Appalachian State men earn nine top-five finishers at Dick Taylor Invitational
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Appalachian State University men’s track and field strong performance earned them nine top-five finishers at the Dick Taylor Invitational hosted by North Carolina on Friday and Saturday.
The Mountaineers dominated the weight throw with junior Jared Stalling claiming first-place with a personal best throw (61-2) while senior Caleb Poplin threw a personal best (52-5.50) fourth-place finish.
In the high jump senior Darius Purcell, who is ranked 15th in the country, took home the title clearing 7-1, while freshman Daryl Saunders recorded a personal best (6-11) to earn third-place.
Senior Dennis Moore, who is ranked 36th in the nation, finished third (22.50) in the 200m dash. Junior Alex Taylor finished the mile run with a time of 4:19.05 to earn third-place.
In the 60m hurdles, freshman Stanley Broaden made his collegiate debut by crossing the finish line in fourth-place with a time of 8.28. Senior Chris Moen finished in third-place with a time of 8:37.95 in the 3000m run. Freshman Alex Lomax launched a personal best (15-3) in the pole vault for a fifth-place finish.
The Mountaineers will return to action on Thursday for the Appalachian Split Meet at 3:00 p.m. at the Holmes Center.
Appalachian State women earn 13 top-five finishers at Dick Taylor Invitational
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Appalachian State University women’s track and field strong performance earned them 13 top-five finishers at the Dick Taylor Invitational hosted by North Carolina on Friday and Saturday.
The Mountaineers dominated distance and throw events with nine top-six finishers. Junior Sarah Williamson took first-place (18:07.25) while fellow juniors Kaitlyn Cagle finished in third (18:36.79) and Jenna Williamson finished in fifth (18:40.23). Junior Amanda Hamilton continued from where she left off from the cross country season and ran personal best 3,000m time of 10:19.27 for a fifth-place finish. Sophomore Ana DeLeon claimed the title (49-7.75) in the weight throw while sophomore Jocelyn Parnell threw a personal best (47-5) fourth-place finish. Freshman Jasmine Suydam earned a fourth-place finish (40-0.75) while DeLeon finished fifth (40-0.50) and Parnell finished sixth (39-8.50) in the shot put.
Freshmen Chelsea Farr and Sydney Cook launched themselves into ASU’s all-time record book in their second meet wearing the black and gold. Farr finished third in the meet and placed herself tied for third all-time in the pole vault by clearing 12-1.50, while Cook placed seventh in the meet and ninth all-time with the height of 11-1.75.
In the 200m dash sophomore Breanna Alston claimed a second-place finish (25.29) and placed fourth (7.73) in the 60m dash Friday night.
Sophomore Shaquiela Robinson cleared the 5-5 mark in the high jump to earn fifth-place.
The Mountaineers will return to action on Thursday for the Appalachian Split Meet at 3:00 p.m. at the Holmes Center.
College of Charleston's Sisk sets shot put school record at Dick Taylor Invitational
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Freshman Sarah Sisk provided the highlight of the day for the College of Charleston women's track & field team as she set a school record en route to winning the women's shot put, as the Cougars wrapped by competition at the Dick Taylor UNC Invitational Saturday.
Sisk, a three-time state champion in high school, captured first-place in the event with a heave of 12.98 meters (42 feet, seven inches), .19 meters ahead of the second-place finisher. The Cougars previous school record holder was Chakosha Lance who had a throw of 12.41 meters at the SoCon Championship in 2006. Lance is a SoCon Champion (2004, weight throw), 2006 SoCon Most Outstanding Field Performer and qualified for the NCAA regional meet in outdoor track & field.
On Friday, the CofC distance medley relay team came dangerous close to breaking the school record for the 4K distance medley relay. The team of seniors Kristen Wolfe and Alyssa D'Orazio, sophomore Dena O'Brien and freshman Hayley McMahon covered the distance in 12:21.54 and finished second-place, about three seconds off the school record.
O'Brien came back the next day to finish second-place in the mile run with a time of 5:02.18. McMahon also competed in the mile run and finished fifth in 5:16.49. Senior Emily Smith competed well in the high jump as she finished in third-place, with a jump of five feet, seven inches.
D'Orazio finished seventh in the 800-meter run in a time of 2:23.63 and sophomore Elle Brewer set a career-best in the 3,000-meter run as she finished 16th in 11:09.46.
The Cougars will take next week off from competition, with their next meet Jan. 27-28 as they travel to Johnson City, Tenn., for the Niswonger Invitational, hosted by East Tennessee.
Furman’s Gilmer, Haughey record second-place finishes at Dick Taylor Invitational
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Senior Lee Gilmer and freshman Sinead Haughey placed second in the men's and women's 3,000m, respectively, as the Furman indoor track and field teams opened the 2012 season Friday evening at the Dick Taylor Invitational at the Eddie Smith Field House in Chapel Hill, N.C.. Gilmer notched a time of 8:31.28 in the event, while Haughey clocked a 10:09.19 in the opener.
