LEXINGTON, Ky. — Graduate student Kerem Ayhan highlighted the Northeastern track & field program's first day at the 2024 NCAA East Preliminary Rounds at the University of Kentucky on Wednesday.
 
The Hackettstown, New Jersey native recorded the fifth-best time in the first round of the 800m run, finishing fifth in the final heat at 1:47.82. That time was good enough for him to be one of six qualifiers on time in the event.
 
Ayhan and 23 other Eugene hopefuls will return to the track Friday with a 7:05 start time for the 800m quarterfinal. The top three finishers from each heat, plus the next top three times, will advance to the NCAA Championships in Oregon.
 
Senior Nicholas Pisciotta threw his final hammer throw attempt 62.89 meters to earn a 20^th-place finish at the meet. The three-time CAA hammer throw gold medalist improved upon last year's finish, where he threw 59.89m and finished 32^nd.
 
In the men's 10,000m, senior Patrick Cullen made his first appearance at the NCAA East Preliminaries and finished in 31:28.64.

The Huskies are back in action with senior Ava Duggan (1500m) and fifth year Dominique Biron (long jump) hitting the track. Duggan is currently set to run in the 1500m preliminary round at 3:30 p.m. and Biron is set to jump at 3 p.m., but the schedule is subject to change due to weather.