HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Alabama A&M senior Akia Slaughter (Smyrna, Ga.) will become just the second member of the women's outdoor track & field program in more than a decade to compete in the NCAA Division I East Preliminaries when she lines up for the 100- and 200-meter quarterfinals on Thursday, May 27.
 
One of 48 individuals from the eastern portion of the country in each event, she will compete to earn a spot in the NCAA Division I Championships in Eugene, Oregon next month.
 
That journey begins in Jacksonville, Florida where the University of North Florida is hosting the 2021 NCAA East Preliminaries, with women's competition beginning tomorrow. Slaughter will take to the track for the quarterfinal round of the 100-meters at 6 p.m. Central Standard Time (CST) with the 200-meters following at 7:45 p.m.
 
In both events, she will need to either win her heat or be the runner-up to advance to the semifinals on Saturday, May 29. That day the 100-meters will be run at 6:05 p.m. and the 200-meters little more than an hour later at 7:10 p.m. The process is the same in those events with the stakes being a trip to the national championships hosted by Oregon from June 9-12.
 
Slaughter enters with the 38^th fastest time in the 200-meters and 40^th fastest in the 100-meters and is the first Bulldog to qualify for the NCAA Division I Women's Outdoor Track & Field East Preliminaries since Charrie Dennard did so in the long jump and triple jump in 2017. They are the only two A&M competitors to do so since at least 2010.

Fans can follow Slaughter's trip to the NCAA's through live results or live video, both available on www.AAMUSports.com, which will also have a full recap of all the action following the conclusion of each day.
 
ALABAMA A&M WOMEN'S COMPETITORS (1)
Akia Slaughter – 100-meters, 200-meters