Results
JACKSONVILLE, FL – The Manhattan College men's outdoor track & field season concluded on Thursday afternoon at the NCAA East Preliminary Round from the University of North Florida's Hodges Stadium. Two Jaspers were in action, with Blerim Pocesta (Staten Island, NY) taking part in the hammer throw and Hayden Clarke (Townsville, Australia) making his NCAA East Preliminary Round debut in the long jump.
Needing to finish among the top 12 to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, OR, next month, Pocesta placed 43rd in the hammer throw with a best effort of 58.66 meters (192 feet, five inches). Clarke, meanwhile, took 45th in the long jump with a 6.96 m (22'10) leap.
Competing at NCAA Prelims for the third consecutive year, Pocesta had his best performance. He got out to 58.04 m (190'5) on his first attempt before uncorking a 57.81 m (189'8) throw in the second round. Pocesta then improved to 58.66 m (192'5) on his final effort. The mark and 43rd place showing were both career-bests at the NCAA Prelims.
Clarke, who was jumping for the first time since suffering an injury at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championships, recorded his best leap in the second round. After posting a 6.77 m (22'2½) effort on his first attempt, Clarke had a mark of 6.96 m (22'10) on his next jump. His third attempt was well over 7.25 m (23'9½), but was a foul. Had it counted, that distance would've put Clarke in the top 30.