KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Ayiana Gaines, Maria McDaniel, Stephanie Negrete and Jade Madison have all been selected to compete in the 2015 NCAA East Preliminary Track & Field Championships in Jacksonville, Fla., beginning on Thursday.
Gaines, one of the three freshmen for WMU that qualified, enters the meet ranked 26th in the region in the 400-meter dash. Her qualifying run came at the MAC Championship after finishing with a time of 53.41 seconds, dominating the race for her first career Outdoor MAC title. Gaines is the lone runner in the 400-meter dash to represent the MAC in Thursday night's quarterfinals. Gaines needs to finish in the top 24 to advance to Friday's semifinals.
McDaniel, another freshman, has been the Broncos' top distance runner since the beginning of cross country season. She competed at the NCAA Cross Country Championship before a successful indoor season that ended in Second Team All-MAC honors. After winning the 5,000-meter run at the Outdoor MAC Championships she heads to the meet ranked 22nd in the region. Her seed time of 16:13.95 was set while winning the event at the famed Drake Relays. McDaniel doesn't race until Saturday, but needs to finish in the top 12 to move on to the NCAA Championships.
Madison, who kicks things off for the Broncos on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. in the javelin throw, needs to finish in the top 12 to advance. Due to new regulations she will just get three throws for her chance to advance. Madison had a great freshman season that culminated with a second-place finish in the javelin at the MAC Championship, earning Second Team All-MAC honors. Madison ranks 40th in the region after throwing a WMU-record distance of 45.76m (150-01) at the Toledo Invitational.
Negrete, the lone veteran of the group, competes at the NCAA East Regional Preliminary Championship for the first time in her career. Negrete ranks 38th in the discus after throwing a seed distance of 49.55m (162-07) at the Toledo Invitational. Like Madison, Negrete will get three throws to try and finish in the top 12.
The NCAA Championships take place on June 10-13 at the historic Hayward Field at Oregon University.
