THIBODAUX, La. – After their stellar performances at the Southland outdoor meet two weeks ago, Jaimee Springer and Aja Scott of the Nicholls women's track and field team head to Jacksonville, Fla., for the 2012 NCAA East Preliminary Meet hosted by the University of North Florida.
 
The three-day meet begins on Thursday with the multi-events and most of the throws competitions, as both were placed in the first flight of competitors for the event tomorrow afternoon.
 
Scott and Springer are two of 48 total Southland Conference athletes to make the cut for the track and field version of a national semifinal, as the league is one of the top 15 conferences sending athletes to regional competitions this weekend.
 
Scott's best throw of the year came at the Louisiana Classics meet hosted by ULL, with a throw of 44.05 meters (144-06) which was third overall.
 
Springer, the Southland Conference runner-up in the event, had her best throw at another ULL meet, this coming in the Cole-Lancon Invitational in the last regular season meet of the season where she threw for 43.81 meters (143-09). Springer won two Javelin competitions on the season and was the highest Colonel finisher during the league championships.
 
There will be three flights with 16 athletes in each round for a total of 48 participants. The top 16 with the best marks will then move to a three-attempt final, with the best 12 moving on to the national championships in Des Moines, Iowa for the finals. Live results of the meet can be followed at http://www.flashresults.com/2012_Meets/outdoor/05-24-NCAAEast/Day1.htm.