Howard, Brown and Gottlieb to Represent Temple at NCAA Track & Field East Regional

PHILADELPHIA - Three members of Temple track & field have earned the right to represent the Owls at the NCAA East Region Preliminary, which will be hosted by USF in Tampa from May 24-26. Sophomore Millie Howard will make an appearance for the second year in a row, while freshmen Aisha Brown and Helene Gottlieb will both compete at the national level for the first time.

"Obviously, all three of these ladies have worked hard to be there," said Temple head coach Elvis Forde. "In order to advance to the NCAA Championships, they understand the challenge ahead of them as this meet features some of the top athletes not only in the country but around the world and two of those are ours as well (Howard from England and Gottlieb from Denmark). I think all three understand the scope and magnitude of competing at this level, and the special company they'll be in."

Howard raced in the 800 meter at last year's NCAA Regionals and could have done so again, but will compete only in the 1,500 meter this year after recording her top time of 4:21.02 at the Ole Miss Classic on March 31. She recently won a silver medal in the event at the American Athletic Conference Championships. She enters the NCAA regional with the 44th-best time in the 1,500.

The first round of the 1,500 is set for 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 24, with the quarterfinal set for Saturday, May 26 at 6:45 p.m.

"Millie had a very good year and set a school record in the 800, but her and Coach Snyder chose the 1,500 and think her chances of moving on are better in that event," said Forde.

Brown had perhaps the most impressive showing at the AAC Championships for Temple, and will compete in the high jump at the NCAA regional. She had already qualified for the regional earlier in the season, but broke her own personal best twice at the conference meet, ultimately clearing a height of 1.82 meters (5' 11.5") to win silver for the Owls. That jump is currently tied for 14th-best in all of NCAA Division I, and is tied for the fifth best mark in the East.

The first and only round of the high jump at the regional meet is set for 5 p.m. on May 24.

"Aisha is our highest-ranked athlete heading into regionals, and as a freshman," said Forde. "There's a real sense on the team that the freshmen have been doing an excellent job laying the foundation for what we hope to achieve going forward. She's top six but nevertheless, on the day, you have to rise to the level of competition to make it to the next level. Coach Ellison has done a wonderful job with Aisha and we have high expectations for her."

Gottlieb qualified to compete in the 800 meter by running a personal best time of 2:07.96 to place fourth at the AAC Championships. Her time ranks 59th in the East. The first round of the 800 meter will take place at 8:35 p.m. on May 24, with the quarterfinal to follow on Friday at 6:45 p.m.

"Helene's situation is like Millie's in the 800 last year as one of the last one in," said Forde. "Hopefully this will be a great experience for her and give her something to shoot for, but we don't want it to be just experience. We hope for her to do well and that will be determined by how she competes."

Ultimately, the top 12 from every event at the NCAA Regionals will move on to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore. in early June, a meet Forde calls "one of the best in the world."

"For Helene and Millie, it has been a long year starting with cross country in August and then a full season of track," said Forde. "The length of their season is definitely tough. Aisha had a little bit of a break after playing soccer. But they're all ready and it's about executing and seeing what happens, and our level of optimism is high."

Temple University Athletics

Howard, Brown and Gottlieb to Represent Temple at NCAA Track & Field East Regional

Players Mentioned

Aisha Brown

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