March 27, 2008

KENNESAW, Ga. - After a solid start to their outdoor season, the Kennesaw State men's track & field team will travel to Tuscaloosa Ala., to participate in the Alabama Relays. The three-day event at Sam Bailey Stadium promises to be one of the biggest meets of the season as the Owls compete among a large field of teams.

Leading the way for the Black and Gold is Atlantic Sun Indoor High Jump champion Jerome McKinzie. Last week at the Clemson Relays, the sophomore achieved his first NCAA qualifying mark of the season. Tying his personal best of 6-10.75ft, McKinzie took first place in the competition. This weekend he hopes to break the seven-foot mark and earn his second victory of the outdoor season.

In throwing events, after winning his first A-Sun Athlete of the Week Award, Joshua McNair looks to obtain his personal goal of making three NCAA qualifying marks in a single meet. The sophomore already has one mark in the discus (169-10.0ft) and is now determined to do the same in the hammer throw and the shot put. He will be joined by junior Aymerick Kolokilagi and freshman Eric Gill.

"Our field group has had a strong start to the outdoor season," said head coach Don McGarey. "Jerome and Josh both are phenomenal athletes. I expect them to respond to the strong competition at the meet by setting new personal records."

On the track the Owls will race in their first 10k of the season. Junior Michael Johnson and freshman Steven Murray will compete in the 25 lap race. Johnson had a strong indoor season as he lowered his personal-best numerous times, but Murray is expected to have an even better race as he is a long distance specialist.

"Steven has been waiting for this race," said distance coach Jason Waters. "He is our 10k guy. He may not be as fast as our other runners in the 5k, but he has stamina and he is going to prove that this weekend."

The Owls will also race in the 5k run and 3k steeplechase this weekend. Maxwell Ndungu makes his return to the 5k after sitting out several indoor and outdoor meets due to injury and the team of Scott Burley, Nathan Haskins and Alex Hay III will run in the steeplechase. Burley is the current A-Sun Outdoor Steeplechase champion and he plans on using these first races to get himself in shape for conference.

In short distance events, senior Devin Jones will compete in the 110m hurdles. Last week Jones posted a time of 14.50 for a third place finish at the Clemson Relays. His goal this week is turn in a time of 14.30 or less to reach his first NCAA Regional qualifying mark. Also featured in sprinting events this weekend will be freshman Gianni Catalano. After being crowned the A-Sun Indoor 800m champion, Catalano will race in his first 800m dash of the outdoor season at Tuscaloosa.

Catalano will later return to participate in the 4x400m relay with teammates Antonio Logan, Joshua James and James Verdi. The all freshman relay team will try to cut their current top time of 3:19.11.

"This weekend we are going to focus on our strongest relays," said sprint coach Devin West. "We have teams racing in the 4x100m, 4x800m and 4x400m relays. The 4x400m is our strongest team and I expect them to cut some serious seconds off of their time from last week."

The Alabama Relays will begin on Friday at 3:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time and continue all-day Saturday and Sunday.