Friday, May 24
Lexington, KY
1:00 p.m.
Davidson College Athletics
vs
NCAA East Regional
Photo by: Scott Kinser/DavidsonPhotos.com
EUGENE BOUND: Smith Qualifies for NCAA Championships
5/24/2024 7:55:00 PM | Men's Track & Field
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Junior Jayden Smith qualified for the NCAA Track & Field Championships in the 110-meter hurdles at the NCAA East Regionals on the campus of the University of Kentucky on Friday evening.
The third-year hurdler added to an already impressive career when he became the first Wildcat to qualify for the NCAA Championships in the 110-meter hurdles. Smith's race was dominant from start to finish as he surged out of the blocks and charged to the front after the first hurdle. He went on to clear the seven remaining hurdles cleanly and led from virtually start to finish. When Smith crossed the finish line, he looked back and saw his time posted on the board: 13.46. It tied his season-best mark, but this time, it counted as the wind was a non-factor at +0.1.
Friday's race goes in the record book as the second-fastest time by a 'Cat in program history and the second-fastest of Smith's career. He is also the first NCAA Qualifier since Bryce Anthony (400H) in 2022 and just the second ever for the men's track and field program.
Smith now adds a NCAA Championship berth to a resume that also features five A-10 gold medals, three regional appearances and all ten of the program's top ten times in 110H.
Two other Wildcats were in action as Jack Stajos competed in the discus during the afternoon. Stajos, a senior out of Charlotte, finished inside the top 40 with a mark of 51.45 meters which goes down as the fourth-best at Davidson. The local hurler will end his collegiate career as the best discus thrower to wear the red and black as he also owns all ten of the program's top marks in the modern discus era.
In just his eighth appearance, Grahm Breiter ran in the second heat of the 3,000-meter steeplechase quarterfinals. The California native finished 30th with a time of 9:08.44.
Up Next
Smith will travel to Eugene, Oregon to participate in the NCAA Championships on June 5. The 110H semifinals will be Wednesday night at approximately 5:32 p.m. PT.
The third-year hurdler added to an already impressive career when he became the first Wildcat to qualify for the NCAA Championships in the 110-meter hurdles. Smith's race was dominant from start to finish as he surged out of the blocks and charged to the front after the first hurdle. He went on to clear the seven remaining hurdles cleanly and led from virtually start to finish. When Smith crossed the finish line, he looked back and saw his time posted on the board: 13.46. It tied his season-best mark, but this time, it counted as the wind was a non-factor at +0.1.
Friday's race goes in the record book as the second-fastest time by a 'Cat in program history and the second-fastest of Smith's career. He is also the first NCAA Qualifier since Bryce Anthony (400H) in 2022 and just the second ever for the men's track and field program.
Smith now adds a NCAA Championship berth to a resume that also features five A-10 gold medals, three regional appearances and all ten of the program's top ten times in 110H.
Two other Wildcats were in action as Jack Stajos competed in the discus during the afternoon. Stajos, a senior out of Charlotte, finished inside the top 40 with a mark of 51.45 meters which goes down as the fourth-best at Davidson. The local hurler will end his collegiate career as the best discus thrower to wear the red and black as he also owns all ten of the program's top marks in the modern discus era.
In just his eighth appearance, Grahm Breiter ran in the second heat of the 3,000-meter steeplechase quarterfinals. The California native finished 30th with a time of 9:08.44.
Up Next
Smith will travel to Eugene, Oregon to participate in the NCAA Championships on June 5. The 110H semifinals will be Wednesday night at approximately 5:32 p.m. PT.
Players Mentioned
Hurdles
/ Men's Track & Field
Mid-Distance/Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & FieldA10 4x400m champions
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