BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Coppin State's
Joseph Manu will run in the NCAA National Championships in both the 100m and 200m dash after his performances in both events at the NCAA East Preliminaries on a wet Friday evening at Indiana University's Haugh Track & Field Complex. This is the first time that Manu qualified for Nationals in individual events after competing in three National qualifying relays.
A senior from Accra, Ghana, Manu opened his night by automatically qualifying for Nationals with a third-place finish in his heat of the 100m dash. Clocking a 10.14 into the wind, Manu bested Florida State's JoVaughn Martin for the final automatic spot as the Seminoles junior finished in 10.18. Placing just ahead of Manu were Ismael Kone of New Orleans (10.11) and Tennessee's Favour Ashe (10.12). Manu's time was the seventh-fastest in the Regional Quarterfinal.
Manu's time of 20.55 in the 200m was the fastest among non-automatic qualifiers as he finished fourth in his heat. LSU's Dorian Camel took third in the heat in 20.53 to automatically advance while Manu was joined by fellow time qualifiers Alaba Akintola (20.61) of Middle Tennessee State and Kentucky's Lance Lang (20.71).
The National Championships will be held in Eugene, Ore., from June 8-11 at historic Hayward Field. The semifinals of the 100m dash are set for Wednesday, June 8 at 8:46 pm Eastern followed by the 200m dash at 9:44 pm Eastern.
