Cullowhee, N.C. -- The Western Carolina track and field team will be represented at the East First Round of the NCAA Championships by freshman jumper Heidi Hudson thanks to an impressive clear of 1.78m, which she achieved during the Duke Invitational while participating in the heptathlon. Hudson is set to soar into the national spotlight May 25 with the Women's High Jump currently scheduled for 2:00 p.m. that afternoon. The East First Round will take place in Lexington, Kentcuky and is hosted by the University of Kentucky.
 
The freshman from Hattiesburg, Miss. has already enjoyed a successful first-year campaign, taking a first-place finish in the high jump at the Tennessee Invite while finishing second in the heptathlon's high-jump portion during the aforementioned Duke Invitational. Her 1.78m clear in Durham led to her being named the SoCon Field Athlete of the Week. She stood above the rest of her conference peers during the SoCon Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Birmingham, Ala., where she earned her first conference championship in the high jump after being the only athlete to clear the 1.75m bar.  
 
Hudson is currently in a three-way tie for 21st in the East region and will be the only athlete to represent the Southern Conference in the women's high jump at the East First Round. Only 10 freshmen made the cut to attend the regional meet in the event, with Hudson being the only one to be placed above 24th. The top mark in the region belongs to Elena Kulichenko of Georgia, who stands second in the nation with her clear of 1.96m. With 48 athletes competing in the preliminary meet, 20 are positioned close behind Hudson with clears of 1.77m and 1.76m. In terms of national standing, Hudson is in a four-way tie for 54th in the country. Lamara Distin from Texas A&M holds the top mark in the country after a clear of 1.96m in early April.  
 
"We are excited about this opportunity for Heidi," said head coach Jesse Norman, who has sent a Catamount to the NCAA preliminary meet in four of five full seasons since taking charge of the program in 2019. "To qualify as a freshman is a big deal and we believe is indicative of the type of athlete she currently is and will be down the road for the Catamounts". Hudson is the ninth WCU athlete to qualify for the regional meet and the first women's athlete to qualify since Makaila McIntyre represented the Purple and Gold since 2019. She is also the first Catamount high jumper to compete at the regional meet since Dakota Oxendine did so in 2019.  
 
The East First Round features the top 48 marks in the women's high jump competing for a bid at the national championships, which are taking place in Eugene, Oregon this year. The top twelve athletes from both first-round meets will compete at the national championships which run from June 5-8.  
 
 
Catamounts at the Regional Meet since 2019: 
2019 - Devaniel Dale: 200m/400m 
2019 – Trini Feggett: Long Jump 
2019 - Dijoun Huitt: Triple Jump 
2019 – Dakota Oxendine: High Jump 
2019 – Makaila Mcintyre: Long Jump 
2020 – No meet due to COVID-19 shortened season
2021 – Shon Pratcher: Long Jump 
2023 – Javell Brown: Triple Jump 
2023 – Javon Brown: Triple Jump 
2024 – Heidi Hudson: High Jump 
 
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