JONESBORO, Ark. (6/8/21) – A dream for so many athletes will become reality this week for a pair of Arkansas State men's track and field athletes.
Bennett Pascoe and Eron Carter will represent the Red Wolves this week at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the new Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. The pair look to add to A-State's history on college track and field's biggest stage this week, competing in the 3000m steeplechase and discus throw, respectively. Pascoe will open up Wednesday in the steeplechase semifinals at 7:32 p.m. CT, vying for a spot in Friday's final.
On Friday, Carter will throw in the men's discus final, slated for a 6:35 p.m. CT start. Should Pascoe advance, he will run for a national title, with start time set for 7:24 p.m. CT.
MEDIA COVERAGE
The 2021 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships will be televised on the ESPN family of networks, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3. A complete list of streams can be found here, while live results can be followed here.
PASCOE'S ROAD TO EUGENE
Pascoe posted the top preliminary time in the NCAA two weekends ago in College Station. The Conway, Arkansas, native battled intense heat and humidity en route to breaking his own school record with a facility-best mark of 8:37.45.
The Sun Belt Conference champion in the 1500m and the steeplechase, where he set meet records in both events, Pascoe has been consistently among the nation's best. In his four times running the steeplechase, he has recorded three consecutive first-place finishes after placing second at the Wichita State Open early in the season.
CARTER'S ROAD TO EUGENE
Carter's path was somewhat different. Ranked 44th in the West entering the preliminary round, but threw out the rankings as he posted his best performance to date, obliterating his previous career best in the discus with a throw of 56.73m (186-1.0) to place ninth in the field and punch his ticket to Eugene.
Prior to prelims, the Palatka, Florida, native and former three-sport standout snagged silver in the discus at the Sun Belt Conference Championships. In all six of his regular-season meets prior to the conference championships, Carter placed no worse than fourth in the event, notching four victories and a second-place result at the highly-competitive John McDonnell Invitational.
THE STREAK CONTINUES
With Pascoe and Carter qualifying for nationals, Arkansas State's streak of sending multiple athletes to the NCAA Outdoor Championships extended to eight.
QUOTABLE
"The biggest thing I'm focused on is not to be star struck when I get there. I have come from being a walk-on at Arkansas State to running with some of the best in the nation. I'm trying my best to be confident and realize that I belong there." – Bennett Pascoe
"It's one of my biggest dreams to go to nationals, ever since my freshman year. It's really exciting that it's in Oregon at the new stadium … I feel like this sets an example for the freshmen coming in, that anything is possible here." – Eron Carter
SOCIAL MEDIA
For the latest on the A-State track and field program follow @AStateTrack on Twitter and @Arkansas_State_Track on Instagram, while also liking the team's Facebook page at Facebook.com/AStateTrackAndField.
A-STATE'S SCHEDULE AT THE 2021 NCAA OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Wednesday, June 9
7:32 p.m. CT – 3000m Steeplechase Semifinals (Bennett Pascoe)
Friday, June 11
6:35 p.m. CT – Discus Final (Eron Carter)
7:24 p.m. CT – 3000m Steeplechase Final (Bennett Pascoe)*
* - if advance
