Northwestern State’s 4 x 100 meter relay squad of (l-r) Amir James, Micah Larkins, George Flaviano and Ty Shilling became the 11th Demons unit since 1980 to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships, running a 39.85 time Saturday at the NCAA East Preliminary Round
It took George Flaviano 24 hours to get redemption he sought from a Friday disappointment. Ty Shilling only had to wait a couple of minutes.
The last two runners on the Northwestern State 4 x 100 relay team were beaming Saturday evening after a 39.85 time, fifth in the fastest of three qualifying heats, was just enough to earn the Demons a trip to Eugene, Ore., for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Their relay teammates, Amir James and Micah Larkins, were already headed west after each qualified Friday in the 100 meter dash at the NCAA East Preliminary Round Championships, where the top 12 finishers in each event advance to the national meet June 8-11.
“Before we knew we had made it, I gave praise to God that we finished the race healthy, and then once the time came up on the board, I praised God again for allowing us to run fast enough,” Flaviano said.