Rainer earns bid to NCAA Championships

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (May 30, 2006) - After tallying a sixth-place finish in the 100-meters at last weekend's NCAA Mid-East Regional Championships, senior James Rainer (Alcoa, Tenn.) extended his final collegiate campaign by earning a spot at the NCAA Championships. The meet is slated for June 7-10, in Sacramento, Calif.

Rainer blazed to a career-best and school-record time of 10.16 in the preliminary heats last Friday. The time is the 10^th-fastest mark in the 27-man NCAA field. The senior followed up his lifetime-low mark with a stellar performance of 10.37 in legal wind on Saturday, good for sixth place in the ultra-competitive Mid-East Region.

"I'm just really excited for him," said ETSU associate head coach Michelle Byrne. "He's been busting his tail for two years now, and it's all starting to pay off. He got really close (to going to nationals) indoors, and I think that really made him determined to get there outdoors. I couldn't ask for more from him, he's done everything he's needed to do. It's great for our program and hopefully he'll set a trend."

It has been over 10 years since an ETSU athlete earned All-America honors in the sprinting events, with Jeff Horton achieving the honor in 1995. Catherine Berry was the last Buccaneer to attend a national championship event, earning All-America accolades in 2000.

Stay tuned to ETSUBucs.com for updates on Rainer's record-setting season, and more on Bucs' track and field.