Samford ? War Eagle Invitational
AUBURN, Ala. ---- Saturday, members of the Samford University track and field team closed out their final competition before the Southern Conference Championships at the War Eagle Invitational hosted by Auburn University. Only a few Bulldogs competed but they walked away with success in their hands including two school records and two regional-qualifying marks.
“Things went very well this weekend at Auburn,” Samford head coach Rod Tiffin said. “We had great weather that really allowed us to get some things accomplished that we needed to do before the conference meet.
“On Friday night, Hillary Neal set the school record and got a regional-qualifying mark in the 1500-meter run,” Tiffin said. “That really kind of got the meet started on a great note. Then Patrick Wells kind of ended it out on one of the last events of the day for us, on the pole vault, with a regional-qualifying mark and a school record also. In between, everyone really did a great job. We just keep plugging along and next week should be really fun for us. I think we are in really great shape for the conference meet. Everybody is where they need to be. We look forward to going to the conference meet next week to see where we stack up.”
Friday, Neal placed third in the 1500 with a school-record time of 4:25.64, which also qualified her for the NCAA Mideast Regional.
Deanna Zidar placed second in the women’s 3000-meter steeplechase with a time of 11:30.94 while Ashley Dance finished 28th in the 200-meter dash with a time of 25.31.
Wells vaulted a school record of 16-06.75 in the men’s pole vault while also qualifying for the NCAA Mideast Regional. Mary Barron finished 13th in the women’s pole vault by clearing 10-08.
Donald Cooper took 21st place in the men’s 400-meter dash with a time personal best time of 49.72 while Cavan Corcoran was 12th in the 400-meter hurdles with a personal best time of 56.98. Chris Davis placed 11th in the shot put with a toss of 46-04.75.
The entire Bulldog team will head to Statesboro, Ga., next weekend to compete in the Southern Conference Championships. The two-day event will be hosted by Georgia Southern and will take place on Saturday and Sunday, April 25-26.
Georgia Southern ? War Eagle Invitational
AUBURN, Ala. - The Georgia Southern track & field team had a strong showing at the War Eagle Invitational Saturday. The Eagles set a number of new season highs in preparation for next week's Southern Conference Championships.
Georgia Southern did well in the high jump recording jumps of 1.75 and 1.67. Melanie Trumbo (Lilburn, Ga.) won the event and tied her regional qualifying mark of 1.75 meters from the Florida Relays. Jasmine Lightning (Dacula, Ga.) set a new season high and tied for third in the high jump with a mark of 1.67 meters. Alex Cassagnol (Augusta, Ga.) also finished with a mark of 1.67 meters.
Ashley Bush-Hardy (Fayetteville, Ga.) improved on her 400-meter dash time from the GSU Invitational with a time of 57.52 on Saturday.
Laura Fuller (Cartersville, Ga.) also set a new season high finishing in the top 20 in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:18.27. Fuller gave the Eagles a top-10 finish in the 1500-meter run and finished with a time of 4:42.31.
Demetrise Anthony (Manchester, Ga.) finished 14th in the 200-meter run and improved on her season high time of 25.87 by almost a full second. Anthony finished with a time of 24.91. Anthony also finished fourth in the long jump with a mark of 6.06 meters.
Kristin Olson (Senoia, Ga.) ran the 100-meter hurdles in a time of 15.27 and finished 15th in the preliminaries. Olson finished 13th in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:05.25.
Kassi Lee (Elberton, Ga.) improved on her 3000-steeplechase time from the Florida Relays and finished 4th at the War Eagle Invitational with a time of 12:25.62.
Shaunta Hamilton (Macon, Ga.) finished 9th in the triple jump and finished with a mark of 11.79 meters.
Trumbo continued her fine day with a sixth-place finish in the javelin throw. She recorded a mark of 40.07 meters.
Track & Field will return home to host the Southern Conference Championships next Saturday and Sunday.
