The first day of the NCAA West Preliminary Track and Field round of the championships, in Austin was successful for the Texas Tech program as Wes Kittley saw seven of his athletes qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon June 10-13.

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As expected, high jumpers JaCorian Duffield and Bradley Atkins qualified for the national meet, but it was a freshman that excited the red and black contingent.

Trey Culver had already cleared a personal-best height of 2.17m/7-1.5 to be tied for 12th, the final qualifying spot. Culver won the jump off and earned the berth to Eugene by clearing 2.20m/7-2.5.

"Trey made a huge step in his competitive career," Texas Tech assistant coach James Thomas said. "Clearing two personal-best bars is one thing, but doing it under the extreme pressure this meet brings is another. This freshman has shown a level of consistency and competitiveness that makes me proud he is wearing red and black."

On the women’s side long jumpers Le’Tristan Pledger and Gionna Jackson qualified by recording seaon-best efforts.

Pledger jumped 6.33m/20-9.25 and Jackson measured a personal-best leap of 6.28m/20-7.25 to finish seventh and eighth respectively.

The preliminaries continue Friday with field events at noon and running events scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. at Mike Myers Track.

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