Feb. 7, 2005
Cullowhee, N.C. -
In perhaps the strongest overall event of the indoor season, the Western Carolina Track & Field teams claimed a meet-high 12 first place finishes, tallied 14 seasonal bests, and set one school record at the East Tennessee State University Indoor Meet held in Johnson City, Tenn., February 5.
In addition to the 12 top finishes, Western also earned a grand total of 39 top three places, including 12 seconds and 15 third-place tallies in the meet overall.
Senior Leslie Martin, a previous Southern Conference Women's Indoor Performer of the Week, set a WCU record in the 800-meter run, crossing the line in 2:12.47 to claim first by more than five and a half seconds. Her time was just under a full second faster than the previous mark held by Keeya McManus, who set the record in 1999, also in Johnson City.
Martin's top finish in the 800 was just one of eight for the Catamount women. Martin teamed with freshman Raquel Ramseur, sophomore Asia Davis, and senior Jennifer Spivey to take first in the 4x400-meter relay with a time of 3:47.90, ten and a half seconds ahead of the second-place finishing team. In addition to the relay first, Ramseur claimed two on her own, winning both the 200 and 400-meter dashes, while Davis was the quickest to maneuver the 60-meter hurdles, cracking the nine-second barrier for the first time this season for WCU at 8.98.
The defending Southern Conference Performer of the Week, senior Laura Tieszen soared over the 3.80-meter mark to win the pole vault competition by nearly two feet. Freshman Jessica Wilkerson cleared 1.53-meters to claim first in the women's high jump, just edging out teammates Tieszen and Rachel Glasgow.
Rounding out Western's first-place finishers on the women's side were the Distance Medley relay team of junior Deanna Kulesz, and freshmen Brooke Saddler, Elizabeth Prevette, and Kerri Savery with a seasonal-best 12:36.70, 30 seconds quicker than the previous top time. Savery also finished third in the 800-meter run behind the record-setting time of Martin while Kulesz placed second in the mile run.
The Catamount men claimed four first-place finishes and seven seconds on the weekend. Freshman Zeb Johnson won the 400-meter dash with a time of 49.90, just edging out senior James Barr in third. However, the two did team with sophomore James Gregory and junior Charleton Grant to win the 4x400-meter relay event by one second over second-place Appalachian State.
A week after Adam Puett blistered the mile course, the junior shortened his step to win the 800-meter run with a time of 1:52.82, followed by senior James Irwin in third. Puett's classmate, Lawrence Briscoe, rounded out Western's top prizes by winning the 60-meter hurdle event, clearing the hurdles with a time of 8.24. He also placed second in the high jump with a mark of 1.98m, tying the seasonal best he set Jan. 21-22.
Freshman Michael Malone placed second in the long jump setting a WCU season top distance of 6.71m and third in the 200-meter dash. And senior Wes Willoughby soared over 4.40 meters, the fourth-best height this season, to place second in the pole vault competition. He was followed by freshman Justin Spormann and senior David McCall tied for fourth.
Western's track & field teams return to action this Saturday, February 12 at the Tiger Indoor Invitational in Clemson, S.C. where the they set five season-bests two weeks ago at the Clemson Championships.
