NATCHITOCHES  – The Northwestern State track and field teams expect to send a program-record 21 athletes with a total of 21 qualifying marks to the NCAA Eastern Regional meet on the campus of the University of North Florida on May 23-25.
 
Official qualifiers with marks inside the Eastern Region's top 48 will be announced by the NCAA Thursday at 1 p.m.
 
The East Region comprises all Division I programs east of the Mississippi River, and in states adjoining it.
 
"It's a great testament to the hard work of our athletes and our coaches," said head track and field coach Mike Heimerman. "With their only being two regions in the country, it's quite an accomplishment to get this many in.
 
"Some of the kids even have a good possibility to make it on to the next round. That would be a really big accomplishment because it means you're around the top one percent in the whole country."
 
Athletes with Eastern top-48 marks:
Micah Larkins-100m/4x100 relay
Tre'Darius Carr-100m/4x100 relay
Kie'Ave Harry-100m/4x100 relay (alternate)
Tremayne Flagler-110 hurdles/4x100 relay (alternate)
Javin Arrington-4x100 relay
Eddie Clarke-4x100 relay
LaRon James-Long jump
JaCorious Jeter-Long jump
Markeit Steverson Jr.- Long jump
Ceaser Stephens- Triple jump
Quindarrius Thompson-Triple jump
Natashia Jackson-200m/400m/4x100 relay
Jasmyn Steels-Long jump/triple jump
Reagan Darbonne-Pole vault
Annemarie Broussard-Pole vault
Kelsey Frank-Javelin
Lauren Clarke-Triple jump/high jump
Ariel Watson-Triple jump
Marjorie Thompson-4x100 relay (alternate)
Kimani Evans-4x100 relay
Deja Moore-4x100 relay
Ona Giles-4x100 relay
Jayla Fields-4x100 relay (alternate)
 
The top 12 finishers advancing through the quarterfinals of an event at the East Preliminaries will move on to national semifinals at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Austin, Texas June 5-8.