Jacksonville, FL— Buffalo Junior Leon Atkins became the first UB Male athlete to qualify in the 800m for the NCAA Final Championships on Friday evening, as the middle-distance specialist qualified with a time of 1:49.87, finishing with the 12th fastest time in a field of 48 runners from all over the eastern United States. Atkins becomes the first UB Male athlete to qualify in the 800m event for the NCAA Final Championships.
The six-heat preliminary round on Thursday had a starting field of 48 competitors. After a strong and relaxed preliminary round 800m on Thursday evening, Leon Atkins came back in Friday evening for the quarter final round, one of only 24 athletes advanced to Friday's quarter final.