MARION, Ind. – The Warner University track & field team began action in the 59th Annual Men’s and 30th Annual NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships today (May 27) at the Outdoor Sports Complex on the Indiana Wesleyan University campus. Manolitha Joseph highlighted the Royals day of competition as she was the lone representative to qualify for the semifinals round.
Melissa Darr , who finished seventh in the 2009 National Championships 400M Hurdles Finals and qualified for the 2009 World University Games, failed to qualify for the semifinals this time around as she clocked a 1:09.25, coming in eighth place in her heat and 25th overall.
Dyrren Barber , the 2010 The Sun Conference 400M Hurdles Champion also failed to qualify for the semifinals as he was two spots shy from advancing to the next round. Barber ran a time of 55.27 for sixth place in his heat and 20th overall.
Joseph raced to the seventh best time of the day in the 400M Dash with a clocked time of 56.76 to finish third in her heat. She also competed in the 200M Preliminaries where she finished seventh in her heat, finishing the race in 25.12 seconds, but it was not enough to move on in the competition as the top 18 overall advanced to the semifinals and Joseph’s time placed her 21st overall.
The Royals will continue action tomorrow (May 28) when Warren Wood competes in the Long Jump, three-time The Sun Conference Field Athlete of the Year Nicole Pope participates in the Shot Put, Joseph will run in the semis of the 400M Dash and the 4X400 Meter Relay team closes out Friday’s competition in the final race of the night. Live video streaming is available here