JACKSONVILLE, Florida – Northwestern State sophomore Reagan Darbonne wasn't on anyone's list of projected national meet qualifiers entering the women's pole vault Friday at the NCAA East Preliminary Round track and field competition.
 
Ranked 28^th among the 48 regional qualifiers, the sophomore from Hackberry exceeded all expectations by breaking her own school record twice on her way to qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
 
As the 10^th-place finisher in the East, she will be one of 24 vaulters from around the country taking the runway June 6 in Austin, Texas. Darbonne gives the Lady Demons a second national qualifier, along with NCAA Indoor long jump champion Jasmyn Steels, who was second in her specialty Thursday and takes a shot in the triple jump Saturday.
 
Darbonne was among 10 East competitors who separated from the field by clearing 13-8 ¼. That was almost five inches better than her school record 13-3 ½ entering the day.
 
She opened by clearing 12-10 ¼ on her second attempt, then went over 13-4 ¼ on her first attempt, setting a new Lady Demon standard. The bar moved to 13-8 ¼ and after two misses, 57 minutes later, Darbonne was successful on her last try. With the dozen destined for Austin determined, the competition was halted.
 
"Reagan was a huge surprise," said associate head coach and vaults coach Adam Pennington. "She's our first pole vaulter to ever qualify for nationals and continues to jump with a lot of confidence. I personally think she could have cleared the next height if we would've had to go to it. She could've realistically cleared 14 feet."
 
Her mark was one of two Lady Demon school records set Friday.
 
Junior Natashia "Speedy" Jackson didn't advance to the national meet, but broke her own school record in the 400 meter dash national quarterfinals, clocking 53.21 to finish 20^th. That carved more than a quarter second off her former best of 53.49.
 
Two hours later, the Houston native ran 23.77 in the 200 dash opening round, failing to advance to the Saturday final with a 33^rd-place finish.  Jackson will compete in her final event Saturday as part of the NSU women's 4x100 relay team alongside Kimani Evans, Ona Giles and Marjorie Thompson at 5 o'clock CST. Jackson was part of a national meet-qualifying relay last year, earning honorable mention All-America honors alongside three 2018 seniors.
 
 
"I think Speedy had amazing races but could have executed a little better," said Pennington, also NSU's sprints coach. "She broke the school record again. We're very pleased with how she has run all year long. We're one of 24 relay teams out there (Saturday) and anything could happen."
 
 
By a fraction of a second, senior Tremayne Flagler moved on to the national quarterfinal round Saturday in the 110 meter hurdles. The Southland Conference champion ran 13.97 for fourth in the first of six heats in the East opening round Friday, edging the 13.98 by Navy sophomore Clayton Thompson that was fifth in the sixth heat. That gave Flagler the final non-automatic qualifying bid with the sixth fastest time outside the top three finishers from each race. He will compete in the quarterfinals Saturday at 6:20, trying to be one of the 12 to advance to Austin.
 
 
"We had a huge day starting with Flagler," said Pennington. "It was an amazing start up until hurdle number six where he lost it a little bit. If he goes into (Saturday) and executes, he could make it to nationals."
 
 
Sophomore Tre'Darius Carr qualified for the 200 dash opening round but was eliminated after a false start. Carr will compete again Saturday as part of the 4x100 relay at 5:15 along with teammates Eddie Clarke, Javin Arrington and Flagler, who will replace the injured two-time All-American Micah Larkins. It will be that combination's first race together.
 
"I'm confident the guys can do well if we do what we're supposed to," said Pennington. "I'm pretty sure we can have success if we move the stick around and just handle our part." 
 
AnneMarie Broussard finished 20^th in the women's pole vault with a height of 12-10 ¼. The Abbeville native is the first freshman vaulter in school history to reach the regional meet.
 
"Annie has had a great season and is set up well for next year," said Pennington.
 
"It was an overall great day," said head coach Mike Heimerman. "Tremayne did what needed to be done to advance. Speedy didn't run her best 400, but did break her own school record. Our vaulters did amazing. I'm very proud of where AnneMarie is as a freshman and for Reagan to have such a huge day is awesome."
 
Along with Flagler, the women's 4x100 and the men's 4x100, Saturday's action will feature the Lady Demon trio of Steels, Lauren Clarke and Ariel Watson in the triple jump at 2, and Quindarrius Thompson in the men's triple at 5:30.