LEXINGTON, Ky. – Southern high jumpers Roman Smith and Keith Fowler saw their NCAA Championship hopes come down to the narrowest of margins Friday at the NCAA East Regional at the Kentucky Outdoor Track and Field Facility, finishing just outside the top 12 and missing qualification for the national meet.
 
Smith and Fowler were among the leaders early in the competition, clearing 2.11 meters (6-11) to sit tied for fourth place following the opening flight. Of the 10 athletes in the first flight to clear the height, the Jaguar duo were the only competitors to make both preceding heights on their first attempts, positioning themselves well heading into the second flight.
 
The situation tightened as the second flight unfolded. Seven additional athletes cleared 2.16m (7-1), joining three competitors from the first flight who had already reached that mark. With 10 automatic qualifying spots effectively secured, only two berths remained available for the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
 
Eight athletes matched Smith and Fowler's best clearance of 2.11m, but only two had done so on their first attempts, forcing a jump-off to determine the final national qualifiers. The jump-off began at 2.16m, the height the remaining competitors had failed to clear during the competition.
 
Georgia's Riyon Rankin was the first athlete to clear a bar in the jump-off, securing the 11th qualifying position. Southern Miss' Tyler Hughes followed shortly after to claim the final spot. Despite valiant efforts, both Smith and Fowler were unable to clear the height, ending their seasons just shy of advancing.
 
Smith finished 13th overall, narrowly missing a return trip to the NCAA Championships after qualifying a year ago. Fowler concluded an impressive freshman campaign with a 14th-place finish.
 
Up Next
Southern's attention now turns to hurdler Tashina Alase, who will look to become the first Lady Jaguar to advance to the NCAA Outdoor Championships since Alethea Antoine placed seventh in the 100-meter hurdles in 1994.
 
Alase is scheduled to compete in the second heat of the 100-meter hurdles quarterfinals at 5:15 p.m. Saturday. The top three finishers in each heat, along with the next three fastest times overall, will earn spots at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
 
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