EMPORIA KS. - Southern Connecticut track & field will send six student-athletes to the 2024 NCAA Division II National Championships on May 23-25 at Welch Stadium in Emporia, Kansas hosted by Emporia State University. Hannah Caiola will represent the women's program while Cameron Belton, Nevan Burke, Jordan Davis, Ramsley Exantus and Bernardo Mbaya will represent the Owls' men's program.
Caiola qualified in the 400 Meter run with a career-best time of 53.61 at the Jack Malony Invitational, which is the 11th-fastest NCAA Division II time this season. Caiola also captured the NE10 Indoor and Outdoor 400 Meter run titles this season.
Both Davis and Burke qualified in the Javelin Throw. Davis currently owns the top mark in the country at 83.77m from the Texas Relays while Burke's career-best 67.37m at this past weekend's New England Championships ranks ninth in NCAA Division II. Burke will be making his first trip to the NCAA's while Davis will be making his fourth trip in four seasons while the Owls' Olympic hopeful won the 2022 NCAA Division II Javelin Throw National Championship. Davis is a three-time All-American in the event.
Belton will be making his third-straight Outdoor appearance in the Shot Put after competing in 2022 and 2023. At this year's NE10 Outdoor Championships, Belton hit a career-best mark of 17.94m, which ranks 11th nationally, for his first career outdoor Shot Put title. Belton has won the last three NE10 Indoor titles and has also qualified for the last three NCAA Division II Indoor National Championships. Belton is a three-time Outdoor All-American and a three-time Indoor All-American.
Exantus will also be making his third-consecutive NCAA Division II National Championship appearance in the 400 Meter Hurdles. Exantus competed in the 2023 and 2022 championships, while he was also an All-American as part of the 4x400 Relay team in 2022. Exantus' time of 51.52 that won his second-straight NE10 Championship ranks 12th in the country.
Mbaya will also compete in the Shot Put event after hitting a career-best mark of 18.08m at the Jack Maloney Invitational, which ranks seventh in the country. Mbaya will be making his second-straight appearance after competing in the event last season.
Owls' fans can watch each day of the championships on NCAA.com. Coverage of throwing events will also be available on the MIAA Network.
