ANGOLA, IND. -- Senior Patrick Richardville (Leo, Ind./Leo) and junior Jeffery Barnett (Fremont, Ohio/Fremont-Ross) have earned spots to compete in the 2018 NCAA Division III National Indoor Meet. Richardville qualified in the 60-meter dash and Barnett will make a repeat appearance in the long jump.
"I'm very excited for Pat and Jeffery!," said Head Coach Rod Waters. "As a coach in this sport we strive to put our student athletes in position to reach the national championship meet each year, which is a very hard feat, but Pat and Jeffery have put in countless hours of hard work to perfect their craft and to see our goals came to fruition, it's a testament to their work ethic, I couldn't be more proud for these young men."
Richardville will be making his first trip to the NCAA National Indoor Meet after posting a qualifying mark of 6.91 seconds in the 60-meter dash. He recorded his time in the event at the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Championship where he won the individual title and his time was a school and conference record. Following the meet, he was tabbed All-MIAA and the conference "Most Valuable Runner."
Barnett will be making his second straight appearance in the NCAA National Meet in the long jump after finishing as runner-up last year in the event and garnered All-America honors, becoming the first Trine track and field athlete to earn All-America honors in the event. This season, Barnett has recorded a season-best jump of 23' 7.50" (7.20 meters) to qualify for nationals. Barnett was the MIAA Indoor Champion in the long jump for the second straight season and earned All-MIAA accolades.
Last season during the NCAA Meet, Barnett leaped a distance of 23' 6.75" (7.18 meters) to finish in second-place, just 7.75 inches (0.17 meters) behind the national champion. Barnett's finish was the highest by a Trine track and field performer since 2008.
The championships will be held March 9-10 at the Birmingham CrossPlex in Birmingham, Ala., with Birmingham Southern College and the Birmingham CrossPlex serving as hosts.