By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Some said Roy Morris was rather lucky last year to make the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships as a freshman.
A year later, there was no denying the Northwestern State sophomore from Evangel Christian was just simply good.
As a result, Morris can become an All-American for the second straight season with a top 16 performance in a 24-man field at the NCAA Outdoors in two weeks.
Morris earned the opportunity Wednesday night at the NCAA East Regional Championships on the campus of the University of Kentucky.
He posted a personal record of 25-7 1/4 in the long jump to make his second appearance in nationals in as many seasons on the strength of a sixth-place finish in a 48-man field of regional qualifiers. Florida’s Temoso Maskiane won with a 26-5 mark; LSU’s Jordan Turner was third at 25-11 ½.
Also Wednesday, Louisiana Tech’s Oscar Smith moved closer to a spot at the national meet, when he was the ninth-fastest runner in the first round of the 110 meter hurdles. His 13.45 time advanced him among a field of 24 to the regional final/national quarterfinal Friday night in Lexington, while 24 other regional qualifiers didn’t make the cut.
The Bulldogs had another runner move forward, and narrowly missed a third advancing. In the 100, Tech’s Lukundo Kapambalala’s 10.28 time was 23rd and good enough to run again Friday. Just behind was teammate Carl Murray IV, but his 10.29 was shared by two others, and with the times extended, he was 25th at 10.288 behind Laken Beckwith of Charleston Southern and Jordan Urritia from Ole Miss, both with 10.282 marks.
Running events Wednesday qualified sprinters for Friday’s action. Field events were regional finals.
Morris was ecstatic and thankful to qualify for the national meet.
“It feels great to make it back,” Morris said. “I am very excited to get this chance again. I came into this meet focused on doing my best and making it to nationals again. To PR again this meet just pushes me to keep working. I always pray and ask God and my Pop Pop to help me make it and finish strong. I focus only on myself and what I need to do.”
Despite his previous best leap of 25-4 being ranked No. 23 among 48 qualifiers in the NCAA East, and 47th nationally, he will be among 24 jumpers – 12 from the East, and 12 more from the West Region – at the NCAA Championships in Oregon.
Morris once again performed his best when it was needed, especially against a strong group of competitors.
Last season at the East regional, Morris posted a jump of 24-8 ¼ on a rainy day to finish ninth and earn his trip to nationals.
“We’ve heard comments about how we were lucky and the weather helped him get in last year,” NSU assistant coach Alex Wills said. “So, we definitely had some motivation going in this year.
“But really, Roy is just a gamer and knows how to keep a level head when it’s go time. For him to come out and jump over 25 feet on all three attempts was amazing to see. Now it’s time to get back to work and see what we can do in Eugene.”
It is his second personal best in as many meets, as he PR’d to take the gold at the Southland Championships.
He aims to become a two-time All-American as a freshman and sophomore in an outdoor open event for the first time by a Northwestern competitor since Cody Fillinich in the javelin back in 2005 and 2006.
On the track, NSU’s Will Achee narrowly missed advancing in the 400-meter dash with a 26th-place finish. The sophomore from Parkway crossed in 45.92. The top 24 in running events moved on to Friday night regional finals/national quarterfinals.
Women’s opening round competition is today, with their finals on Saturday.