Track and Field Stars at NCAA Regional

The Tulane track and field program has three individuals and a relay team competing in the NCAA East Regional in Greensboro, N.C., which begins today (May 27) at Aggie Stadium on the North Carolina A&T State University campus.

Olivia Kizzee will complete in a pair of events at the regional, while Jamie Riles and Ana Ruzevic will take part in the 400-meter dash and javelin throw, respectively. The 4x100 relay team of Kasey Rodgers, Kizzee, Tiffanie Smith and Riles takes the 19th fastest time into the regional competition.

“We are coming off of probably our strongest team effort of the season at the Conference USA meet,” said Eric Peterson, head coach for Tulane track and field. The five Tulane student-athletes “have earned the opportunity to compete against the best,” he said.

In all individual sprinting events, the top three participants from each heat plus the next six fastest times will advance to the quarterfinals. Those 24 athletes will compete in the quarterfinals at North Carolina A&T, with the top three from the three heats and the next three fastest times advancing to the NCAA National Semifinals.

Riles, a first-year student-athlete, will enter the meet with the 11th fastest time in the 400-meter dash at the East Regional this season, claiming the Conference USA Outdoor crown with a 53.62 showing.

Kizzee will have the busiest program at the regional as she will compete in the 100- and 200-meter dash events, while running the second leg of the 4x100-meter relay. Last season, the Houston native advanced to the national meet in both individual events. She enters the 2010 regional as the 22nd ranked competitor in the 100-meter and is 39th heading into the first round of the 200-meter dash.

Ruzevic has had a solid season in her specialty event, owning a season-best toss of 45.12 in the javelin. The sophomore currently ranks 23rd.