Samford posts strong outing at Alabama Relays
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ---- The Samford track team opened competition at the Alabama Relays Friday, as multiple Bulldogs earned top-five finishes, with Justin Emerson, Marie Demedicis and Michael Seaman taking home event titles.
Emerson earned the win in the men’s 100-meter dash, crossing the line with a new PR of 10.57, just one-hundredth of a second ahead of second place. This improves his second-place standing in the all-time performance list at Samford, drawing him closer to the record of 10.51.
Demedicis earned Samford’s second win of the day, winning the women’s 400-meter dash in 57.61to put her in seventh all-time at Samford. Teammate Anna Laura Irvine finished eighth in the event (1:00.07). Irvine also anchored the Bulldogs’ sprint medley relay team to a second-place finish, as her, Madeline Cross, Ashley Cope and Jessica Watson combined for a 4:00.93 time.
Samford took three of the top four spots in the men’s pole vault, with Michael Seaman winning the event with a height of 17-0.75 (5.20m) while Owen Wagoner was close behind in second (16-6.75, 5.05m) and Ryan Cook in fourth (15-7, 4.75m). Ben Davies and Cory Sears, competing unattached, finished third (15-7, 4.75m) and sixth (15-7, 4.75m), respectively.
Samford earned another pair of third-place finishes with Emily Allen in the hammer throw (173-8, 52.95m) and Rachel Sims in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (12:19.84).
Samford track concluded its weekend at the Alabama Relays, with Katelyn Poole improving on her own school record in the women’s shot put, while six other Bulldogs finished in the top three in their events.
Poole placed sixth in Saturday’s shot put competition, setting the school record on her fourth throw of 40-10.5 (12.46m). This is the third-straight week she has improved her personal best in the event, as she just beat out her previous school record of 40-6.75 (12.36m) set at last week’s Shamrock Invitaitonal.
After winning yesterday’s 400-meter dash, Marie Demedicis earned her second event title of the weekend Saturday, crossing the line first in the women’s 800 meters in 2:11.72. Teammate Holly Benson was hot on Demedicis’ heels, as Benson placed second in 2:13.54. They were two of the three in the field who finished faster than 2:16.00.
Ramsey White led the pack in the men’s 1,500 meters, winning the event in 3:55.46, a new personal best for the Birmingham, Ala., junior. Fellow Birmingham natives Layton Dorsett (6th, 4:02.41) and James Graham (8th, 4:07.97) also finished in the top ten.
Claire Goodson finished just two feet shy of her own school record mark, placing second in Saturday’s pole vault competition with a height of 12-7.5 (3.85m). Teammate Ashley Cope finished just behind Goodson in third (11-7.75, 3.55m).
The Bulldogs earned a pair of third-place finishes in the javelin, as Thomas Oliver placed third in the men’s competition (178-4, 54.36m) while Shelby Builta did the same in the women’s (136-5, 41.58m). Samford’s other top-five finishers were Julie McDonald in the women’s 100-meter hurdles (4th, 14.20), Tyler Kemp in the men’s high jump (5th, 1.95m) and Chelsea Treadway in the women’s 1,500 meters (5th, 4:46.09).
The Bulldogs have a weekend off before heading to the other side of the state, competing at the Auburn Invite on April 6-7.
Davidson women have strong weekend at High Point
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Freshman Presley Parkes against had another strong weekend for the Davidson women’s track and field team, crossing the finish line first in the 1500 and 800-Meter runs to pace the Wildcats at the Vertklasse Meeting held on the campus of High Point on Saturday morning.
Parkes, who had a top-20 finish last weekend at the Charlotte 49er Classic in the 1500-Meter run, earned a time of 4:46.99 in the same event on Saturday to finish tops among 24 runners. She then scored another first place finish on a time of 2:19.81 in the 800-Meter run.
The freshman was not alone in either event as Davidson had a solid showing. Maggie Rickard and Erin Osment had top-10 finishes in the 1500-Meter with times of 5:04.06 and 5:05.33 to finish 9th and 10th, respectively. Claire Naisby was 12th on a time of 5:06.85, followed by Lauren Carter (5:07.32) and Jane Gay (5;07.54), who crossed the finish line 13th and 15th overall.
All five Wildcats also raced in the 800-Meter, with Gay recording an eighth place finish behind Parkes on a time of 2:29.81. Rickard was closely behind on a time of 2:30.20 for ninth place, and Osment (14th-2:33.84), Naisby (16th-2:34.71) and Carter (19th-2:37.10) came in next on the finish line.
Brooke Senken was 12th in the event as the senior had a time of 2:32.14.
