Four head to NCAA West Preliminary Rounds

MILWAUKEE – Four Marquette University track and field student-athletes will compete over Memorial Day Weekend in the the 2019 NCAA Track & Field West Preliminary Rounds, hosted by Sacramento State on May 23-25 at Hornet Stadium in Sacramento, California.

Junior Daniel Armstrong will compete for the third time in the men's high jump and will be joined by NCAA regional newcomers Samuel Johnson (men's triple jump), Terrance Howard (men's discus) and Lindsey Mirkes (women's high jump).

Live results will be available, courtesy of the NCAA, while a live video stream will be available online to FloTrack Pro subscribers.

It marks the seventh-straight season Marquette will send at least three student-athletes to the NCAA West Prelims. The top-12 finalists in each event at both preliminary round sites (Sacramento, California and Jacksonville, Florida) will advance to the NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas on June 5-8.

Mirkes will compete in the high jump after a runner-up finish at the BIG EAST Outdoor Championships and will be the first MU athlete to compete on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. CT. Mirkes, who ranks 28th in the NCAA West Region, recorded her career-best height of 1.76 meters (5-9.25) on May 3 at the Wisconsin Alumni Classic in Madison, a mark that ties her for the No. 2 spot in Marquette history. Former NCAA regional participant Erynn James holds the MU record at 1.80 meters (5-10.75).

Howard, a senior, is the BIG EAST champion in the discus and was the high point scorer at the BIG EAST Championships out of all competitors. He will throw on Friday evening (6 p.m. CT) in Sacramento and his top distance of 54.91 meters (180-2) came at the South Florida Collegiate on April 19.

Armstrong and Johnson will jump at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. CT, respectively, on Saturday.

Armstrong is set to compete in his third NCAA West Preliminary Rounds after having narrowly missed advancing to the NCAA Championships last season. The Michigan City, Indiana, native cleared the same height as the 10th-place finisher but did not qualify for a jump off because of a miss at 2.11 meters (6 feet, 11 inches). He ended up placing 20th in 2018 and was 42nd in 2017 at 2.00 meters (6-6.75).

Armstrong enters the meet 24th on the NCAA West performance list with a top mark of 2.12 meters (6 feet, 11.5 inches). The junior finished as runner-up at the BIG EAST Outdoor Championships last week but won the event during the indoor season on his way to the second NCAA Second Team All-America honors of his career.

Johnson is making his first career NCAA preliminary round appearance after claiming BIG EAST Men's Most Outstanding Field Performer at last weekend's outdoor championships. In addition to winning the men's triple jump at the meet, the sophomore earned All-BIG EAST honors in the long jump and 4x100-meter relay. Johnson's top mark of 15.50 meters (50-10.25) is second all-time in Marquette history and sits 21st on the NCAA West Region list.

NCAA West Region Performance List (individual rank and mark)
Women's High Jump – Thursday, May 23 at 5:30 p.m. CT
26. Lindsey Mirkes (1.76 meters/5-9.25)

Men's Discus – Friday, May 24 at 6 p.m. CT
39. Terrance Howard (54.91 meters/180-2)

Men's High Jump – Saturday, May 25 at 6 p.m. CT
23. Daniel Armstrong (2.12 meters/6-11.5)

Men's Triple Jump – Saturday, May 25 at 8:30 p.m. CT
22. Samuel Johnson (15.50 meters/50-10.25)

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