Harris And Rowland Set To Compete At NCAA East Regional

Two members of the Bowling Green State University track and field team attempt to take the final step towards the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships when they compete this week in Bloomington, Ind. at the Division I East Regional.

Jessie Rowland, a sophomore from Germantown, Ohio (Valley View) will compete on Thursday (May 26) in the hammer throw. Ashley Harris, a junior from Toledo, Ohio (Bowsher) will compete on Friday in the shot put.

Harris and Rowland were the leaders of BGSU's heralded 2011 throwing team, which provided many of the Falcons' best moments during both the indoor and outdoor seasons. Both scored important points for Bowling Green at the Mid-American Conference championship meets.

At the indoor conference championship, Rowland became the first Falcon to win a MAC title since 2007 when she set a school record in the 20-lb. weight throw (63-09.75). Harris also scored in the weight throw and added points in the shot put. She followed that with another points-earning performance in the shot put at the outdoor MAC championship.

Rowland qualified for this year's regional meet with the second-best hammer throw mark in BGSU history. At the All-Ohio Championships, Rowland's best toss traveled 57.69 meters (189-3). She is currently in the top-half of the field of 48 at the regional.

Rowland's competition begins at 11:00 a.m., and she is slated to throw tenth in the second of three flights. Each flight includes 16 athletes. Each athlete is afforded three attempts, and the top 16 earn an extra three attempts. From there, the 12 best marks earn a berth in the NCAA Championships.

Harris earned her regional berth in the shot put. Her best distance of the season occurred at the Ohio Women's Team Challenge. That mark, 14.52 meters (47-7.75), places her in the first of four flights. The competition begins at 1:00 p.m. on Friday.

As with the hammer throw, the athletes in the shot put each have three chances. The top 16 athletes after the first three attempts are given an extra trio of throws. After the final attempts, the top 12 athletes advance to the national meet in Des Moines, Iowa.

Bowling Green is looking for its first NCAA national qualifier since Kerri McClung in 2005. McClung's qualifying event was the shot put.

The official East Regional championship website can be found HERE. The page includes links to live stats, live video, a complete meet schedule, as well as city and facility information.

Results will be posted to BGSUFalcons.com as soon as they are available.