Elon ? A&T Friendship and Freedom Games
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Freshman sprinter Amy Salek continued her stellar freshman campaign by breaking two school records at the N.C. A&T Friendship and Freedom Games in Greensboro, N.C. Salek broke the 400-meter dash record, crossing the line in third place with a time of 55.16.
The time beat her previous school record set earlier this season. She went on to join sophomores Melissa Turowski and Sarah Skogen and Junior Jennine Strange in the 4x400-meter relay to set a new school record with a time of 3:49.20 to finish in third place and post the second best collegiate time.
"We had a great meet today with several outstanding performances,” head coach Mark Elliston said. “Today was a good indicator of how well the team has been preparing this year as we head into the conference championships next weekend.”
Sophomore long jumper Veronica Day continued the record-breaking ways, besting her previous record with a leap of 18-08.50 for a third-place finish. Teammate Lauren Hawkesworth narrowly missed setting another record as she placed second in the women's triple jump with a leap of 38-05.50. Day placed just behind her with a third-place finish with a best leap of 38-04.00. Junior Monique Vines rounded out the competition placing fifth overall in that same event.
Strange put forth a great time in the women's 800-meter run finishing as the top collegiate and second overall with a time of 2:15.91. Teammate Taylor Shaw finished in fifth place with a time of 2:23.73.
Sophomore Jacqueline Beliveau ran a season best of 1:04.72 in the women's 400-meter hurdles. Her time was good enough to place fifth overall and as the third best collegian time. Beliveau also put forth a sixth place effort in the women's javelin throw (25.69m). Her teammate Justine Robertson also placed in the javelin as she came in third overall with a season-best throw of 36.23m. Robertson later went on to throw a season best in the women's shot put with a heave of 12.19m, good enough for eigthth overall (seventh best collegiate mark) and placed third in the women's discus throw with a throw of 36.68m.
The 4x100-meter relay team consisting of Skogen, Dana Cataldo, Day and Salek put forth a time of 48.41, good enough for sixth place overall and fifth best collegiate time.
Sophomore high jumper Courtney Weathers matched her season best performance jumping 1.57 meters, good enough for sixth place.
The Elon Track team will take to the track next weekend in Statesboro, GA as they compete in the SoCon Outdoor Championship.
Appalachian State ? men ? Appalachian Invitational
BOONE, N.C. - Appalachian State University men's track and field continued to ready for the upcoming Southern Conference championships as the Mountaineers had yet another solid outing Friday afternoon at the Appalachian Invitational.
Freshman Dennis Moore paced ASU in the 100-meter dash, finishing first in the event with a time of 10.83, while John Svoboda captured the runner-up spot with a time of 10.90.
Svoboda also was strong in the 200-meter dash, placing first with a time of 22.33.
In the 800-meter run, Bud Galloway and Chris Moen grabbed the first and second place spots, while Moen, Asmeron Desta, Josh Houser and Sean Soderman all took the first through fourth place finishes in the 1500-meter run.
Mason Campbell notched another first-place finish for the Black and Gold in the 3000-meter steeplechase, running the event in 9:39.39.
In the hurdles events, Daniel placed third in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.54, while AJ Dohanic and Sean Thompson earned the fourth and fifth place spots in the 400-meter hurdles.
Freshman Darius Purcell continued his impressive performances in the high jump, finishing first overall with a jump of 6-6.75. Teammate Matt Pfingst notched the runner-up spot in the event.
Landon Patterson came in first in the pole vault, vaulting a personal best 14-7.25, with Mike Wilson, Zach Smith, Jack Bell and Pfingst taking the next four spots in the event.
The Apps capped off the meet with solid showings in the throwing events, as Malcolm Styers grabbed a second-place finish in the shot put with a throw of 53-4.50, while Jerod Gardner also came in first in the discus throw, with a season best toss of 159-1. Tim Daly continued the Apps strong showing in the throws, placing first in the hammer with a throw of 188-6.5.
