LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Little Rock takes four qualifiers into the NCAA postseason this week as the Trojans head to Fayetteville for the NCAA West First Round.
Little Rock will send senior
Falon Short, junior
Matthew Tyeskie, sophomore
Braeden Bell, and freshman
Jeremiah Patton to compete against some of the top athletes in the nation after each earned a spot in the NCAA postseason field.
Short qualified in the long jump, Tyeskie earned a berth in the 110-meter hurdles, Bell qualified in the 100 meters, and Patton punched his ticket in the 200 meters.
Meet Day Info
What: NCAA West First Round
When: Wednesday - Saturday, May 27-30
Schedule:
Schedule
Where: John McDonnell Field (Fayetteville, Ark.)
Live Results:
Results
Stream:
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday
NCAA West First Round
The NCAA divides the country into East and West regions for the opening round of the postseason, with the top 48 athletes in each event qualifying based on marks and times throughout the season. Athletes will compete in the opening rounds Wednesday and Thursday, with the top 24 advancing to the quarterfinals Friday and Saturday.
The top 12 performers from each event will then move on to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon, from June 10-13.
Coach Speak
"It is exciting to compete against some of the best in the country. None of these guys are content just being here. We want to advance and take full advantage of this opportunity," said head coach
J.P. Behnke.
Team Report
This marks the fourth consecutive season Little Rock has qualified athletes for the NCAA First Round since joining the Ohio Valley Conference. It will be the first NCAA appearance for Bell, Patton, and Short, while Tyeskie returns to the national stage for the second time in his career after previously qualifying in the 110-meter hurdles during his freshman season.
The Trojans last had a student-athlete advance to the NCAA Championships in 2023 when Johnathan Jones qualified in the high jump and earned a trip to Eugene after finishing among the top 12 in the West Region.
Now, Little Rock will look to make another push toward the national championships with a group that blends experience and rising young talent as Tyeskie and Short lead the way alongside explosive newcomers Bell and Patton.
For the latest information on Little Rock Cross Country/Track and Field, check out LRTrojans.com. You can also follow the team on social media at @LittleRockTFXC on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
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