Lady Vols head to NCAA track regionals

Fourteen athletes in 12 events equals 18 qualifying opportunities. That's the math for Tennessee's women as the NCAA Mideast Region track and field meet opens today in Fayetteville, Ark.

The two with can't-miss odds are freshman Annie Alexander in the shot put and discus, and junior Sarah Bowman in the 1,500 meters.

The top five in each event - from four regional meets - earn automatic bids to the national championships June 11-14 at Des Moines, Iowa. Six at-large entries are added to each event based on the national performance list.

"Hopefully, we can carry forward the momentum from the SEC meet,'' Lady Vols coach J.J. Clark said. "I believe everyone has a realistic chance of advancing.

"Some will have to run, jump or throw their personal bests, which is fine. Obviously, the ones who are ranked high nationally are more secure in getting an at-large bid.''

Others with strong chances of qualifying are Lynne Layne (100), Latonya Loche (400), Phoebe Wright (800) and the 4x100 relay team.

Bowman has the region's second-best mark in both the 800 and 1,500 but will run only the longer distance.

Alexander, the SEC female freshman field events athlete of the year, ranks third nationally in the discus and fifth in the shot put.

The meet concludes Saturday.

Rowing: Three Lady Vols who begin NCAA competition today in California were named to the All-South Region team by the Collegiate Coaches Rowing Association.

Junior Erin-Monique Shelton and freshman Libuse Bruncvikova made the first team, and senior Kendra Warren the second team.

The NCAA races begin today at Lake Natoma, near Sacramento. UT is one of 12 schools with full-squad participation: Varsity Eight, Second Varsity Eight, Varsity Four.

This is the third consecutive year Tennessee has brought a full squad. The Lady Vols finished ninth overall in 2007.