GREENSBORO, N.C. – Junior Marlon Woods (Norfolk, Va.) finished ninth in the long jump on Friday at the 2009 NCAA East Regional Track & Field Championships at Irwin Belk Track on the campus of North Carolina A&T.

Woods' best leap was 23 feet, 11 inches (7.29 meters). Only the top five finishers in each event earn automatic berths to the NCAA National Track & Field Championship next month. But Woods, who was an NCAA Indoor All-American in the long jump this March, is eligible for an at-large bid by virtue of finishing in the top 12.

Woods also tied for 14th in the high jump with a top clearance of 6-10.25 (2.09 meters). He is slated to compete in the triple jump on Saturday.

NSU's other entrant in the regional meet who competed Friday, 200-meter runner Thomas Speller (Chesapeake, Va.), did not advance to Saturday's finals. Speller finished fifth in his heat in 21.76 seconds.