Benford, Thames Lead Avila Qualifiers For NAIA National Championships

BROOKINGS, S.D. -- The Avila University track & field teams qualified seven student-athletes across five events for the 2019 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships, hosted by Dakota State University. Josh Benford is the lone qualifier on the men's side, while Helen Thames is one of six women's track & field athletes representing Avila.

Although Benford is the lone qualifier for the Avila men, his mark of 2.10m in the high jump is the highest-seeded entry for the Eagles. Coming into the meet, the Springdale, Ark., junior has the second-best jump of the 2018-19 season, trailing only Jared Rabenberg (2.14m) of Dakota Wesleyan. Benford is set to compete on Friday, March 1, at 2 p.m.

On the women's roster, Thames is one of two Eagles to be competing in two events. Her mark of 57.72^# in the 400-meter run is the seventh-fastest time in the field, and she is also a member of the 4x400-meter relay squad that qualified with a time of 4:01.12^#.

Tenka Stringer will also be competing in a pair of events in Brookings. In addition to her spot on the 4x400 relay team, the Miami, Fla., junior is seeded 13th in the 800-meter run, with a qualifying mark of 2:19.46^#. Stringer had the opportunity to run in three events, having recorded a NAIA B-standard time of 1:38.28^#y in the 600-meter run, but opted to compete in the longer event.

Breonne Maltbia, Murielle Mercier and Kaylee Lunn (alternate) round out Avila's relay squad, which is seeded 13th.

The Eagles are also represented in the field events on the women's side, with Shyrelle Yates earning a berth in the triple jump with a mark of 11.21m.

A full schedule of events is available here, and live scoring for the meet will be available courtesy of Dakota Timing.