Senior Brooke Mosteller followed Haughey, turning in a time of 10:11.20 for third place in the 3,000m, while freshman Blair Burke took 17th place with a time of 11:30.35 in the event. In other women's running events, junior Misha Holmes placed fourth in her heat and 21st overall in the 60m hurdles with a time of 9.42. Freshman Rachel Gilbert finished 32nd with a time of 1:49.82 in the 600m, and senior Erin McChristian placed 35th in the event after posting a time of 1:51.64.
For the Paladin men's team, senior Chris Caldwell took 11th place in the 3,000m with a time of 9:05.53, and freshman Devin Tupper placed 25th in the event with a time of 10:05.79. Junior Raul Rodriquez finished fourth in his heat and 31st overall with a time of 7.39 in the 60m dash.
The Paladins competed in only one field event Friday night, as freshman Danielle Ebzery placed 16th in the long jump with a mark of 4.98m (16-4.25).
Furman’s Barker set new Paladin record at Dick Taylor Invitational
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Senior Erin Barker set a new Furman record in the mile to pace the Paladin indoor track and field teams Saturday in the final day of the Dick Taylor Invitational at the Eddie Smith Field House in Chapel Hill, N.C. Barker won the women's mile with a time of 4:57.62, besting the Paladin record of 4:58.78 set by Heather VandeBrake in 1995. Senior Lee Gilmer also took first place in the men's mile competition after posting a time of 4:15.86.
The Furman women placed three runners among the top 10 in the women's mile, as sophomore Catherine Burton placed fourth with a time of 5:15.82, and junior Emily Wirzba posted a time of 5:25.46 for ninth place. The Paladins also had three top 10 finishers in the women's 5,000m, with junior Hannah Robinson placing eighth (18:59.06), followed by sophomore Julia Means in ninth (19:28.95), and rookie McKenzie Woolley in tenth (19:52.93).
In the 800m, freshman Emily Zizzi turned in a time of 2:33.91 for 24th place, followed by fellow freshman Hannah Schilpp in 26th place with a time of 2:38.62. Freshman Rachel Gilbert finished 29th in the 400m with a time of 1:04.92. Rookie Shannon Murphy placed 33rd (1:06.09), followed by senior Erin McChristian in 34th place (1:08.06). Freshman Gretchen Gabrielson competed in the shot put, taking 19th place with a mark of 9.66.
Furman's team of Burton, sophomore Alexa Wilton, Zizzi, and Barker placed third with a time of 12:27.24 in the 4,000m distance medley relay, and the Paladins team of junior Misha Holmes, Murphy, Wilton, and Gilbert took 21st place after recording a time of 4:25.79 in the 4x400m.
For the Paladin men's team, freshman William Ivey finished fourth in the 800m with a time of 1:57.04, and sophomore James Perez placed 12th in the event after posting a time of 1:58.67. Junior Wilkerson Given turned in a time of 4:19.62 for fifth place in the mile, while sophomore Jack Klecker finished 15th (4:31.76) in the event. Rookie Tripp Hurt took third place in the 5,000m with a time of 15:33.76, and senior Jay Miller and sophomore Tyler Greathouse placed 12th (16:25.66) and 13th (16:31.16), respectively.
Sophomore Zach Duskin finished 14th in the 400m with a time of 52.12, and junior Raul Rodriquez placed 29th with a time of 53.34. Rookie Carson Priest took 31st place in the 200m (25.72), followed by Connor Halliday in 32nd place (25.74). Sophomore Scott DesMarais finished 12th in the shot put with a mark of 13.15.
In the relay events, the men's 4000m distance medley team of Perez, Duskin, Rodriquez, and Klecker finished third with a time of 10:22.84, and the 4x400m relay team of Rodriquez, sophomore Jackson Sinor, Given, and Duskin placed 13th after recording a time of 3:33.62.
Georgia Southern had strong outing at UAB Blazer Invitational
BIRMINGHAM, ALA. - Georgia Southern Track & Field closed out its first meet of 2012 with a strong showing at the UAB Blazer Invitational inside the Birmingham Sportsplex on Friday afternoon (January 13th). Senior Millicent Brooks-Millender and sophomore Aesa Mayfield paced the Eagles in the Triple Jump and 800m runs, respectively.
Brooks-Millender finished 14th in the Triple Jump with a mark of 10.44m/34"3.00.' In the Eagles' other field appearance, Freshman Sara Hall placed 18th in the Weight Throw with a toss of 13.13m/41"1.00.'
Mayfield finished 15th in the 800m (2:21.53), while senior Azura Robillard placed 33rd with a time of 2:31.05. Junior Sarah Curry rounded out the crop of top-20 finishes for Georgia Southern with an 18th place finish in the 3000m (10:53.45).
Freshman Kimberly Thomas ran a pair of events on Friday for the Eagles, finishing 21st in the 400m (1:00.05) and 37th in the 200m (26.19). Sophomore Cherelle King placed 32nd in the 400m (1:01.19) while freshman Jasmine Walker finished 34th in the 200m (26.15).
