Three Cougars will travel to Nampa, Idaho to compete in the NCAA Indoor Championship held at the world class Idaho Sport Center’s Jackson Track this Friday.
Sprinter Errol Nolan, long jumper Tai’Shea Reese, and multi-event athlete Megan Frausto are the Cougars’ athletes that have earned a place among the elite.
Expectations are high for the Cougars as head coach Leroy Burrell said that the goal for each athlete is to finish in the top eight and score points. Only the top eight score points, which Burrell called the “super elite.”
“When you qualify for nationals you are among the elite, the Indoor Championship only takes a range of 16 to 18 people in each event, which means that you are one of the best,” Burrell said.
Nolan heads into the indoor championship as the number four seed in the 400m dash. Nolan would of qualify for the 200m dash as well, but the schedule did not permit for that.
“I believe Errol should be challenging for the national championship,” said Burrell
Frausto is the 15th seed in the women’s pentathlon.
“She did not have the best competition at the conference, so I am hoping she can find a way to score around 150 points,” said Burrell. “I think that will put her in scoring position which would be the top eight.”
Reese will be competing for her first time in the indoor championships as she tied with an FIU’s athlete for the final qualifying spot in the women’s long jump.
“I think she is capable of jumping 21 feet. It will be a big TOF (time of flight) for her, but I think she is capable of it and she will put us in a position to score,” said Burrell.