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 Sunday's second day of competition gets underway at 8:00 am with the multi events in Boone. |
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April 21, 2007
Boone, N.C. - Western Carolina stands second on the men's side and fourth on the women's after the first day of competition at the 2007 Southern Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships being held at the ASU Track at Kidd Brewer Stadium.
Host Appalachian State (114) currently leads the men's competition by 42 points over second-place Western Carolina (72), with The Citadel in a distant third with 12 points. On the women's side, Georgia Southern (47.50) leads a much tighter race by just seven points over second-place Appalachian (40.50), with Chattanooga (26) in third by two points over Western which is fourth with 24 points.
Entering the final day of competition, Western's men boasts at least two individuals in five finals set for Sunday, including six of the eight finalists in the 100-meter dash and five apiece in both the 200-meter dash and 110-meter hurdles. The Catamount women have at least two individuals in six finals events on Sunday, with both sides yet to record points in the multi events.
Freshman Matt Evans gave Western its lone individual championship on the opening day, edging sophomore teammate Rashad Herndon in the men's high jump competition. Evans, a native of Old Fort, N.C., cleared 2.05 meters (6-8.75) to claim the maximum points for WCU. Teammates Daniel Joseph (5th), Anthony Rogers (6th), David Gift (7th) and Matt Harlfinger (8th) all scored points for the Cats in the event as WCU claimed six of the eight positions.
Mike Malone captured All-Southern Conference on Saturday, leaping 7.19 meters (23-7.25) to place third in the men's long jump competition. Teammates Tyler Ferguson, Rogers, Joseph, and Lee Banks each finished fourth through seventh, respectively, in the event. Junior Chris Page finished fifth in the hammer throw (46.14m, 151-4) while Cale McDaniel was eighth in the same event.
Headlining the opening day for the Catamount women were podium finishes for both Jessika Johnson and Brittany Whitaker in the high jump. Johnson, the defending outdoor champion, posted a runner-up finish after clearing 1.70 meters (5-7.0), while Whitaker was third with a height of 1.65 meters (5-5.0) to earn both All-SoCon honors.
Freshman Tia Jones was fourth in the women's long jump, leaping 5.77 meters (18-11.25), while in the women's 10,000-meter run, her classmate, Lindsay Groce, scored points for WCU with a sixth-place run with a time of 39:51.14. Junior Nicole Lopez finished seventh in the women's hammer throw with a mark of 44.12 meters (144-9).
Also, in qualifying for the finals, junior Raquel Ramseur posted the quickest time in the 200-meter dash, clocking an NCAA regional time of 23.93.
Sunday's competition begins with multi events at 8:00 am, culminating with the men's and women's 4x400-meter finals at 4:30 pm and crowning of team champions that afternoon.
Women's Rankings - 5 Events Scored
1. Georgia Southern 47.50 pts
2. Appalachian State 40.50 pts
3. Chattanooga 26 pts
4. WESTERN CAROLINA 24 pts
5. Davidson 18 pts
6. The Citadel 16 pts
7. Elon 8 pts
8. Furman 7 pts
Col. of Charleston 7 pts
10. Wofford 1 pt
Men's Rankings - 6 Events Scored
1. Appalachian State 114 pts
2. WESTERN CAROLINA 72 pts
3. The Citadel 12 pts
4. Furman 11 pts
5. Chattanooga 10 pts
6. UNC Greensboro 8 pts
7. Davidson 7 pts