The 200 and 400-Meter dash saw Mackenzie Hicks and Ashley Page represent Davidson. Hicks registered a 14th place finish in the 400-Meter on a time of 1:04.30 and then ran a time of 28.63 in the 200-Meter. Paige was a few seconds behind in both events, racing to a 17th place finish with a time of 1:06.14 in the 400-Meter and had a time of 30:41 in the 200-Meter.
Mary Grace Gordon again had a nice showing in the long jump event, getting fifth place on a jump of 4.86 meters.
Davidson continues its outdoor season when it will be at the Winthrop Invitational and the Raleigh Relays next weekend, March 30-31.
Western Carolina earns nine wins at Beynon Surfaces Catamount Classic
Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina Track and Field concluded the 2012 Beynon Surfaces Catamount Classic with nine wins Saturday at the Catamount Athletic Complex. Sixteen teams participated from all across the Southeast including Southern Conference foes Wofford and Furman.
Western Carolina swept the top three positions in the women’s 800-meter run with reigning SoCon Track Athlete of the Week Jocelyn Keen winning the race with a time of 2:10.83. Teammates Lena Elliott (2:14.15) and Hayley Tomlinson (2:17.36) claimed second and third.
In the high jump, sophomore Jordan Orr tied for third clearing 1.95m for the second straight week. Freshman Cory Patterson placed seventh with a jump of 1.90m. In the women’s event, freshman Xaviera Bass tied for second clearing the bar safely at 1.60m. Bass also picked up another top-three finish taking third in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.32.
In the long jump, senior Jettana Thomas set a new season record for the Catamounts finishing fourth in her event with a jump of 5.17m.
Western Carolina took three of the top five finishes in the pole vault. Senior Wayne Parker and Sophomore Keith Leonard both cleared the height of 4.55m, finishing second and third for the Catamounts. Wayne Parker set a personal record in the pole vault with that jump. Sophomore Keith Leonard (4.55m) and Matt Stenger (4.40m) took third and fourth in the event.
Catamounts took third and fourth in the men’s javelin as Jamie Van Pelt placed third (52.06m) and Cornelius Williams (49.62m) fourth.
Continuing with the throws, freshman Alisha Bradshaw placed third with a career best 46.03m in the hammer throw. Classmate Aleisha Archie-McMillan (42.03m) and junior Saquita Barino (42.03m) took seventh and eighth, respectively.
In the men’s 4x100 meter relay, Western Carolina’s “A” team – consisting of Ron Duncan, Willie Bowman, Benny Davis and Jeffery Hendricks - placed first running their fastest time of the season with a time of 40.65. The men’s “B” team finished shortly after in third place consisting of Marquis Bailey, Demari Boswell, Aaron Tribble, and Abraham Faison with a time of 42.17.
On the women’s side of the 4x100m relay, Janise Robinson, Felisha Garren, Brittany Diggs and Raven Parrish won their event with their fastest of the season crossing the finish line in 45.89 seconds.
On the track, senior Benny Davis won the 400-meter dash with a season best 47.51, while sophomore Aaron Harris placed third in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:54:24.
Western Carolina took second, third and fourth in the women’s 100-meter dash. Teammates Raven Parish (11.97m), Janise Robinson (12:03) and Felisha Garren (12:10) took the top three spots.
Sophomore Aaron Tribble finished fifth for the Catamounts in the 400-meter. Freshman Michaela Birek also set a new best, 1:02.92, on the woman’s side, winning the event, while classmate Shermell Wilkins ran a 1:08.52, finishing fourth.
In the men’s 400-meter hurdles, the Catamounts took four out of the five top-five spots. Tyler Bentley (53.89), Sam Lusty (53.92) and Abraham Faison (56.00) all had season bests in the event.
The Western Carolina Track & Field teams will travel to Wilmington, N.C. for the Fourth Annual 2012 Mountains vs. Beaches Meet next Saturday hosted by UNC Wilmington. Rivals Appalachian State and Western Carolina will team up to form the Mountains team to face Coastal Carolina and UNC Wilmington, the Beaches team. The Mountains defeated the Beaches last season in Cullowhee in both the men’s and women’s competitions.
Appalachian State puts together impressive performance at South Carolina Weems Baskin Invitational
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Appalachian State University men's track and field put together another impressive performance as it wrapped up action at the South Carolina Weems Baskin Invitational on Saturday.
The Mountaineers combined for 14 top-10 finishes at the event to continue their impressive early-season showing against teams from the ACC, A-10 and SEC.
Landon Powell had a solid day at the track, finishing second in the 100-meter dash (10.61 seconds) and sixth in the 200-meter dash (21.54).
