Consistency carries Coleman in regionals

Tennessee junior achieves wind-legal 100-meter performances in consecutive days at NCAA East Regionals, only South Africa's Simbine has more this year

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Christian Coleman produced his third wind-legal 100-meter performance under 10 seconds this year, including his second in as many days, to prevail Friday at the NCAA East Regionals at University of Kentucky.

After clocking 9.96 seconds in the first round, the Tennessee junior ran 9.98 in the quarterfinals to lead all qualifiers to the NCAA Championships at Hayward Field in Oregon.

Coleman also has a 9.97 from the May 13 final at the Southeastern Conference Championships, making him the only American this year with three wind-legal sub-10 efforts this year. He also boasts a wind-aided 9.93 at the SEC Relays on April 29 at LSU.

Only South African star Akani Simbine has more wind-legal performances under 10 seconds this year than Coleman with six, although five of them -- including his world No. 2 9.92 -- were run at altitude.

LSU had four athletes qualify in the women's 100, with Mikiah Brisco (11.28), Aleia Hobbs (11.32), Cassondra Hall (11.34) and Kortnei Johnson (11.45) all advancing to the semifinals.

Perhaps the best performance for the Tigers came in the women's 400 hurdles, with Kymber Payne clocking 55.50 to elevate to the No. 5 American performer this year and 12th in the world.

New Hampshire junior Elinor Purrier led four women under 10 minutes in the 3,000 steeplechase, clocking 9:50.51.

Louisville senior standout Edwin Kibichy took over the men's 3,000 steeplechase collegiate lead with his 8:32.91.

Miami senior Shakima Wimbley, the NCAA indoor 400 champion, led all East qualifiers by clocking 51.23.

Auburn freshman Akeem Bloomfield led the group advancing in the men's 400 in 44.74.

Villanova junior Siofra Cleirigh-Buttner, who helped the Wildcats win three victory wheels at the Penn Relays, led the athletes advancing in the women's 800 in 2:02.11.

Isaiah Harris of Penn State clocked 1:45.92 to lead the regional qualifiers in the men's 800.

Florida had TJ Holmes and Eric Futch produce the top two qualifying marks in the men's 400 hurdles in 49.10 and 49.26.

Coastal Carolina's Annie Bothma ran 33:37.91 to lead 12 qualifiers under 34 minutes Thursday in the women's 10,000, with Butler's Erik Peterson prevailing in the men's 10,000 in 29:55.06.