Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Macon, Ga. -- Campbell's Sam Tilly has reserved himself a spot at the NCAA East Regional after posting an automatic qualifying mark in the long jump on Friday at the Cape Fear Classic. His efforts have also earned him Atlantic Sun Athlete of the Week honors, league officials announced today.

The junior from Port Charlotte, Fla., automatically qualified to compete at the national tournament with his leap of 24-2 1/2 (7.38m) in the long jump. Tilly also garnered a second place finish in the 200-meter dash with a personal-best time of 22.18. He finished the competition with a third-place mark in the triple jump with a distance of 44-7 1/2 (13.60m).

His mark in the long jump is currently tenth best in the nation and ranks him third in the East Region. Tilly's jump is the best in the Atlantic Sun to-date. He currently holds nearly a two foot lead over ETSU's Nathan Strickland (21-2 3/4; 6.47m)

The award is the second of its kind for Tilly, the first during the outdoor season. Tilly was previously honored on Jan 17 of this year after he earned two first place finishes at the UNC Opener in Chapel Hill, N.C.

The Atlantic Sun Athlete of the Week is announced every Wednesday during the 2007 track season.

The 12-member league headquartered in Macon, Ga., consists of Belmont, Campbell, ETSU, Gardner-Webb, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Lipscomb, Mercer, UNF and Stetson with Florida Gulf Coast and USC Upstate beginning competition in 2007-08.

Other Top Performers:

• Fredrick Johansson, Gardner-Webb
[Fr. -- Oja, Sweden -- Engineering]
Johansson finished the 1500-meter run in 12th place out of a 53-man field. He also set a new career-best in the 1500-meter run with his time of 4:02.31 at the 2007 Hornet Invite in Sacramento, Calif.

• Cody MacArthur, Gardner-Webb
[Sr. -- Simi Valley, Calif -- Communications]
MacArthur won both the discus (154-7; 47.13m) and the hammer throw (165-8; 50.50m) at the Clemson Relays. His distance in the discus established a new Gardner-Webb record.