Johnson City, TN-Day one of the 2004 Southern Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships concluded this evening at the Memorial Center on the campus of East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, TN. Appalachian State leads both the men' and women' team races with the ASU men leading Western Carolina by 13 points and the Mountaineers'women ahead of second place Chattanooga by 32 points.
On the men's side, Steven Kocsis of Chattanooga was the day's first winner, taking the 3,000-meter race with a time of 8:23.03. Bradley Yewer of ETSU, the defending champion in this race, finished second (8:24.24) while Western Carolina's Adam Puett placed third (8:29.68). The Catamounts' Wes Willoughby was victorious in the pole vault at 4.60 meters. In second place was Jeff Fiorello of Appalachian State (4.45m). ASU's Dan Queen (4.45m) took third place. In the distance medley relay, UNC Greensboro placed first (10:11.00), edging out second place East Tennessee State (10:11.46) and third place Davidson (10:14.82). Claiming victory in the men?s long jump was WCU's Justin Davis with a leap of 7.41 meters. Davis was followed by teammates Tyler Ferguson (7.09m) and Arthur Robertson (6.86m). And in the shot put, Bob Smith of Appalachian State won with a mark of 16.60 meters. In second place was ASU's Anthony Greer (16.32m), and coming in third was another Mountaineer, Kerry Brown (15.27m).
On the women's side, Georgia Southern's Kellie Mitchell won the inaugural Pentathlon with 3754 total points, edging out ETSU's Kristin Truman (3415) and Appalachian's Tondra White (3342). Chattanooga's Shannon Wommack won the 3,000-meter race for the third consecutive season with a time of 9:52.87. She was followed by teammate Kathleen Turchin (9:59.75) and College of Charleston's Kyle Palmquist (10:11.10). The shot put was won by ASU's Beverly Burnett with a mark of 14.68 meters. Georgia Southern's Nikki Slocumb placed second in the event (13.86m) while Appalachian's Nikole Simmons took third (13.85). Another ASU athlete was victorious as Suzanne Makinson took the high jump title at 1.68 meters. She was followed by Alison Frese of Chattanooga (1.68m) and Kellie Mitchell of Georgia Southern (1.63m). UTC gained 10 more team points as the Lady Mocs' Kasola Smith won the long jump competition with a leap of 6.05 meters. Placing second was Ronda White of Appalachian State at 5.96 meters, and third place was Shameka Harris of Western Carolina (5.81m). In the day's final competition, the distance medley relay, Chattanooga placed first at 12:20.24, followed by Appalachian Stat (12:24.71), and Western Carolina (12:27.31).
Competition from Johnson City concludes on Sunday, February 29. For more information and results visit www.SoConSports.com.
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Men's Standings Points
1. Appalachian State 72
2. Western Carolina 59
3. East Tennessee State 23
4. Chattanooga 19
5. UNC Greensboro 12
6. Davidson 6
6. The Citadel 3
Women's Standings Points
1. Appalachian State 83
2. Chattanooga 51
3. Georgia Southern 43
4. Western Carolina 28
5. East Tennessee State 11
6. College of Charleston 7
6. Furman 7
8. Davidson 3
9. The Citadel 1
