Kovacevich hits provisional qualifying mark in Hammer Throw at Dragon Last Chance Meet
Senior becomes fourth Pioneer to provisionally qualify for home NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championship

May 5, 2009
TIFFIN, Ohio — Marietta College senior Tiffany Kovacevich (Strongsville) provisionally qualified in the Hammer Throw for the 2009 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championship, highlighting the Pioneers’ performance at Tuesday (May 5) evening’s Dragon Last Chance Meet, hosted by Tiffin University. Marietta College is hosting the 2009 NCAA Championship May 21-23.

Kovacevich, who won back-to-back titles in the Hammer Throw at the 2009 Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Championship earlier this season, broke her own school record by nearly a meter on Tuesday. She unleashed a throw of 47.25m, which currently ranks 31st on the list of NCAA provisional qualifiers in the event.

Kovacevich gives Marietta four NCAA provisional qualifiers. Senior Brian Pallini (Medina) currently sits 18th in the Shot Put with a top mark of 15.52m. Sophomore Zach Gay (Elyria/Oberlin) is tied for 20th place on the list of qualifiers in the High Jump. Freshman Jayshon Irvin (Vero Beach, Fla./Sebastian) is the most likely to participate at this time; he is tied for 11th place among 100m qualifiers with a top time of 10.71 seconds. Athletes have until May 17 to qualify for the championship.

Marietta athletes set three other school records at the Dragon Meet. Senior Sheena Spencer (Marietta/Parkersburg) lowered her own record in the 400m Dash after she placed first with a time of 57.70 seconds. Senior Jessi Larrison (Batavia) topped her previous mark in the 800m Run and also took first place. Larrison crossed the line in 2:15.68.

The men’s 4x100m Relay, which featured freshman Caleb Downey (Heath), Irvin, freshman Rodney Endicott (Lavalette, W.Va./Wayne) and sophomore Matt Hickman (St. Marys, W.Va.), came closer than ever to a qualifying time. The Pioneers finished their race in 42.10 seconds, which also set a school record.

Pioneer athletes will get another chance at qualifying on Friday (May 8) when they compete at the Gator Invitational, hosted by Allegheny (Pa.) College.

Senior Tiffany Kovacevich provisionally qualified in the Hammer Throw on Tuesday.

Results