Jan. 24, 2006

2005-06 WCU Indoor Track & Field Top Times

Cullowhee, N.C. - The Western Carolina men's and women's track & field teams recorded 20, top 10 finishes and set 22 seasonal top times at the non-team scored Niswonger Foundation Invitational held in the Memorial Center in Johnson City, Tenn., over the weekend.

In just the second meet of the indoor season, sophomore Kerrie Savery had the best all-around individual day, recording two second-place finishes in the women's 800-meter and mile runs. She turned in Western's best times of the season in the 800-meter, running a 2:17.45, as well as in the mile run, crossing the line in 5:17.91. Savery also ran the 1,200-meter leg of the Distance Medley Relay in 3:50, helping WCU to a ninth-place finish along with freshman teammates Aneesha Lane, Annie Bailey, and Ann Wagner.

Other top performances for the Western women included junior Brittany Whitaker's seasonal best, and second-place finishing, height of 1.65-meters (5-5.0) in the women's high jump and sophomore Raquel Ramseur's fourth-place run in the 400-meter dash (56.23). Sophomore Tangelia Johnson and senior Asia Davis finished seventh and ninth, respectively, in the 60-meter dash and 60-meter hurdles. Ramseur, Davis and Johnson were joined by sophomore Brooke Saddler in finishing third in the women's 4x400-meter relay with a time of 3:47.28.

The Catamount men recorded 11 of Western's 20, Top 10 performances on the weekend. The highest overall finish for men's squad was a third in the 4x400-meter relay. Senior Milton Bolton, freshman Manteo Mitchell, junior James Gregory and sophomore Zeb Johnson combined to circle the track in a season's best 3:13.76, three seconds quicker than their preliminary time, to earn the podium finish. In other relay action, the men's distance medley squad of freshman Jesse Ramirez, senior Charleton Grant, and juniors Jamar Frazier and Dylan Hermelee finished ninth with a time of 10:53.42.

Other top individual showings included sixth-place runs by senior Lawrence Briscoe in the 60-meter hurdles (8.25) and junior Dan Fassinger in the mile run (4:13.6).

Western's top men's field performances came from senior Tyler Ferguson and junior Willie Sturgis. Ferguson led two WCU Top 10 finishes in the triple jump, finishing seventh with a leap of 14.59 meters (47-10.5). Freshman Daniel Joseph finished 10th with a jump of 14.48 meters (47-6.25). Sturgis placed eighth in the weight throw, hurling the element 15.22 meters (49-11.25), his second-longest distance of the indoor season. In the pole vault, Wes Willoughby finished eighth, with teammates Joel Lynch and Christian Benson finishing 10th and 11th, respectively.

Western Carolina returns to action this Friday and Saturday, Jan. 27-28, in split-squad action. The Catamounts will visit both the Mountaineer Winter Open at Appalachian State in Boone, N.C., as well as the Clemson Invitational in Clemson, S.C. over the same time period.

Women's 60m Hurdles:      Asia Davis, 9th (9.02)
Women's 60m Dash:         Tangelia Johnson, 7th (7.78)
Women's 400m Dash:        Raquel Ramseur, 4th (56.23)
Women's 800m Run:         Kerrie Savery, 2nd (2:17.45)
                          Rachel Glasgow, 8th (2:29.72)
Women's 4x400m Relay:     3rd, (3:47.28)B. Saddler (58.5), R. Ramseur (54.4)
                          A. Davis (55.8, T. Johnson (58.5)
Women's Mile Run:         Kerrie Savery, 2nd (5:17.91)
Women's High Jump:        Brittany Whitaker, T-2nd (1.65m)
Women's Distance Medley:  9th, (13:09.06)
                          K. Savery (3:50/1200), A. Lane (58.9/400)
                          A. Bailey (2:27/800), A. Wagner (5:52/Mile)
Men's 60m Hurdles:        Lawrence Briscoe, 6th (8.25)
Men's 60m Dash:           Mike Malone, 10th (7.02)
Men's Weight Throw:       Willie Sturgis, 8th (15.22m)
Men's Triple Jump:        Tyler Ferguson, 7th (14.59m)
                          Daniel Joseph, 9th (14.48m)
Men's 4x400m Relay:       3rd, (3:13.76)
                          M. Bolton (48.4), M. Mitchell (48.9)
                          J. Gregory (49.2), Z. Johnson (47.0)
Men's Pole Vault:         Wes Willoughby, 8th (4.45m)
                          Joel Lynch, 10th (4.45m)
Men's Shot Put:           Jerod Kelly, 8th (14.57m )
Men's Distance Medley:    9th, (10:53.42)
                          J. Ramirez (3:16/1200), C. Grant (50.08/400)
                          J. Frazier (2:01/800), D. Hermelee (4:45/Mile)
Men's Mile Run:           Dan Fassinger, 6th (4:13.6)