigers in the hunt for nationals. Each athlete or relay team currently ranked in the top 50 in their event is listed below. Also listed is the cut-off mark it took to make nationals in 2024 in that event.
Looking Ahead
Salony, Melina Raab and Tresaugue will travel to Azusa, CA for the APU Franson Last Chance Meet from May 8-10. Salony and Melina Raab look to qualify in the men's 1,500-meter on the same track where Salony ran his qualifying mark of 3:47.56 in 2024. Tresaugue will look to qualify in the men's 800-meter.
That same weekend, on May 11, many Tigers also vying for that qualifying bid will compete at the Trinity Last Chance Meet at home in San Antonio.
