Courtesy of UCR Athletics
Courtesy of UCR Athletics

Several UCR track and field athletes qualified for the NCAA prelims, but none shined brighter than senior long jumper Ted Hooper, who qualified and placed 14th at the 2014 NCAA Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon on June 12.

Prior to the NCAA Championships, six Highlander athletes had made the NCAA West prelim rounds. This is an achievement in itself as only the top 48 athletes in their respective events make the NCAA West prelim round. Of those, the top 12 times and marks from both the East and West prelims make it to the NCAA Championships.

Danielle Littleton, who was named the athletic department’s Female Student Athlete of the Year, placed 18th in the long jump and also placed 22nd in the 100-meter hurdles, at 13.73 seconds. Phoenisha Schuhmeier placed 38th in the long jump. On the men’s side, Michael Kroger placed 39th in the 400 hurdles with a 52.87 time. Caleb Stuart placed 41st in the shot put and fouled out of the hammer throw. Chime Ikeme placed 42nd in the discus while Carl Nahigian fouled out in the shot put.

Hooper placed second in the prelims with his first jump. Then at the NCAA Championships, Hooper earned a 23.95 foot mark, missing the nationals by less than five inches. This was the second time he was recognized as a second team All-American as he placed 13th overall last year at the same venue.

Hooper is no stranger to adversity and success as he fouled all three jumps at the NCAA regional meet following his first Big West title in 2010. This year, he competed with a cast after fracturing his wrist while weight lifting. A year earlier, his junior year, he finished 13th at the U.S. Track and Field Championships.

This season Hooper also broke UCR’s school record, one that has remained since 1972, setting the bar at 25 feet, 10.25 inches. Over his career, Hooper three-peated as a Big West Champion in what will be remembered as one of the most successful track and field careers in UCR history.