Western Carolina Shines in Field Events During First Day of ETSU Invitational

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - The Western Carolina University track & field team returned to action Friday at the ETSU Invitational in Johnson City, Tenn. The Catamounts produced 22 top-10 finishes on day one including a pair of wins in the women's high jump and pole vault. On the men's side freshman Henry Kiedy led the way by finishing first in the 400m prelims.

Sophomore Anisia Starege took top honors in the women's high jump with a leap of 1.73m (5-08.00). She was joined in the top-10 in the event by senior Xaviera Bass, who finished fourth, and junior Molly Fagan, who tied for ninth. Bass posted a jump of 1.68m (5-06.00) while Fagan cleared 1.58m (5-02.25).

In the pole vault, senior Devyn Ressler took home the crown with a height of 3.75m (12-03.50). Junior Korie Bennett came in fifth after clearing 3.50m (11-05.75) while senior Cara June Elyea tied for sixth with a vault of 3.35m (10-11.75).

Kiedy was the only male to qualify for finals on Saturday with a time of 48.84 in the 400m prelims. Freshman Kaleb McEntyre finished ninth in the prelims but only the top six finishers advance to the finals. McEntyre posted a time of 49.94. Senior Demari Boswell and Dakota Lamont were right on his heels finishing 10th (50.04) and 11th (50.06), respectively.

Junior Jared Johnson came up just shy of top honors in the men's weight throw as he finished second with a toss of 17.70m (58-01.00). Sophomore Scott Peretin also posted a top-10 toss as he finished eighth at 14.16m (46-05.50).

Junior Tayla Carter and Bass each qualified for Saturday finals. Carter finished third in the 60m prelims with a time of 7.57 while Bass finished fifth in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.90. Carter missed out on the finals in the 200m as she finished ninth in the prelims with a time of 24.95. Senior Genevieve Emrick also came up just shy of the finals in the 400m. She finished eighth in the prelims with a time of 57.54.

Sophomore Hailey Cook and senior Alisha Bradshaw combined to post four top-10 finishes. Cook placed third in the women's shot put with a throw of 13.86m (45-05.75). Bradshaw came in just behind her in fourth with a toss of 13.73m (45-00.50). Bradshaw picked up the higher finish in the women's weight throw as she placed fifth with a mark of 16.31m (53-06.25). Cook came in two spots later with a distance of 16.03m (52-07.25).

Freshman Kevin Hires posted a top-five finish in the men's triple jump as his distance of 14.33m (47-00.25) was good enough for fifth.

Junior Michael Cornwell also came up with a fifth-place finish in the men's 800m as he crossed the line in 1:56.12. Just a few tenths of a second behind was junior Jamie Bigby who finished seventh with a time of 1:56.72.

The Catamounts will be back in action on Saturday as they wrap up competition at the ETSU Invitational.

 

ETSU Track & Field Turns in Productive Day One at ETSU Invitational

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Kicking off the 2015 track & field season, host ETSU got the year started on a solid note with three-student athletes recording top-two event placements on day one at the ETSU Track & Field Invitational.

Competing against 30-plus schools from throughout the region, the Bucs made their mark early with senior hurdler Dede Edgecombe racing to a first-place time of 8.50 in the women’s 60 meter hurdle prelims to begin the day’s competition. Edgecombe advances to tomorrow’s event final at 5:20 p.m. as the top-seeded competitor.

Later, in the men’s 800 meter final, junior Thomas Miller posted a first-place finish with a time of 1:55.24. In the race, the runner competed against a cast of 26 and just edged Davidson’s Patrick Rollo who recorded a 1:55.26 time.

Back on the women’s side, this time in the field, junior Ashley Kessler put another noteworthy performance on the board for the Blue & Gold. In the women’s pole vault final, the junior registered a second-place mark of 3.65 meters. Competing against 15 other vaulters, Kessler came up just short of event winner Devyn Ressler of Western Carolina who turned in a 3.75 meters mark.

Competition will pick back up on Saturday with a day chock-full of both track events and field events. Action will commence with the men’s and women’s 5000 meter runs around 8 a.m. and will continue throughout the morning with various distance events. Field events will begin at noon with the men’s long jump and pole vault finals, and will end at 4 p.m. with the women’s long jump finals. Running competition will start back up at 1:25 p.m. and will progress through the afternoon and early evening. As usual, action at the meet will close with the running of the men’s and women’s 4x400 meter relay around 7 p.m.

 

White, Freshmen Pace Keydets on Opening Day at ETSU

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Jordan White finished fifth in the weight throw in his first indoor meet in nearly two calendar years, while two of VMI's deep freshmen class of women posted top-10 finishes as the Keydet track and field programs opened their 2014-15 season Friday at the ETSU Invitational in Johnson City, Tenn.

White, who did not compete indoors or outdoors last season, posted his best mark of 15.83 meters (51'11 1/4") on his second throw and wound up earning the top five result on the strength of a new personal best.

The Keydets also posted strong results in the men's 60-meter hurdles, where freshman Davon Guerrier led three athletes in the top-14. Guerrier was 10th in 8.43 seconds, while Quincy Murphy was 11th in 8.47 and Lee Warren was 14th in 8.58.

Pete Reed had a banner day in the sprints, winning heats in both the 60-meter dash and the 200-meter dash. Reed was 27th overall in the 60 (7.05) and 37th in the 200 at 22.61.

Finally, Julian Jackson was 16th in a field of 82 400-meter dash athletes, crossing the line in 50.52 seconds.

On the women's side, two freshmen led the way for the Keydets. Yaa Agyepong-Wiafe tied for eighth in the 60-meter hurdles, clocking in at 9.08 seconds and missing the six-person final by .08 seconds in the 58-runner field.

Julia Logan, meanwhile, tied for ninth in the high jump by clearing the bar at 1.58 meters (5'2 1/4") to open her collegiate career.

VMI track and field returns to action Saturday, taking part in the final day of the ETSU Invitational. Action in Johnson City gets underway at 8 a.m.

 

Chattanooga's Stewart Eighth in 5000m at ETSU Invitational

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga indoor track and field teams opened the season with three events Friday evening at the ETSU Invitational at the ETSU/MSHA Athletics Center on the David E. Walker Track at Gentry Field.

Freshman Mercedes Bright made her collegiate debut in the 200 meter dash finishing with a time of 27.11, taking third in the 12th heat.

Freshman Jacob Noorbergen led three Mocs in the men’s 200m placing 40th overall with a time of 22.65. Junior DeQuantez Sandifer finished with a time of 24.35 and junior Austin Ethridge placed second in the 23rd heat with a time of 25.32.

Day Two begins with the men’s and women’s 5000 meter runs at 8:00 a.m. and conclude with the 4x400 meter relays at approximately 7:30 p .m.