June 13, 2008

Results from the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships

DES MOINES - Senior Ryan McCoy recorded a distance of 15.60 meters in the triple jump on Friday evening, but the mark was not enough to advance him into the event finals of the 2008 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Drake Stadium. McCoy closed out his Mason career at the meet, putting the finishing touches on an outstanding collegiate career.

McCoy competed in the second flight of the triple jump preliminaries after earning an at-large bid into the event and finished seventh in the flight with the 15.60-meter jump. His mark fell 0.15 meters short of the distance needed to advance, as both Louisville's Andre Black and Penn State's Clarence Smith attained that distance to qualify.

McCoy marked steady improvement in his three attempts, as the Roanoke, Va., native recorded distances of 15.33 meters and 15.54 meters before achieving his best mark on the day in his final try. Nkosinza Balumbu of Arkansas recorded the longest distance on the day with a 16.21-meter jump.

He ends his career as one of the most successful jumpers in Mason history. His 15.99-meter distance, achieved at the 2006 IC4A Championships, ranks fifth on the all-time school performance list. McCoy is a two-time All-American and three time national championship qualifier.

The finals for the triple jump, which will be comprised of the top 12 jumpers from the preliminaries, is set for 1 p.m. central time on Saturday