ASU continues with the 2009 campaign, as the Mountaineers head to Statesboro, Ga. to defend their SoCon outdoor crown, as the Apps will compete at the 2009 Southern Conference Outdoor Championships, beginning Saturday April 25.
Appalachian State ? women ? Appalachian Invitational
BOONE, N.C. - Appalachian State University women's track and field continued with its dominating performances Friday afternoon at the Appalachian Invitational, as the Apps posted seven first place finishes and numerous other imprewssive performances.
Ashley McKiver paced the Apps in the 100-meter dash, winning the event with a time of 12.51, while Monica Johnson notched the runner-up spot and Bianca Harvey came in fifth.
In the 200-meter dash, Nadia Liriano, Asia Dunlap and Porsha' Evans-Hardy grabbed the third through fifth-place finishes, while Lynda Hiller and Christina Parker came in third and fourth in the 400-meter dash.
Kala Robertson captured first place in the 1500-meter run, running the race in 2:19.32, while teammates Dani Reese and Melissa Kopec placed second and third in the event.
In the 1500-meter run, Stephanie Payne and Stephanie Chapman led the Black and Gold coming in second and fourth overall, while Amy Neilson and Ashley Norris claimed the third and fourth-place spots in the 5000-meter run.
Evans-Hardy continued with her solid showing, as she finished first in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.14, while Michelle Brutus and Naadia Crutchfield placed second and third in the 400- hurdles.
In the high jump, Rebecca Hazeltine leapt 5-7, good enough for a first-place finish, while Julie Ward, Bridgette Hills and Crystal Dukes all took the fourth through sixth place spots. Ward also captured first place in the pole vault with a vault of 11.-7.75.
The Mountaineers were dominant in the throwing events, with Whitney Smyre, Dukes, Michaela McGriff and Carla Durham, earning the first through fourth place finishes in the shot put and Llly Tallent, Smyre and McGriff placing second, third and fourth in the discus.
In the hammer throw, Carla Durham posted a new personal best throw of 160-8, and won the event. The performance was good enough to put her at fifth on Appalachian's all-time list in the event.
ASU returns to action Saturday April 25, as the Apps travel to Statesboro, Ga. to compete at the 2009 Southern Conference Championships.
Western Carolina ? WCU Invitational
Cullowhee, N.C. - The Western Carolina Track & Field teams posted a strong showing in its annual WCU Invitational held at the Catamount Athletic Complex in Cullowhee, N.C. late Friday afternoon.
In the men's javelin throw event the Catamounts swept the competition taking first, second and third, respectively. Sophomore Matt Evans led the way throwing 61.60-meters (202-1). Freshman Darron Dotson, fresh off his SoCon field athlete of the week award, took second with a 56.52-meter throw. Freshman Wayne Parker finished the event in third with a 48.90-meter throw.
In the men's pole vault event Mike O'Steen took first place with a 4.65-meter vault (15-3). Teammate Joel Lynch took third place with a 4.50-meter vault.
Cale McDaniel placed second in the men's hammer throw event posting a 49.00-meter throw (160-9). McDaniel fell just three feet shy of a first-place finish.
Ryan Pless took home first-place honors in the men's shot put event throwing 49-7.25. Teammate McDaniel took second in the event with a throw of 47-11.25.
Jamie Van Pelt took first in the men's discus throw with a throw of 46.74-meters (153-4).
In the men's high jump event the Catamounts took their second swept of the day as Evans won his second event jumping 2.13-meters (6-11.75). Teammate Daniel Joseph placed 2nd jumping 6-2 and David Gift finished in third place jumping 6-0.
In the men's triple jump event junior Alex Dollard placed second with a 13.39-meter jump (43-11.75).
Junior Stephen Hammond won his first outdoor event this season placing first in the men's 1500-meter event with a time of 3:58.22 seconds.
Western Carolina completed their third swept of the day in the men's 110-meter hurdles event as Jordan Blazer finished in first place with a time of 15.12 seconds. Teammate David Gift finished right behind him at 16.17 seconds and Sean Readon in third with a time of 16.17 seconds as well.
