Day 2 Results

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Norfolk State junior Sean Holston placed third in his 400-meter heat and eighth overall in Friday's national quarterfinals at the NCAA East Regional meet to clinch a spot in next month's NCAA National Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Holston got out fast, then made up significant ground on the final straightaway to finish third in his heat in a time of 46.13 seconds, just behind defending outdoor national champion Kirani James of Alabama (45.68) and ACC champion Brandon O'Connor of Florida State (46.10). Overall, Holston's time was the eighth-fastest out of the 24 competitors in the quarterfinal round. The top 12 – the top three in each of three quarterfinal heats plus the next three fastest times – advance to nationals.

Holston, already a five-time MEAC champion, will be making his first NCAA outdoor national appearance next month. The national meet runs June 8-11 in Des Moines, Iowa. He joins long jumpers Darris Shelton (ninth place) and Champagne Bell (10th) as Spartans who have already qualified for the national meet.

Also Friday, Shelton tied for 26th in the triple jump with a best effort of 49 feet, 0.75 inches, not enough to advance him to nationals in that event. However, junior Aramis Massenburg advanced to Saturday's national quarterfinal in the 110 meter hurdles. Massenburg was second in his heat in a time of 14.21 seconds, good for the No. 11 qualifying spot out of the 48 hurdlers. Massenburg will need to finish in the top 12 out of 24 in Saturday's quarterfinal round to become the fourth Spartan to punch a ticket to the national meet.

Also Saturday, Shelton and Holston will form half of NSU's 4x100 meter relay team.