Spartan Duo Wraps up Day One of NCAA East Prelims
5/23/2013 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Katie Parker, kparker@uscupstate.edu
Day 1 Results | East Prelim Site
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Seniors Gilbert Kemboi and Cameron Thomas of the USC Upstate men's track & field team closed out the opening day of the NCAA East Preliminary Championships Thursday hosted by North Carolina A&T State University, competing in a pair of evening races.
The Upstate seniors wrapped up their successful careers as Spartans as Thomas competed in the 800-meter and Kemboi participated in the 10,000-meter nightcap race. This marked the first trip to the NCAA East Prelims for Thomas and second-straight appearance for Kemboi.
Thomas crossed the line 37th overall in the 800-meter, clocking in at 1:51.94, while finishing sixth in the third heat. He set the program record in the event at the Atlantic Sun Conference Championships this season with an A-Sun meet record time of 1:49.29.
"Both Cameron and Gilbert competed well tonight," said Upstate Associate Head Coach Carson Blackwelder. "These qualifying races can be very tactical and tough. They did a great job of mixing it up and racing with the best on the east coast. This was a great way to cap off two great careers as Spartans."
In his second trip to the East Prelims in as many years, Kemboi posted a time of 30:15.18 in the 10K to finish in 17th-place. He improved on his time from last year's preliminary round, where he clocked in at 30:43.24 for 15th. Kemboi concludes his storied career at Upstate, owning multiple conference and school records, including posting a program-best time of 29:15.69 in the 10K at Stanford's Payton Jordan Invite April 28.
The Spartans will close out the NCAA Prelims Saturday, when senior Kenny Sugishita will compete in the hammer throw beginning at 10 a.m.
Live results information for the NCAA Preliminary Championships can be found here. Follow the Spartans this season on your mobile device, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
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