Western Carolina First-place Finishes:
Women's Distance Medley: Deanna Kulesz, Brooke Saddler, Elizabeth Prevette, Kerri Savery (12:36.70)
Women's 60-meter Hurdles: Asia Davis (8.98)
Women's 200-meter Dash: Raquel Ramseur (24.84)
Women's 400-meter Dash: Raquel Ramseur (56.30)
Women's 800-meter Run: Leslie Martin (2:12.47) *WCU record
Women's High Jump: Jessica Wilkerson (1.53m)
Women's Pole Vault: Laura Tieszen (3.80m)
Women's 4x400-meter Relay: Leslie Martin, Raquel Ramseur, Asia Davis, Jennifer Spivey (3:47.90)
Men's 60-meter Hurdle: Lawrence Briscoe (8.24)
Men's 400-meter Dash: Zeb Johnson (49.90)
Men's 800-meter Run: Adam Puett (1:52.82
Men's 4x400-meter Relay: James Barr, James Gregory, Charleton Grant, Zeb Johnson (3:19.00)
Other WCU Top 10 Finshes:
Women's 60m Hurdles: NaShay McGriff, 3rd (9.07)
Tiffany Mack, 5th (9.61)
Laura Tieszen, 8th (9.77)
Rachel Glasgow, 10th (10.47)
Women's 60m Dash: Raquel Ramseur, 6th (7.74)
Women's 200m Dash: Tangelia Johnson, 10th (26.12)
Women's 400m Dash: Jennifer Spivey, 3rd (57.70)
Asia Davis, 5th (59.01)
Tangelia Johnson, 10th (62.52)
Women's 800m Run: Kerri Savery, 3rd (2:18.08)
Elizabeth Prevette, 7th (2:21.50)
Tonya Edmonds, 9th (2:22.78)
Women's Mile Run: Deanna Kulesz, 2nd (5:13.30)
Women's Long Jump: NaShay McGriff, 2nd (5.23m)
Tiffany Mack, 3rd (5.04m)
Cassie Gentry, 6th (4.95m)
Melissa Berry, 7th (4.89m)
Women's Triple Jump: NaShay McGriff, 2nd (11.16m)
Tiffany Mack, 3rd (10.72m)
Women's High Jump: Laura Tieszen, 2nd (1.53m)
Women's Shot Put: Sharhonda Bell, T-4th (12.27m)
Nicole Lopez, 7th (11.51m)
Miranda Long, 9th (11.34m)
Women's Weight Throw: Miranda Long, 2nd (15.35m)
Jenn Hawkins, 6th (14.23m)
Sharhonda Bell, 8th (11.82m)
Nicole Lopez, 10th (10.31m)
Women's Pole Vault: Rachel Glasgow, 3rd (3.05m)
Melissa Cabe, T-4th (2.90m)
Jessie Wilson, T-8th (2.75m)
Women's 4x400m Relay:
T. Edmonds, T. Johnson, L. Tieszen, R. Glasgow, 3rd (4:03.60)
M. Berry, C. Gentry, J. Wilkerson M. Hall, 9th (4:14.30)
Men's 60m Hurdles: Michael Malone, 3rd (8.45)
Matt Harlfinger, 5th (8.76
Ashten Bennett, 7th (8.87)
Bobby Robinson, 9th (9.91)
Ogden Hansford, 10th (10.41)
Men's 60m Dash: Zeb Johnson, 3rd (7.03)
Darius Bryson, T-4th (7.04)
Nick Miller, T-4th (7.04)
Men's 200m Dash: James Gregory, 2nd (22.29)
Michael Malone, 3rd (22.32)
James Barr, 4th (22.40
Duke Craig, 5th (22.44)
Darius Bryson, 7th (22.60)
Men's 400m Dash: James Barr, 3rd (50.30)
Charleton Grant, 6th (50.92)
Ogden Hansford, 8th (51.13)
James Gregory, 9th (51.14)
Men's 800m Run: James Irwin, 3rd (1:57.03)
Jamar Frazier, 8th (2:01.13)
Men's Mile Run: Fred Cameron, 8th (4:28.50)
Men's Long Jump: Michael Malone, 2nd (6.71m)
Lamont Reid, 3rd (6.66m)
Mitchell Dukes, 8th (6.25m)
Men's Triple Jump: Justin Sparman, 2nd (13.28m)
Men's High Jump: Lawrence Briscoe, 2nd (1.98m)
Lamont Reid, 3rd (1.93m)
Matt Harlfinger, T-5th (1.87m)
Bobby Robinson, T-5th (1.87m)
Men's Shot Put: Chris Lewis, 2nd (15.36m)
Jerod Kelly, 4th (14.78m)
Felipe Foster, 6th (12.58m)
Matt Decker, 9th (11.46m)
Men's Weight Throw: Jason Stepp, 2nd (15.22m)
Willie Sturgis, 3rd (15.18m)
Kevin McAlmont, 4th (15.09m)
Chris Lewis, 5th (14.95m)
Matt Decker, 6th (14.05m)
Men's Pole Vault: Wes Willoughby, T-2nd (4.40m)
Justin Sporman, T-4th (4.25m)
David McCall, T-4th (4.25m)
Men's 4x400m Relay:
L. Briscoe, A. Puett, O. Hansford D. Craig, 4th (3:24.00)
J. Frazier, D. Bryson, M. Harlfinger, J. Irwin, 6th (3:27.80)
A. Bennett, B. McLean, B. Robinson, F. Cameron, 9th (3:34.20)
