Boston, Mass. (Mar. 6, 2011) --- Delaware State University has qualified for the 2011 NCAA Division I Indoor Championship with a record performance in the 1600-meter relay this afternoon.
The Hornets set IC4A, Delaware State University and facility records during a first place finish in the 4x400-meter relay at the Eastern championship at Boston University today. The DSU team of Tariq Devore, Leslie Murray, Ryan Carter and Donte Holmes topped the field with a time of 3-minutes-6.98 seconds. Long Island was second in the race at 3:09.17, followed by Rutgers (3:10.70).
Delaware State's winning time ranks seventh among all Division I schools this indoor season and qualifies the Hornets for the NCAA national championship competition at Texas A&M University in College Station, Tex., next weekend.
The previous IC4A and facility record was 3:07.43 by George Mason in 2010, while the old DSU record was 3:09.11.
Delaware State finished 11th out of more than 50 schools in the final IC4A team standings with 24 points.
In addition to collecting 10 points for winning the 1600 relay, Carter earned eight points for the Hornets with a second place photo finish in the 200-meter dash. George Mason's Rachaunn Ruffin beat out Carter by a hair to win the race. Ruffin was clocked at 21.188 seconds to Carter's 21.191.
Holmes picked up six points for Delaware State with a third place showing in the 800-meter run. He posted a time of 1:49.29, trailing only first place Felix Kitur of VMI (1:48.53) and runner-up Julius Mutekanga of Long Island (1:49.28).
