Eagles Qualify For Four Events At NAIA Championships

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- As the 2019 competition season draws to a close, the Avila University track and field teams will travel to Gulf Shores, Ala., to represent the Eagles in four events at the 2019 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships, highlighted by three-event qualifier Tenka Stringer. The Miami, Fla., junior posted an individual qualifying mark in the 800 meter run, and is also on the roster for the two relay teams (4x400-meter, 4x800-meter) that have qualified for the meet. AU is also represented by Josh Benford in the men's high jump.

Stringer returns to the NAIA Championship meet for the second time in her career, but the first as an individual qualifier. She posted a meet record time of 2:13.48 in the KCAC Outdoor Track and Field Championship to qualify in the 800 meter run and was also a member of the 4x400-meter (3:52.84) and 4x800-meter (9:25.25) squads posting qualifying marks at the same meet. Joining Stringer on the entry sheet for the 4x400-meter relay are seniors Helen Thames, Lia McLoughlin and Kayvona Bragg; junior Breonne Maltbia; sophomore Murielle Mercier; and freshman Kaylee Lunn. The entry sheet for AU's 4x800-meter relay team is comprised of Thames, McLaughlin, junior Penny Fenn, Stringer, Mercier and Lunn.

Josh Benford also returns to the NAIA Championship meet for the second consecutive year. After posting a qualifying jump of 2.02 meters at the KCAC Outdoor Championship, he looks to improve upon his ninth-place finish from 2018.

The Eagles will get underway at approximately 5:40 p.m. on Thursday, with the preliminary heats of the 4x800-meter relay. The schedule is fuller on Friday, with the high jump slated for a 4:30 p.m. start and the finals for the 4x800 set for 5:30 p.m. The preliminary heats of the 4x400-meter relay round out the day's schedule, with a 7:45 p.m. start time. The finals of the 4x400-meter relay will close out the meet on Saturday, with a 6:15 p.m. start.