ROCK HILL, SC–Winthrop sophomore sprinter Joe Hall has provisionally qualified for the 2003 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships that will be held Mar. 14-15 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Hall, a first-year performer for head coach Ben Paxton's Eagle track team after transferring from the University of New Orleans, turned in a qualifying time of 6.72 in the 60 meter dash this past Saturday during Winthrop's indoor meet at Appalachian State. That time currently ranks Hall 14th in the nation and has him in the running for one of the qualifying spots for NCAA nationals. According to Paxton, Hall still has an opportunity during the next six meets to move up or possibly down in the rankings. Paxton says about 18 of the top national times qualify for the championship meet.
"We knew all along that Joe could run outdoors, but to be this fast indoor at the first meet of the season shows that he can be a force nationally. There is no way for Joe to go but up and we are excited about his development here at Winthrop," says Paxton.
Hall, a native of Watkinsville, Georgia, was an All-Sun Belt Conference selection last year at New Orleans with a time of 10.51 for the 100 meter dash. He was also an all-state performer in the 100 meters at Clark Central High School.
