Pruckno Posts NCAA Automatic Qualifying Time in Second Place at ECAC's
New York, N.Y.
New York, N.Y. (3/5/2011) – Utica College junior hurdler Joe Pruckno (Rome, N.Y./ Rome Free Academy) became the College’s first-ever automatic NCAA qualifier by posting a time of 7.52 in the men’s 55 meter hurdle finals at the ECAC Championships hosted by New York University at the Armory Track in New York City Saturday afternoon. Pruckno’s second place time was just .01 seconds off the winning mark set by The College of New Jersey’s Kyle Gilroy. Pruckno is now guaranteed a spot in the 55 meter hurdles at the NCAA Division III National Championships next weekend in Columbus, Ohio.
Freshman hurdler Jess Ciraulo was unable to top her personal best time set at the State Championships last weekend (8.47) but she still managed a sixth place finish in the women’s 55 meter hurdles with a time of 8.51 (NCAA provisional cut time is 8.55).
It is now a waiting game for Ciraulo and freshman thrower Breiten Balschmiter, who both posted NCAA Provisional cut marks in their respective events. The NCAA generally takes 12-15 competitors for each competition and both Ciraulo and Balschmiter have posted marks that rank in the top 20 nationally. The NCAA will release the national qualifiers on Sunday.