March 21, 2010

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Final Results for 2010 Shamrock Invitational

Myrtle Beach, S.C. - The Western Carolina men and women's track and field team claimed a total of 34 top-10 marks and ten podium finishes in the two-day Shamrock Invitational hosted by Coastal Carolina University in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Catamounts claimed 22 top-10 finishes on day two to close out their first outdoor meet of the 2010 season.

The Cats competed with 37 teams from across the country that included Southern Conference foes, the College of Charleston, Georgia Southern and the Citadel. Minnesota, South Carolina and Syracuse were also participants in this weekend's meet.

WCU had 13 top-10 finishes in the sprints and distance events on Saturday. The Catamount women's `A' relay team (Shalyn McMichael, Felicia Paulding, Felisha Garren and Jane't Carothers) claimed top billing in the 4x400-meter relay with a time of 3:43.16 minutes.

Drew Tucker claimed his first outdoor individual title of the year with a win in the 800-meter. The junior tallied the top-time of 153:24 in Saturday's run.

In the distance 1500-meter run, Stephen Hammond earned third with a run of 3:59.23, while teammate Garrett West placed fifth at 4:00.47. Morgan Turner was the top finisher for the women with a time of 4:50.43.

Junior Nicole Okolo garnered a third place marking after topping the women's 100-meter hurdles in 14.50.

Jane't Carothers claimed third in the 400-meter dash with a time of 55.23, while Brandon Hairston was the men's leader at 48.27 for sixth place.

WCU fared well in the 4x100 relays as the women's `A' team (Paulding, Carothers, Raven Parrish and Sherrelle Froneberger) earned fourth with a time of 46.44. The men's `A' team (Christian Bethune, Brandon Hairston, Dominique Young, Benny Davis) earned sixth at 41.32. Meanwhile, the men's 4x400 `A' team (Hairston, Young, Tucker, Davis) placed fourth with 3:13.01 minutes.

Young earned fifth (10.65 seconds) in the men's 100-meter dash, while Paulding collected ninth in the women's event (11.96) on Saturday.

Western Carolina had two podium placements in the field events. Sophomore Jamie Van Pelt earned second in the men's discus throw with a distance of 47.17 meters. Teammate Quincy Marshall (sixth) placed inside the top-10 with a throw of 45.81 meters. Senior Matt Evans notched a second-place marking of 2.10 meters in the men's high jump event.

Ryan Pless (15.30 meters, 5th) and Marshall (14.89, 9th) both earned top-10 markings in the men's shot put, while Deirdra Morrison (12.27 meters, 15th) was the top shot put finisher for the women.

In the triple jump, Tiana Jones (11.74 meters, 7th) and Tara Tounzen (37.07 meters, 9th) garnered top-10 accolades for the women. Cornelius Williams placed fifth with his longest jump of 14.66 meters.

Zakiyyah Stewart (40.48 meters, 7th in discus throw) and Michael Osteen (4.45 meters, 8th in pole vault) rounded out the top-10 finishers for the Catamounts in the Shamrock Invitational.

Western Carolina will host their first outdoor meet of the season next Saturday, March 27 at the Catamount Athletic Complex. Teams from across the region will be participating in the annual Beynon Sports Surfaces Catamount Classic. More information about the upcoming meet -- including heat sheets -- will be posted online at CatamountSports.com.

Podium Finishes in the Shamrock Invitational:

Men's High Jump
Matt Evans (2nd) - 2.10 meters
Men's Discus Throw
Jamie Van Pelt (2nd) - 47.17 meters
Women's 400-meter dash
Jane't Carothers (3rd) - 55.23 seconds
Women's 100-meter Hurdles
Nicole Okolo (3rd) - 14.50 seconds
Men's 1,500-meter run
Stephen Hammond (3rd) - 3:59.23
Men's 800-meter run
Drew Tucker (1st) - 1:53.24
Women's 4x400-meter relay
`A' Team (Shalyn McMichael, Felicia Paulding, Felisha Garren, Jane't Carothers) - 3:43.16
Men's 10,000-meter run
Josey Weaver (1st) - 31:40.88 minutes
Women's 10,000-meter run
Lindsay Groce (2nd) - 38:21.12
Men's 4x200-meter relay
`B' Team (Dominique Young, Benny Davis, Brandon Hairston, Willie Bowman) - 1:25.00