Dennis Moore took fourth in the 100-meter dash (10.62) and came in fifth in the 200-meter dash (21.31) while AJ Dohanic finished ninth (21.74). Dohanic also finished fourth in the 110-meter hurdles (14.24).
Raphael Rojas and Read Caulkins both finished in the top-10 in the 800-meter run. Rojas took third with a time of 1:54.67 while Caulkins came in eighth with a time of 1:56.93.
David Riddleberger brought home a fifth-place finish in the 400-meter hurdles (56.16) while Kyle McFoy finished fourth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (10:14.39).
Appalachian's 4x100-meter relay team of Dohanic, Moore, Powell and Justin Thomas came in second with a time of 40.69 seconds.
In the field events, Stephen Davis finished seventh in the high jump with a leap of 1.95 meters (6'4.75") while Jared Stalling finished in the top-10 in both the shot put and discus throw.
Stalling's toss of 50.60 meters (166'0") in the discus put him in second place while his mark of 15.24 meters (50'0") in the shot put place him in seventh.
On the women's side, Kristen Campbell led the Apps on the track with a fifth-place finish in the 100-meter dash (12.05 seconds) while taking 10th in the 200-meter dash (24.78).
D’Shawrna McLucas also had an impressive showing as she finished seventh in the 100-meter dash (12.12) and eighth in the 200-meter dash (24.63).
Asia Dunlap brought home a fifth-place finish in the 400-meter dash (55.48) and Kayla Schneider finished 10th in the 1,500-meter run (4:47.42).
Molly Vaughn turned in a solid day at the track with a ninth-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles (14.96) while fellow hurdler Shenita Martin took ninth in the 400-meter hurdles (1:04.46).
The Apps' 4x100-meter relay team of Campbell, Martin, McLucas and Tatyana Bryant finished eighth with a time of 47.80 seconds.
In the field events, Shaquiela Robinson led the Mountaineers with a third-place finish in the high jump (5'7") while May Theresa Montgomery finished fifth (5'5").
Gayshawna Watkins took fifth in the hammer throw with a toss of 51.32 meters (168'4") and Jocelyn Parnell finished sixth in the javelin throw with a mark of 36.41 meters (119'5").
Appalachian State places four athletes sin the top-10 at High Point meet
HIGH POINT, N.C. – The Mountaineers also had several athletes make their way to the High Point VertKlasse Meeting on Saturday.
The Apps had four athletes finish in the top-10 at the rain-shortened event, which was called before all events were completed due to severe thunderstorms.
Alex Lomax, Jacob Stowe and Jack Bell each finished in the top-10 in the pole vault. Lomax came in fourth with a mark of 4.57 meters (15'0"), Stowe took fifth at 4.42 meters (14'6") and Bell finished ninth with a mark of 4.27 meters (14'0").
Chris Moen ended the day in 10th-place in the 1,500-meter run with a time of 3:54.21 to finish ahead of competitors from Duke, NC State and High Point.
On the women's side, Cassie Crawford finished second in the pole vault with a leap of 3.72 meters (12'2.5") while Chelsea Farr (3.42 meters - 11'2.50") and Debra Domermuth (3.42 meters - 11'2.50") finished fifth and seventh, respectively.
Appalachian State returns to action next week when travels to the Mountain vs. Beach Invitational at UNC Wilmington where it will team up with Western Carolina to take on UNCW and East Carolina in a battle of the High Country vs. the Low Country.
Wofford’s Woods sets school record at Catamount Classic
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Kathleen Woods set the only school record for the Wofford men’s and women’s track and field teams at Western Carolina’s Catamount Classic Saturday with a distance of 32.91m in the discus throw.
Woods’ distance was the only school record broken at the meet and one of only three personal best broken.
On the men’s side, Tyrell Jemison set a new personal best with a time of 11.80 in the 100m dash. The other personal best came from Andrew McCurry in the shot put with a distance of 12.22m good enough for 15th.
Other notable finishes for the Terriers were, Chase West and Travis Butler in the 400m with times of 51.86, 12th place, and 52.46, 16th place, respectively. Justin Whitaker took 17th in the 800m with a time of 2:03.47.
On the women’s side behind Wood’s performance, Emily Gothberg finished in 17th with a time of 1:01.47 in the 400m, while Alyssa Burkert took fourth with a time of 4:4573 in the 1,500m. Alissa Williams also had a good finish in the 1,500m with a time of 5:06.32 in 16th.
The 4x400m relay team of Gothberg, Burket, Katie Kessler and Nicole Klasnic finished in 3rd place with a time of 4:07.22, and Kaitlin Brown finished in 8th place in the high jump with a height of 1.50m.
Wofford will compete in the Asics/Winthrop Invitational on March 29 in Rock Hill, S.C. for its next meet.