JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - - Belmont University women's track & field junior Jessica Mattsson (Tierp, Sweden), senior Adreanna Parlette (Nashville, Tenn.) and sophomore Maddie Quinn (Bible Hill, Canada) have qualified for the 2021 NCAA East Regional meet.
The event will take place May 26-29 from the University of North Florida Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida.
"These ladies have helped raise the bar for our track and field program," said Belmont assistant coach Joe Frye. "From balancing academics to the unknowns throughout the pandemic, these three have set a standard of achievement that will be felt for years to come."
Mattsson, who has embraced a leadership role and bought into Frye's vision for the throwing events, claimed the 2021 OVC title in the hammer throw.
Her mark of 59.30m is good for a No. 42 ranking heading into the meet.
Parlette has revolutionized what is possible for a Belmont track athlete, in one outdoor season. The Nashville native earned OVC Female Field Athlete of the Year honors at the 2021 OVC Outdoor Championships.
The versatile athlete burst on the national scene in April with her record-breaking long jump of 6.50m at the Joey Haines Invitational; Parlette has ranked Top 10 nationally in the event all season and currently ranks third among all non P5 long jumpers.
Parlette, who won gold in the long jump at the OVC Outdoor Championships, while taking second in heptathlon, fourth in the 110 meter hurdles, and seventh in the high jump, will carry a No. 9 ranking into regionals in the long jump.
The event will serve as a homecoming of sorts for Parlette, who began her collegiate career at Jacksonville University.
As for Quinn, a season filled with highs and lows has come together at the perfect time. After a qualifying mark at the Margaret Simmons Invitational, the Canadian matched Mattsson and Parlette with a gold medal performance at conference. She won the javelin going away, with a mark of 45.91m.
Quinn will enter No. 44 in the javelin.
"Jess, Adreanna and Maddie are strong competitors, who know what it takes to deliver at the highest level," Frye added. "While our scheduling during the pandemic was somewhat limited geographically, we accomplished our goal of putting the women in environments that would test them mentally and physically. They have met every challenge, and I know they're excited to compete at NCAA Regionals."
2021 NCAA East Regional Championship Central
