Two Golden Eagles Soar to New Heights to Punch Ticket to Nationals

Wednesday, May 25

Bloomington, Ind.

Southern Miss

NCAA East Preliminary

Two Golden Eagles Soar to New Heights to Punch Ticket to Nationals

5/28/2022 9:20:00 PM | Track & Field/Cross Country

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Marquasha Myers and Corvell Todd of Southern Miss sealed their ticket to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships after standout performances in the women's triple jump and the men's high jump, respectively, at the NCAA East Preliminaries, Saturday, in Bloomington, Ind.

"We saved the best performances for the last day," said Southern Miss head man Jon Stuart. "The women's 4x100 was outstanding with their season's best mark and Marquasha had an inspiring competition. She qualified for NCAA with her final jump, and I'm so proud right now."

Todd began the string of successful performances on Friday as the 21st seed of the first flight of competition. Passing the starting height of 6' 6.75", Todd scratched his first time before stringing together three jumps—each more impressive than the last. He needed just two attempts to clear 6' 8.75."

Marks of 6' 10.75" and 7' 0.5" stood no chance as Todd cleared both in one attempt. While failing to clear 7' 1.75" in three attempts, Todd's last successful jump secured him a spot in Eugene.

Todd finished seventh overall and his mark bested all but five jumpers that competed in the NCAA West Preliminaries. His 7' 0.5" mark is Todd's best since the War Eagle Invitational (April 15-16) where he notched 7' 3." His record jump still stands at 7'6."

Todd becomes the third Golden Eagle to compete at the NCAA Championships, joining Cedric Norman (2003, 2004) and Eric Richards (2021).

Myers punched her ticket to nationals with a career-best performance in the women's triple jump.

As the tenth seed in flight three, Myers began the day with a 42' 0.75" jump, placing her just outside qualifying position. Her second attempt, Myers failed to best her previous mark, managing just 39' 5.25."

Needing to make up a 3.25" gap with her last jump, Myers leapt to a career record of 42' 7," propelling her to NCAA Nationals.

Myers becomes the third Golden Eagle triple jumper and first in ten season to qualify for nationals, joining Ashley May (2010) and former 2012 national champion Ganna Demydova (2011, 2012).

Southern Miss' women's 4x100 team also enjoyed a career day, although the team would not qualify for nationals. The quartet of Trinity Flagler, Kenia Seals, Sav'ia Varnell and Trinity Benson bested the season's previous best by a tenth of a second.

The 44.36 second finish not only broke the 2022 season best but is now the second-best time in program history.

Todd and Myers return to action on June 8-11 for the NCAA Track and Field National Championship at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.