WASHINGTON – Matthew Payamps and Parker Stokes are Austin bound as the duo punched their tickets to the finals site of the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Friday at the East Prelims. Payamps earned a spot in the 1,500-meter semifinals while Stokes nabbed a spot in the 3,000-meter steeplechase semis at the Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium on the campus of the University of North Florida. It was the third day of a four-day meet that serves as precursor to the final rounds of the championships, held June 7-10 at the University of Texas in Austin.

ON THE RECORD
"We're very excited to have Hoyas heading to Austin, Texas to compete at the NCAA Championships final rounds. Matt Payamps fought hard to secure the final qualifying spot and Parker ran a very smart and controlled race to win his heat and punch his ticket to Austin. We're extremely proud of the effort from all our men who made it to the preliminary meet. We're looking forward to having Matt and Parker represent our program against the best at the NCAA level." - Director of Track & Field / Cross Country Alton McKenzie

"I'm very happy for Matt to make his first NCAA outdoor meet and for Parker to make his third straight. Having representation at the highest level of the NCAA is incredibly important for our program. I know both will represent Georgetown well in 10 days." - Assistant Track & Field Coach Brandon Bonsey
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Stokes competed in the third of three heats of the men's 3,000m steeplechase. He stayed toward the front of the pack through the entirety of the race and came off the final turn before the bell lap and took the lead. Despite trading the lead over the final 400 meters, he closed on a 1:05.91 split and regained the lead on the final straightaway to win the third heat with a time of 8:44.06. He had the sixth-fastest time in the heats.
• Payamps was in the second of a two-heat 1,500m quarterfinal. The faster of the two heats, Payamps kept his eyes on the way the race was shaping up and on the bell lap he was able to weave through the field and snagged the seventh spot, crossing the finish line at 3:49.56. With the top five automatically qualifying and the next two fastest marks advancing on time, Payamps was able to capture the last qualifying spot.
• In the first heat of the 1,500m quarterfinals, Camden Gilmore finished 11th with a time of 3:56.41. His time was enough for him to finish 23rd overall.
• Jantz Tostenson finished 16th in the first of three heats of the steeplechase. His time of 9:32.85 was enough for him to finish 46th overall.

 
OF NOTE

• Stokes advances to his third-straight NCAA Outdoor Championships and will compete in the semifinals for the third time in his career. In 2022, Stokes placed third in the finals of the event and in 2021 he finished eighth in the finals.
• Payamps advances to his first NCAA Outdoor Championships semifinal. He narrowly missed the opportunity in the 800-meter run during the 2021 season.

 
2023 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS EAST PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE
Saturday, May 27
5:15 p.m. - Women's 1,500m Quarterfinals (Riggins)
8:10 p.m. - Women's 5,000m Semifinal (Claeson, Scrimgeour)
 
UP NEXT
The Hoyas will send Payamps and Stokes to the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, held June 7-10, at the University of Texas in Austin. Both will be competing in the semifinals of their events.