Princeton University
NCAA Regionals
Players Mentioned
Field Athletes Take Center Stage For Princeton At NCAA East Regional
May 31, 2008 | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
Both Alex Pessala and Thanithia Billings had top 10 performances in the throwing events for Princeton as the NCAA Track & Field East Regional concluded Saturday at Florida State's Mike Long Track.
Pessala advanced to the hammer throw final after a throw of 194 feet, six inches on his second attempt. That would end up being his best mark of the day and gave him a ninth-place finish in the 24-person field.
Billings, a freshman, had the top throw in her shot put flight Saturday afternoon with a mark of 48 feet, 2 1/2 inches. That mark ended the competition as the 10th-best distance in the 32-person field.
The top five individual finishers in each event automatically qualify for June's NCAA championship meet.
Princeton also had Saturday competitors on the men's side in three other field events, the pole vault, triple jump and discus. Triple jumper Nick Crumpton had a leap of 48 feet, nine inches on his first attempt of the day, just shor of advancing to the final. In the pole vault, Chad Faulkner competed but was unable to clear the initial height of 16 feet, 1 1/4 inches. Freshman George Abyad participated in the discus but did not post a mark.
The Princeton women had a pair of competitors on the track in steeplechasers Liz Deir and Megan Brandeland. That pair finished together on Saturday, with Deir's 10:47.20 good for 14th place and Brandeland's 10:48.25 right behind in 15th.
Freshman Craig Pearce also competed in the men's hammer throw along with Pessala, with his second toss of 182 feet, five inches good for 14th in the field.