Xavier's Rolland qualifies for nationals in outdoor opener

NEW ORLEANS — Devinn Rolland qualified Saturday for the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, and Xavier University of Louisiana had three event winners in the Tulane Team Challenge at Tad Gormley Stadium.

The meet was Xavier's first of the outdoor season.

Rolland, a sophomore, finished second in the women's long jump with a mark of 18 feet, 7 inches to exceed the NAIA's A-qualifying standard by nearly three inches. She was an NAIA All-American in this event in 2012 after placing sixth at the national meet.

Winning events for Xavier were sophomore Zahri Jackson in the women's 1,500-meter run (4 minutes, 48.71 seconds), sophomore Catherine Fakler in the women's 800 (2:26.42) and freshman Christopher Kennie in the men's long jump. Kennie's jump of 22-7 was better than the winning mark at last year's Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Championships.

Earning second-place finishes was the women's 400 relay team of Chelsea James, Chartia Hurt, Tayler Louis and Rolland (49.83), Kennie in the triple jump (41-1¾) and Kwame Jackson in the men's 3,000 (9:29.74).

Xavier's women scored 49 points to finish fourth out of six teams, and the men scored 33 points to finish sixth out of six teams. Tulane won both team titles.

"This was a good start for us," XU coach Joseph Moses said. "We competed well on a very cold day with a long of wind and not much sun. We're going to improve on these marks and qualify some more folks for nationals this season."

Xavier will compete next Saturday in the McNeese Cowboy Relays at Lake Charles, La.

Here are all the Xavier results from the Tulane Team Challenge:

Women

Long Jump: Devinn Rolland, 2nd in 5.66 meters (18 feet, 7 inches)
400-Meter Relay: Chelsea James, Chartia Hurt, Tayler Louis, Devinn Rolland, 2nd in 49.83
1,500: Zahri Jackson, 1st in 4:48.71; Catherine Fakler, 3rd in 4:58.63; Hannah Finnegan, 8th in 5:22.52; Briana Simms, 9th in 5:37.19
400: Chartia Hurt, 9th in 1:02.33; Tramaine Shannon, 10th in 1:03.93
100: Chelsea James, 6th in 13.74
800: Catherine Fakler, 1st in 2:26.42; Briana Simms, 6th in 2:43.96
3,000: Hannah Finnegan, 5th in 11.43.62
Team Scoring: 1, Tulane 242; 2, Southeastern Louisiana 83; 3, Loyola 76; 4, Xavier 49; 5, New Orleans 34; 6, Dillard 22

Men

Long Jump: Christopher Kennie, 1st in 6.88 meters (22 feet, 7 inches)
Triple Jump: Christopher Kennie, 2nd in 12.54 meters (41 feet, 1¾ inches)
1,500: Kwame Jackson, 4th in 4:25.87; David Holobowicz, 6th in 4:33.83
3,000: Kwame Jackson, 2nd in 9:29.74; David Holobowicz, 6th in 9:44.05
Team Scoring: 1, Tulane 124; 2, Dillard 95; 3, Southeastern Louisiana 76; 4, New Orleans 70; 5, Loyola 55; 6, Xavier 33.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA