JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville junior long jumper Julia Sue-Kam-Ling became the first Dolphin long jumper since 2007 to qualify for the NCAA Championships with her top-12 finish at the NCAA East Regional on Thursday.

After a 5.54m jump and a fault, Sue-Kam-Ling catapulted herself to second place after two flights with a leap of 6.15 meters. Her final jump was her second-best jump of the season, and coincidentally, came in the exact same fashion as her career-best 6.20 jump that sent her to Regionals: on her final attempt of the day.

Her last second theatrics on her 6.15m jump eventually became good enough to finish 11^th overall in the event and punched a ticket to Eugene, Oregon for the New York native.

"It was a wave of relief and excitement all at once," Sue-Kam-Ling said. "I hadn't been jumping the way I wanted early in the competition, and I could feel the frustration building. But I stayed strong and finished with an amazing jump. Once the event was over, I was overwhelmed just thinking about far I've come. It was a powerful moment and one I will never forget." 

Sue-Kam-Ling is the first Dolphin since 2023 to make the cross-country trek to Hayword Field on the Campus of the University of Oregon. Representing the ASUN, Sue-Kam-Ling will square off against the nation's best from June 11-14.

"This means everything," Sue-Kam-Ling said. "There have been so many ups and downs throughout my career and to be headed to Eugene is such a blessing. I've had incredible support from my family, my team and all the support staff at JU. I'm so grateful that God has blessed me with the opportunity to perform on such a big stage."

The long jump wasn't the only event the Dolphins competed in at the East Regionals hosted at UNF.

In the 400m, Cassidra Thompson finished her season with a 52.82 time, just .01 seconds off her personal best. Cassidra finished in 27^th overall, concluding her junior season. 

After an almost three-hour rain delay, and competing in the driving rain, senior Cassie Thompson took to the track for the 200m. In her final competition donning the Jacksonville letters, Cassie finished 29^th with a time of 23.61.