The Eagles closed out the meet with a 24th place showing in the 4x400m Relay. The Eagles finished in 4:10.53.
UNCG’s Chelimo, Schnell win 800 meter races at Dick Taylor Invitational
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Sophomore Paul Chelimo and senior Ashley Schnell won their respective 800 meter races to lead UNCG on the final day of the Dick Taylor Invitational in the Eddie Smith Field House on Saturday afternoon.
Schnell's time of 2:11.52 was almost six seconds faster than her nearest opponent. Her time also broke her own school record she set last season at the Tiger Paw Invitational.
Teammate Kerry Hartman also had an impressive finish in the 800 meters as she came in fourth place with a time of 2:18.50. That time would've also broken the previous school record.
In the mile, Kelly Montague was the lone Spartan competing and she turned in a 10th place finish after running a 5:26.97.
On the men's side, Chelimo completed the 800 meter race in a time of 1:54.54 to win the race Joey Thompson wasn't too far behind as he finished in fifth place with a time of 1:57.44.
Paul Katam had a nice race in the mile as he earned runner-up honors with a 4:18.83. Abraham Kemboi also finished in ninth place in that race after running a 4:24.28.
Samford set three school records at UAB Blazer Invitational
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- Samford track wrapped up their weekend with the Alabama Crimson Indoor Opener Saturday, setting three more school records in a weekend that has already seen the record book re-written multiple times.
After breaking her own record at yesterday's UAB Blazer Invite, Claire Goodson used that momentum to further extend her PR and the Samford school record in the women's pole vault with a second-place finish Saturday, clearing 12-11.5 (3.95m). Ashley Cope earned a top-ten finish in the event also, setting her own new PR at 11-7.75 (3.55m).
After setting the Samford women's shot put school record in her first collegiate competition in December, Katelyn Poole improved on her own record Saturday with a throw of 40-7 (12.37m) to earn a seventh-place finish.
Justin Emerson was the third Samford record-setter of the day, running 21.99 in the 200-meter dash to beat his own previous school record of 22.16. This makes him the first runner in Samford history to run a sub-22 second 200-meter dash. Emerson also competed in Saturday's 60-meter dash (12th, 6.88).
Two Samford distance runners also improved their standings in the all-time records. Holly Benson ran a personal-best 5:00.25 to finish third in the women's mile run, which ranks third all-time at Samford. Freshman Marie Demedicis made an impressive Samford debut Saturday, finishing second in the women's 800 meters with a time of 2:15.82, placing her seventh all-time.
The women's 1,600-meter relay of Cope, Demedicis, Danielle Blano and Macy Conger also moved into the top ten rankings at Samford, earning a ninth-place finish at 3:57.19 which ranks fourth all-time at Samford.
Kyle Kirby and Kanon Burt finished back-to-back near the top of the men's weight throw, with Kirby in third (60-3.25, 18.37m) edging out Burt in fourth (53-10.25, 16.41m). After setting a school record Thursday, Michael Seaman finished second in Saturday's pole vault competition, clearing 16-6.75 (5.05m).
Samford's three other men's vaulters all cleared 16 feet as well, on only one day's rest after competing Thursday. Ben Davies, competing unattached, led those three clearing 16-0.75 (4.90m) on his second attempt and Owen Wagoner and Ryan Cook cleared the same height on their third attempts.
Cross country standouts Layton Dorsett and Lauren D’Alessio also ran well Saturday. D'Alessio, competing unattached, finished third in the 3,000 meters (9:40.30) and Dorsett placed fourth in the mile run (4:18.63).
Western Carolina had strong outing at Dick Taylor Invitational
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.--Western Carolina track & field teams wrapped up competition at the 2012 Dick Taylor Invitational at the University of North Carolina Saturday afternoon. Sophomore Jocelyn Keen ran her fastest indoor time in the 800m event, placing second with a time of 2:17.17. WCU totaled seven top five finishes Saturday.
The 800m run was a solid event for the Catamounts as Keen, Lena Elliott (2:23.77, eighth) and Kaylan Lance (2:25.59, eleventh) all posted top-11 finishes. Garrett West placed eighth with a time of 1:58.09 on the men's side.
Junior Brandon Hairston competed in his first 200m dash of the season in Chapel Hill, crossing the stripe in 22.37, earning a second place finish.
Both men's and women's "A" teams finished in the top five in their respective races, as both teams ran their fastest times of the season. The women finished third with a time of 3:55.98 while the men finished fifth with a time of 3:22.02.
After placing third in the weight throw on Friday, freshman Alisha Bradshaw finished in the top-ten again in the shot put. The Salisbury, N.C.-native finished ninth with a throw of 11.59m.
The men's 400m continues to be a strong point for the Catamounts with four WCU student-athletes picking up top-ten finishes. Senior Benny Davis placed second (48.70) with Demari Boswell (51.01) and Ammar Phillips (51.75) earning sixth and tenth place finishes. In the women's event, senior Felisha Garren placed fourth with a time of 58.07.
In the triple jump, Bob McNeil finished third with a best jump of 14.48m.