BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – At the conclusion of day one of the 2012 Southern Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships, Appalachian State leads on both the men’s and women’s side. The Mountaineer men have 62.5 points, while the women have 52.16 points after day one of competition.
Thursday began with the women’s pentathlon and four men’s heptathlon events.
Elon freshman Louise Prevoteau claimed the women’s pentathlon title, totaling 3,566 points. Prevoteau finished fifth in the 60m hurdles with a time of 9.15. She posted a leap of 1.57m (5’1.75”) in the high jump and set a mark of 9.23m (30’3.5”) in the shot put. The freshman’s long jump mark was 5.42m (17’9.5”) followed by a first place finish in the 800m with a time of 2:19.55.
Samford sophomore Ashley Cope and Georgia Southern sophomore Stephanie Hicks finished second and third, respectively in the women’s pentathlon.
In the men’s heptathlon, Samford won all of the day one events. Senior Donald Cooper took first in the 60m hurdles in a time of 7.12. Junior Bo Ackerson-Gilroy took first place in the long jump with a jump of 6.73m (22’1”) and the high jump with a leap of 2.00m (6’6.75”). Freshman Josh Davies won the shot put event with a throw of 12.63m (41’5.25”)
After four events of the heptathlon, Samford claimed the top three spots with Ackerson-Gilroy in first followed by Cooper and Davies. The men’s heptathlon will wrap up tomorrow with the 60m hurdles, pole vault and the 1,000m.
Junior Lucas Cotter from Chattanooga won the men’s 3000m with a time of 8:09.89. Appalachian State’s Chris Moen, who won the event last year finished in second. College of Charleston sophomore Dena O’Brien ran a 9:38.11 to win the 3000m event on the women’s side.
Appalachian State junior Gayshawna Watkins defended her shot put title with a throw of 13.67m (44’10.25”). In the men’s shot put, Appalachian State junior Jared Stalling won the event with a throw of 16.97m (55’8.25”).
In the men’s high jump, Appalachian State senior Darius Purcell defended his title with a leap of 2.21m (7’3”), which is a new Southern Conference record. Purcell set the record last year with a mark of 2.18m (7’1.75”) Emily Smith, a senior from the College of Charleston, finished first on the women’s side with a jump of 1.70m (5’.70). Smith finished fourth at last year’s championship.
Western Carolina sophomore Bob McNeil won the men’s long jump with a distance of 7.25m (23’9.5”) Georgia Southern freshman Jasmine Walker took first on the women’s side with a jump of 5.61m (18’5”).
Samford senior Michael Seaman won the men’s pole vault title for the third straight year. Seaman posted a new Southern Conference record mark of 5.45m (17’10.5”). He broke his own record of 5.07m (16’7.5”) which was set in 2010.
UNCG swept the distance medley relays. The men’s team consisted of sophomore Paul Katam, senior Taylor Hurst, junior Joey Thompson and sophomore Paul Chelimo, who posted a time of 9.59.73. The women’s team of sophomore Chelsea Sumney, junior Kerry Hartman, sophomore Shaina Sumney and senior Ashley Schnell broke the league record of 11:52.69 set by Samford in 2009. The Spartans finished with a mark of 11:43.99.
Preliminary trials were also held Thursday in the men’s and women’s 60, 200, 400 and 800m dash, as well as the 60m hurdles.
Georgia Southern junior Ebony Carter and Samford sophomore Justin Emerson won the preliminary 60m dash for the men and women, respectively. Carter posted a time of 7.54 while Emerson posted a 6.80 time.
Georgia Southern junior Jasmine Billings finished with a time of 8.63 in the 60m hurdles to win the preliminary event on the women’s side, while AJ Dohanic, a senior from Appalachian State posted a time of 7.98 to win on the men’s side.
Defending his title, Brunson Miller, a junior from The Citadel won the preliminary 400m dash in a time of 4.77. Western Carolina senior Felisha Garren won the prelim on the women’s side with a time of 54.94.
Davidson sophomore Andrew Lantz, who won the 800m race at last year’s championship won the preliminary race with a time of 1:54.22. On the women’s side, Marie Demedicis, a freshman from Samford, led the way with a time of 2:12.97.
Miller and Western Carolina senior Benny Davis tied to win the 200m preliminary race with a time of 21.68. On the women’s side, Garren, who also won the prelim 400, crossed the line with a time of 24.48.
Friday’s events begin at 9:15 a.m. CT with the completion of the men’s heptathlon.
For a complete list of Thursday’s results and to follow Friday’s live results, fan can visit the Southern Conference web site.
Men’s Team Results – Day 1
1. Appalachian State 62.5
2. Samford 50.5
3. Western Carolina 45
4. Davidson 21
5. The Citadel 17
6. UNCG 14
7. Chattanooga 12
8. Furman 9
9. Wofford 3
Women’s Team Results – Day 1
1. Appalachian State 52.16
2. Western Carolina 33
3. Georgia Southern 31
4. Elon 29.33
5. College of Charleston 27
6. Samford 20
7. UNCG 18
8. Wofford 7.5
T9. Furman 6
T9. Furman 6
11. The Citadel 4
Men’s All-Freshman Team – Day 1
3000m Run
Abraham Kemboi—UNCG
Hunter McGahee—Wofford
Patrick O’Brien--Chattanooga
Pole Vault
Cory Sears—Samford
Jacob Stowe—Appalachian State
Ian Aikman—The Citadel
High Jump
Daryl Saunders—Appalachian State
Long Jump
Abraham Faison—Western Carolina
Shot Put
Nick Sansotta—Appalachian State
Josh Davies—Samford
Women’s All-Freshman Team – Day 1
Pentathlon
Louise Prevoteau—Elon
Michaela Birek—Western Carolina
Anne Greer—Western Carolina
High Jump
Haley Laird—Elon
Janet Watson—Appalachian State
Xaviera Bass—Western Carolina
3000m Run
Haylee Dawe—Elon
Ali Cobb—Davidson
Blair Burke—Furman
Long Jump
Jasmine Walker—Georgia Southern
Tatyana Bryant—Appalachian State
Louise Prevoteau—Elon
Shot Put
Alisha Bradshaw—Western Carolina
Jasmine Suydam—Appalachian State
Sarah Sisk—College of Charleston