BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Western Carolina men’s team and Samford women’s team gained an early lead in their respective sides on Friday at the opening day of the 2016 Southern Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships in Birmingham, Ala.
The Catamount men tallied 58 points, giving them a lead over ETSU (38 points) and VMI (34 points) after the first day of competition. The Bulldogs’ women’s squad racked up 86 points followed by WCU (67 points) and ETSU (34.50 points).
Western Carolina’s Holly Gaines placed first in the women’s pentathlon with 3,492 points, finishing with the top time in the 800-meter run (2:17.71) and notching a second-place finish in the high jump. Hannah Hardy of Samford placed second in the pentathlon with 3,425 points and teammate Selena Popp claimed third with 3,377 points.
In the women’s shot put, WCU junior Hailey Cook collected top honors with a heave of 14.65 meters (48-0.75) followed by Samford junior Aerial Horton (13.28 meters, 43-7.00) and ETSU senior Tyesha Jones (12.73 meters, 41-9.25).
Catamount newcomer Jamie Brown claimed first place in the men’s long jump with a mark of 7.28 meters (23-10.75). Samford sophomore Marquis Barnes came in a close second at 7.26 meters (23-10.00), and ETSU sophomore Patrick Taylor made the podium with a jump of 7.04 meters (23-1.25).
In the men’s high jump, it was all WCU, as a trio of freshmen – Tyrie Adams, Brown and Khalil Jackson – swept the top three spots in that order. Adams’ winning mark was 2.09 meters (6-10.25).
The women’s high jump was also a sweep, with Samford taking the top three spots. Junior Courtney Prengaman claimed first with a leap of 1.70 meters (5-7.00) followed by teammates Carrie Neill and Popp, who both registered jumps of 1.64 meters (5-4.50).
After the 800-meter and 200-meter trials, finals events picked up again with the men’s shot put and women’s long jump.
In the men’s shot put, VMI’s Joel Hoisington posted a throw of 16.28 meters to take first place, while Keydet teammate Jordan White notched a 16.20-meter throw to come in second. WCU senior Jared Johnson finished third (16.09 meters, 52-9.50).
Keydet sophomore Bria Anderson proceeded to nab top honors in the women’s long jump with a mark of 5.83 meters (19-1.50). Catamount junior Tiffani Lewis grabbed the second spot, and ETSU freshman Kyra Atkins came in third.
The 3,000-meter run on the women’s side was all Furman, as junior Allie Buchalski ran a 9:55.05 to win the event. Fellow Paladins Laura Miller and Emma Mashburn also claimed podium positions.
In the men’s 3,000-meter, Samford sophomore Arsène Guillorel cruised to victory by clocking a time of 8:09.62. Two more sophomores – Furman’s Troy Reeder and ETSU’s Simeon Roberts – checked in second and third, respectively, with times of 8:17.37 and 8:18.25.
The day concluded with the distance medley relays in front of a raucous crowd. Samford took the men’s title with a time of 10:11.67, and VMI edged out ETSU for second place. On the women’s side, Chattanooga repeated as the champion by clocking a 12:03.01. Furman and ETSU finished first and second, respectively.
ETSU Nathan Rivera leads the men’s heptathlon through four events with 2,877 points. The junior from Knoxville, Tenn., finished with top marks in the 60-meter dash (7.22 seconds) and shot put (11.84 meters, 38-10.25). WCU’s Christian Carswell, who won the long jump (6.75 meters, 22-1.75), sits in second with 2,823 points, while fellow Catamount Draven Crist rounds out the top three with 2,669 points. Crist placed first in the high jump with a leap of 2.02 meters (6-7.50).
Saturday’s events begin at 9:15 a.m. (CT) with the completion of the men’s heptathlon.
For a complete list of Saturday’s results and to follow Sunday’s live results, visit SoConSports.com
Note: All-conference honors are awarded to the top three finishers in each event.
Men’s Team Results – Day 1
1. Western Carolina – 58 points
2. Samford – 38
3. VMI – 34
4. ETSU – 23
5. Furman – 20
6. The Citadel – 12
7. Wofford – 9
8. UNCG – 1
Women’s Team Results – Day 1
1. Samford – 86 points
2. Western Carolina – 67
3. ETSU – 34.50
4. Furman – 32
5. VMI – 26.50
6. Chattanooga – 12
7. Wofford – 8
8. UNCG – 5
9. The Citadel – 2
Men’s All-Freshman Team – Day 1
Long jump
Jamie Brown, Western Carolina
Tyrie Adams, Western Carolina
Omar Mingo, Wofford
High Jump
Tyrie Adams, Western Carolina
Jamie Brown, Western Carolina
Khalil Jackson, Western Carolina
Shot put
Dakota Wright, Western Carolina
Brandon Zamary, Wofford
Longinus, Nnodim, Wofford
3000-meter run
Liam Brooks, Western Carolina
Nick Horne, ETSU
Women’s All-Freshman Team – Day 1
Pentathlon
Selena Popp, Samford
Amber Lust, Wofford
Megan Meadow, Samford
Shot put
Tatiana Taylor, Samford
Simone Williams, Western Carolina
Kameron Cass, The Citadel
High jump
Selena Popp, Samford
Rebekah Fox, ETSU
Ashley Parker, Western Carolina
Long jump
Kyra Atkins, ETSU
Brenea Thomas, VMI
Tamilia Wright, Western Carolina
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