JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Samory Fraga and Christian Champen qualified for the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships as the Kent State men's track and field team began competition at the NCAA East Preliminary Round on Thursday. Fraga placed ninth in the long jump and Champen tied for 11th in the pole vault.
The duo joins teammate TJ Lawson, who previously qualified in the decathlon. Fraga advances to nationals for the second time, having also qualified in 2017, and Champen will make his NCAA Championships debut.
After coming up inches short of his second straight NCAA bid a year ago, Fraga was able to extend his collegiate career with a top jump of 25'-0" on his second attempt.