GREENSBORO, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University track and field program is sending two senior student-athletes to the NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field East Region Preliminary Championships on Thursday-Saturday, May 23-25 at North Carolina A&T in Greensboro, N.C.

Sprinter Ashley McCoy (Wilmington, N.C.) will represent NCCU in the women's 100-meter and 200-meter dashes, while jumper Willie Calvin (Greenville, Miss.) will compete in the men’s high jump. McCoy will run her first round race in the 100m dash on Thursday at 6:30 p.m., and the 200m dash on Friday at 8:00 p.m. Calvin will compete in the high jump on Saturday at 6:00 p.m.

The NCCU duo will be attempting to qualify for the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships held June 5-8 in Eugene, Ore. This outdoor season, McCoy has finished first five times in either the 100m or 200m dash, while Calvin earned two first-place and two second-place performances.

At the Coastal Carolina Invitational (March 8-9), McCoy finished the 200m dash with a time of 24.41, while improving in the following competition, Wake Forest Open (March 15-16), with a time of 23.58.

At the LeRoy T. Walker/Lee Calhoun Invitational (March 23), McCoy celebrated a first place finish in the 100m dash with a time of 11.94, while Calvin also enjoyed a first place victory in the high jump by clearing a jump of 2.05m (6’8.75").

McCoy’s fourth victory came at the Raleigh Relays (March 29-30), where she ran a time of 11.77 in the 100m dash.

McCoy finished ahead of the pack in the 100m dash at the Aggie Invitational (11.71) for her fifth first place victory held April 12-13 in Greensboro, N.C. Calvin finished second at the Aggie Invitational with a jump of 2.10m and also second at the Charlotte Invitational (April 19) at 2.03m.

Both student-athletes had impressive performances at the prestigious Penn Relays (April 27). Calvin earned a 10th-place position in the men’s high jump, completing a jump of 2.00m (6’6.75”). McCoy advanced to the finals in the women’s 100m dash, crossing the line in 11.78 seconds in the championship finals for a seventh-place effort, only four-tenths of a second behind event winner Olivia Ekpone of Texas A&M.

At the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Outdoor Track and Field Championships (May 2-4), Calvin won his second career conference title in the men’s high jump. The jump of 2.11m (6’11”) captured the gold medal. McCoy earned silver in the 100m dash with a time of 11.52 seconds.

Admission for the NCAA East Region Preliminary Championships is $10 for adults and $7 for youth per day. For more ticket options and information, contact the N.C. A&T ticket office at 336-334-7749.

For more information on the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships, logon to www.NCAA.com or www.NCCUEaglePride.com.