UAPB Track and Field’s John Prepared to Compete on High Level at NCAA West Preliminary First Round
FAYETTEVILLE, AR – After a dominant regular season and SWAC Championship, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff track team will send one highly polished and qualified athlete to the NCAA Track and Field West First Round held at John McDonnell Field.
With experience already at this specific level of competition, sensation Safiya John will return to her endpoint from last year’s outdoor 2021 season – NCAA Track & Field West Preliminary First Round, where she finished in 38th place with a finishing time of 13.55 seconds in the women’s 100-meter hurdles.
John is using last year’s moment to fuel her for this year’s West Preliminary First Round in not just the 100-meter hurdles but the women’s long jump competition as well, just before she takes her talents as a heptathlete to Eugene, Oregon, for NCAA Outdoor Nationals as the 24th ranked multi-event athlete in the nation.
John recently secured three first-place finishes at the SWAC (Southwestern Athletic Conference) Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.30 seconds; the women’s long jump with a mark of 6.10 meters (20’0.25); and the heptathlon with 5602 points.
John tested out the soil in Fayetteville, Arkansas, at the John McDonnell Invitational earlier this season. She finished top three in drastically cold temperatures and bad weather conditions such as snow, but this time, she is used to the weather conditions and will battle with a 40 percent chance of rain.
John will compete on Thursday evening with the 100-meter hurdles and long jump, starting at 6 p.m.
