Tigers’ Ziegler gets silver in NCAA

University of Memphis track and field athlete Manuel Ziegler took silver and All-America first-team honors in the men’s triple jump at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday in Eugene, Ore. Ziegler found the podium with a personal-best leap of 16.48 meters (55 feet, 1 inch).

“Manuel competed like a warrior today,” head track and field coach Kevin Robinson said.

“We talked before the meet about where we were and to come into the event with the mindset that we could win it. He executed very well, as we made a couple of technical adjustments in training. I am so incredibly happy for him and his achievement today.”

Zeigler’s performance capped a solid performance for the Tigers at the Outdoor Championships.

Memphis qualified seven athletes for the postseason finale, the most since the NCAA moved to a regional qualifying format in 2001.

“I would also like to give credit to the other athletes who made it this far,” Robinson said.

The Tigers return home with five athletes receiving All-America honors. On day one, Kala Funderburk finished 16th in the women’s 400-meter semifinal with a time of 53.14, earning the sophomore All-America second-team honors. Funderburk, Monica Mason, Keyona Neal and Maya Williamson then earned All-America second-team honors on day two, placing 15th in the women’s 4x400 relay semifinal in 3:36.59.

In other events, Williamson placed 17th in the women’s 400-meter hurdles semifinal, on day one, in a time of 59.52. In the men’s long jump on day two, Luis Hanssler finished 22nd with a leap of 7.15 meters (23-5.5). On day three, Xenia Rahn placed 18th in the women’s heptathlon, tallying 5,427 points.