After a 38th place finish by the women’s track & field team and an 8th place finish by the men’s team at the NCAA Regional Championships, coach Rollie Geiger couldn’t help but be disappointed. He will be leading those athletes that qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships to Des Moines, Iowa, where he believes his team will put forth a stronger showing.
“Overall, we didn’t have a great regional meet,” Geiger said. “I fully expect us to have a good National Championship [Meet].”
The championships will be held from June 11-14, and the Pack is looking to finish in the top 25 and earn as many All-American honors for its athletes as possible. Geiger said performing well on the national stage is important for his program.
“What we’re attempting to do as a program is advance people to the finials and have some of those individuals make All-American,” Geiger said. “And if they do that, then we get points on the board and try to finish in the top 25 of the country.”
The Wolfpack will be represented by one female and five male athletes. The lone female is senior jumper DeMiracle Washington. She will be competing in the long jump after finishing fifth in that event at the regional competition. Though she is an outstanding long jumper, the Columbia, S.C. native believes triple jump is her best event.
“Actually, long jump wasn’t even my strongest event coming to N.C. State,” Washington said. “So I surprised myself this year, and I’m pleased with what I have obtained thus far.”
Chris Coleman, an assistant coach in charge of long, triple, and high jumpers, said it is hard to predict what DeMiracle’s strengths will be.
“DeMiracle does a lot of things surprising,” Coleman said. “When you don’t think she is going to jump good, she jumps good.”
As a senior, this will be Washington’s last opportunity to compete in the NCAA championships. She said it means a lot to compete on Divison I track & field’s highest stage.
“I’m pretty excited; it’s a big accomplishment for me,” Washington said. “It’s always been one of my top goals.”
On the men’s side, seniors Dexter Adams, Stephen Furst, Kevin Hutton, Tibor Vegh, and sophomore John Martinez will be representing the Pack in Des Moines. Geiger said his athletes’ experience will be a big advantage when it comes to competition.
“Most of these people are seniors, these are experienced athletes,” Coach Geiger said. “I do expect them to jump and run well at the national championships.”
Leading the men is Vegh, a senior distance runner from Hungary. He is going to the NCAA Championship meet after a 4th place finish in the steeplechase at the regional championships. As a senior, this will be Vegh’s last opportunity to compete in the Wolfpack uniform.
“I know that this is going to be my last NCAA championship that I can ever participate in, which is sad,” Vegh said. “It’s just a great thing that I have been a part of.”
Vegh believes both the pack runners and jumpers will earn medals in Des Moines.
“I’m pretty sure that were going to get a medal from one of our jumpers,” Vegh said. “Were going to get a couple All-Americans from our distance runners.”
