May 16, 2005
WCU Results at Georgia Tech Invitational
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Cullowhee, N.C. - A pair of Western Carolina track & field records fell this past weekend at the Georgia Tech Invitational in the final tune-up before the NCAA East Regional meet. Sophomore Asia Davis established a new mark in the women's 400-meter hurdles, while the women's SoCon Champion 4x400-meter relay team, equipped with a new member, passed the baton in record time.
Both tallies were also all-time best marks in Southern Conference women's track & field history in their respective events.
Davis, who previously set the school mark with her time in mid-April at the Sea Ray Relays, knocked an additional half second off to manipulate the hurdles in 58.73, placing her seventh overall. She was, however, the third top collegiate finisher in the event. Davis' time surpasses the two-year old SoCon record of Chattanooga's Elisabeth Sain which was set at the NCAA Mideast Regional.
Davis had entered the weekend ranked 13th in the East region and 28th nationally in the 400-meter hurdle event. However, based upon her time Saturday, she could move into the top 10 on the seasonal top time charts in the East and crack the top 20 nationwide.
In the women's 1,600-meter relay, senior Tonya Edmonds replaced classmate Leslie Martin on the lead leg of the record-setting four-person squad, joining freshman Raquel Ramseur, Davis, and senior Jennifer Spivey. The team finished third overall, a mere half second behind second-place Virginia with a time of 3:40.55. The Catamounts' performance was nearly a second and a half quicker than the previous SoCon record set by Georgia Southern in 2003.
Western had ranked 21st in the regional 1,600-meter relay rankings, but could gain as many as five spots after the showing in Atlanta.
Both the relay team and Davis had previously qualified for the East regionals prior to reaching the minimum requirement over the weekend.
Other Catamounts attempting to qualify or simply improve seeding included Tangelia Johnson in the women's 100- and 200-meter dash. The freshman from Charlotte, N.C., finished 26th out of 61 entries with a time of 12.08 in the 100-meter dash and 32nd out of the 68 entries with a time of 24.95 with the distance doubled. Johnson's classmate, Kerrie Savery, finished the 800-meter run with a time of 2:24.89.
Sophomore Brittany Whitaker, fresh off her individual championship in the women's high jump which qualified her for the East Regional, placed 12th in the event with jump of 1.65-meters (5-5.0). Southern Conference Indoor and Outdoor Field Performer of the Year, senior Laura Tieszen, was the top collegiate finisher in the women's pole vault, soaring over 3.80-meters (12-5.5), the regional minimum. Her vault was good enough for third place overall at the meet.
On the men's side, SoCon Outdoor Track Performer of the Year, freshman Mike Malone ran 17th in the 100-meter sprint, clocking a time of 10.57. Malone currently ranks 14th in the East region after his conference-winning time of 10.45 back on May 1. Senior Darius Bryson finished 32nd in the dash, just missing his seasonal best with a time of 10.78. The Sylva, N.C., native also ran the 200-meter dash, finishing with a time of 22.30.
Junior Adam Puett placed 15th in the men's 1,500-meter run, finishing the three and three-quarter laps with a time of 3:50.52. His classmate, Lawrence Briscoe, wound up 14th in the 110-meter hurdles with a mark of 14.49.
A trio of Catamounts failed to register distances in competition as senior Jason Stepp and freshman Chris Lewis both fouled in the hammer and shot put, respectively, and senior Wes Willoughby did not record a height in the pole vault. In javelin, WCU record-holder, freshman David Bowles finished third with his mark of 60.75-meters (199-4)
Puett, Bowles, and Willoughby have already qualified for regionals by virtue of their individual championships at the SoCon meet, with Bowles also meeting the qualifying distance in last week's Orange & Purple Classic at Clemson. Also previously qualified, the men's 4x400-meter relay team of senior James Barr, sophomore James Gregory, junior Charleton Grant and freshman Zeb Johnson ran fifth over the weekend, just missing their seasonal-best with a time of 3:12.16.
In all, 14 different Catamounts have qualified for the East Regional in 13 different events. The regional will take place May 27-28, 2005, at Icahn Stadium, new this spring in Randall's Island, N.Y. The meet will be hosted by Manhattan College.
Western Carolina Regional Qualifiers:
Laura Tieszen - women's pole vault
Asia Davis - 400-meter hurdles; 4x400-meter relay
Brittany Whitaker - women's high jump
Leslie Martin - 800-meter run; 4x400-meter relay
Raquel Ramseur - 4x400-meter relay
Jennifer Spivey - 4x400-meter relay
Tonya Edmonds - 4x400-meter relay
Adam Puett - 1,500-meter run
Mike Malone - 100-meter dash; 200-meter dash; 110-meter hurdles; 4x100-meter relay
Zeb Johnson - 400-meter dash; 4x100-meter relay; 4x400-meter relay
Wes Willoughby - men's pole vault
David Bowles - men's javelin throw
James Barr - 4x400-meter relay
James Gregory - 4x100-meter relay; 4x400-meter relay