In the men's 400-meter hurdles Jordan Blazer took first place with a time of 55.33 seconds finishing just ahead of teammate Jestin Jennings with a time of 55.37 seconds.
Thomas Funderburk finished in second place in the men's 400-meter dash event with a time of 49.13 seconds falling less then two seconds behind the first-place finisher.
Manteo Mitchell qualified for the NCAA regional in the men's 100-meter dash posting a third-place finish with a time of 10.50 seconds, which is .05 seconds ahead of the NCAA regional time of 10.55 seconds.
Dominique Young placed third in the 200-meter dash with a time of 21.03 seconds which marks the second time Young has qualified for the NCAA regional.
Drew Tucker placed second in the men's 800-meter run with a time of 1:52.88 seconds falling a mere .66 seconds from first place.
The men's 4x100-meter relay team posted another first place finish with a time of 40.07 seconds coming just .07 seconds from tying the record in the event broken in last years Catamount Classic.
On the women's side Summer Hughes started things off with a first-place finish in the javelin throw throwing 114-3. Teammate Kassie McKie finished in third with a throw of 99-3
The women's team had their first sweeep of the afternoon in the women's hammer throw event as Chelsea Mclean finished in first with a throw of 48.40-meters (158-9).
Teammate Deirdra Morrison finished in second place with a 38.44-meter throw and Deidra Steele placed third throwing 37.06-meters.
In the women's discus throw Deirdra Morrison took second with a 34.27-meter throw while Deidra Steele placed third with a 32.50-meter throw (106-7).
Morrison finished her solid day with a first-place finish in the women's shot put event throwing 10.93-meters for her first outdoor victory on the season.
In the women's pole vault event the Catamounts took their third sweep on the women's side as Jessie Wilson took first with a 3.45-meter vault. Teammate Kassie McKie took second vaulting 3.30 meters and Summer Hughes placed third at 3.00 meters even.
In the women's high jump event sophomore Janet Carothers placed second jumping five-2.50. Teammate Jettana Thomas placed third with a jump of 4-10.50.
In the women's triple jump event Tia Jones placed first with an 11.65-meter jump with teammate Tori Jones following in second place with a 10.92-meter jump.
In the women's long jump event Tia Jones took first place with a jump of 17-9.75. Teammate Alicia Gainey placed third in the competition at 16-11.25.
The women's team posted their second swept of the afternoon after Carlyn Wright posted first in the 100-meter hurdles event with a time a 14.95 seconds. Teammate Morgan Joseph finished right behind her with a time a 15.07 seconds and Rashanda Simmons finished third with a time of 15.59 seconds.
In the 100-meter dash Aneesha Lane finished in first place with a time of 12.09 seconds a mere .01 seconds ahead of her teammate freshman Emma Bowers at 12.10 seconds.
In the women's 200-meter dash the Catamounts swept the competition taking first, second and third. Felicia Paulding placed first with a time of 23.88 seconds, which qualifies her for the NCAA regional. Teammate Janet Carothers finished in second with a time of 24.22 seconds followed by Aneesha Lane in third with a time of 24.57 seconds.
Felisha Garren took first place in the women's 400-meter dash with a time of 56.44 seconds. Teammate Hannah Bowers placed second with a time of 57.39 seconds.
In the women's 800-meter run Annie Bailey took second place with a time of 2:15.84 seconds falling a mere .66 seconds from a first place finish.
In the women's 400-meter hurdles Tierra Johnson took first place in the event with a time of 1:03.79 seconds and teammate Tori Jones placed third with a time of 1:07.88 seconds.
The women's 4x100-meter relay team finished in first place with a time of 46.15 seconds almost three seconds ahead of King College at 49.41 seconds.
Western Carolina will compete in the Southern Conference Championships next weekend in Statesboro, Ga. beginning on Saturday April 25th.
