TALLAHASSEE, FL- Senior middle distance runner Matthew Elliot, who is one of four Winthrop track and field athletes who have already qualified for the 2008 NCAA Regionals, continued to improve his performance as he crushed his own school record in the 1500 meter run and finished second in the Florida State Seminole Twilight meet this past weekend.

Elliot's time of 3:45.72 sliced more than two seconds off his previous best and surpassed the NCAA regional mark of 3:47.8.

" We knew coming in that Matthew would need to run a fast race this weekend. This is the track where the NCAA Regional will be held and under these conditions, he could produce great results," said Winthrop head coach Ben Paxton. "Matt will be a player in three weeks at the region meet."

Elliot jumped more than 45 people on the national rankings and is poised to challenge for a berth in the NCAA Outdoor Championships. His1500m time is the equivalent to a 4:02 mile.

Junior Ashley Howard got a feel for the facility with a winning toss of 152-'7 in the discus. Howard had a toe foul of over 170 feet that shows she is ready to pop a big throw, according to Paxton. Sophomore Rebecca Holmes ran 14.43 in the 100 meter hurdles for a second place finish. The men were highlighted by third place finishes by Travis Coleman in the shot (52--2) and Jared Baird in the javelin (188 ft.).

"This was a great tune up and dry run for the NCAA later this month . We have one more big meet this weekend where the competition will be stiff. Travis and Becca will need to step up to qualify. The others look poised as Ashley threw well here last year and Matthew will step down to 800 meters in an attempt to qualify in another event," said the Winthrop coach.   

The Winthrop Eagles will compete in the Georgia Tech Invitational in Atlanta this Friday and Saturday. The NCAA East Regional will be held in Tallahassee on May 30 and 31.