The Citadel ? North Florida Osprey Challenge
Jacksonville, Fla. ? Aaron Overton won the high jump, Christopher Castagno won the hammer throw and Jodi Whittle broke The Citadel’s 400-meter hurdles record as the Bulldogs successfully competed in the North Florida Osprey Challenge on April 18 at Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla.
Overton jumped for a personal-best mark of 6-4.75 to claim first place and earned the ninth all-time record at The Citadel in the high jump. He also ran the 400 hurdles to take fourth with a time of 1:02.13. Castagno won the hammer with a mark of 150-4 and Whittle’s personal-best time of 1:02.91 in the 400 hurdles allowed her to place third overall and moved her into first place in the Southern Conference. Whittle also sits at the second all-time spot for her fifth-place finish in the 110-meter high hurdles with a personal-best time of 15.23.
Brillyance Gilchrist-Poteat, Megan Jenkins, Erinn Carter and Whittle ran the 4x400-meter relay for fourth place breaking the school record by almost four seconds with a time of 4:00.05. Emily Green threw the javelin to finish second with a personal-best mark of 117-1. Green is now fifth all-time in The Citadel’s top 10 lists. She also took fourth in the hammer with a throw of 128-10.
James Harris finished second in the high jump with a mark of 6-4.75 and Shaquill Smith completed the sweep finishing third with a jump of 6-2.75. Smith also had a mark of 16-0.25 in the long jump for an eighth-place finish. Brian Baize had a busy day placing third in the pole vault with a mark of 14-5.25 and taking fifth in the javelin with a mark of 146-9. He also took seventh in the discus with a toss of 107-6.
Austen Ditzhazy finished third in the javelin with a personal-best throw of 155-7, while Christopher Graham placed third in the 400 hurdles with a personal-best time of 58.68. Graham also had a personal record in the 110 high hurdles with a time of 15.82 for seventh place.
Sarah Strickland had a season-best performance in the 5,000-meter run earning fourth overall with a time of 18:54.62. Strickland’s time fell shy of about seven seconds from her personal-best record. Christopher Morgan ran a personal-best in the 800-meter with a time of 1:57.34 to take fourth place.
Graham, Zach Johnson, Jamel Brown and Morgan posted a time of 3:25.00 to finish fifth in the 4x400-meter relay and William Norris finished fifth in the hammer throw with a throw of 129-4. Preston Kight jumped the long jump for a mark of 18-4.50 for fifth place and he marked 36-7.75 in the triple jump for seventh place.
Lauren Fleming reset her personal record in the pole vault with a mark of 9-0.25 for fifth place, improving her No. 2 all-time at The Citadel. Gilchrist-Poteat, Sarah Creel, Francesca McCrary and Whittle ran 49.44 in the 4x100-meter relay to finish fifth and earn the fourth all-time record in The Citadel’s top 10 lists. Mia Trevino also finished fifth in the javelin with a mark of 87-10.
In the 800-meter, Jenkins ran a season-best time of 2:21.52 for sixth place and Theresa Johansen threw 123-11 in the hammer to finish sixth overall. Shane Woodard also placed sixth in the long jump with a mark of 18-3.
Joe Tkach ran a personal-best in the 800 with a time of 1:59.07 for seventh place and Johnson took eighth in the 400 dash with a time of 51.46. Gilchrist-Poteat, Kasandra Polson and Sarah Stierwalt all finished eighth. Gilchrist-Poteat ran the 110 high hurdles with a time of 15.67 and Polson threw the hammer and shot put with a mark of 103-0 and 32-5, respectively. Stierwalt ran the 5,000 for a time of 20:27.42.
Nathan Jackson also ran the 5,000 for ninth place with a time of 16:14.56 and Carter finished 12th overall and clinched the ninth all-time spot with a time of 64.50 in the 400 dash.
The Bulldogs will have a week to prepare for the 2009 Southern Conference Outdoor Championships in Statesboro, Ga., on April 25-26.