Troy University Athletics
Trojans Excel in Field Events
3/12/2006 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.- Sophomore Karla Blankenship and junior Michael Heck led the Troy track and field teams in the field events at the Florida A&M Relays this weekend in Tallahassee, Fla.
Blankenship broke a 3 year-old Troy pole vault record of 10-0.5 set by Michelle Thompson. Blankenship jumped to 10-04.25, or 3.16 meters, for the first place finish in the pole vault. This was her first collegiate specialty first place honor.
Heck had a double victory at the FAMU Relays with his two first place finishes in the shot put with a throw of 50-10 and discus with a throw of 151-04.
On the women's team, Blankenship led the way breaking a record, but sophomore Tawanna Meadows was right behind starting off her season on the right foot.
Meadows started her outdoor season with a first place victory in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.96 seconds against a strong headwind. Teammate, senior Tanisha Davis wasn't far behind placing third in the 100m with a time of 12.21 seconds.
In the women's triple jump, freshman Agata Cichozewka had the first place honors with her leap of 38-05.
In the discus, freshman Monique Jordan had a throw of 137-06, which gave her a first place finish.
In the 3,000-meter run, freshman Farrah Stewart had a time of 11:13.36, which earned her a second place finish.
Junior Carrie Wallace had a strong lead for the team in 400-meter dash when she earned the second place finish with a time of 57.01 seconds. Sophomore Jocelyn Williams came in fifth behind Wallace with a time of 57.44 seconds and senior Mildred Harris followed in seventh with a time of 58.38 seconds.
In the 100-meter hurdles, junior Monique Johnson captured third place with a time of 14.64 seconds.
Freshman Java Dawson improved on her lifetime best in the shot put with a heave of 39-08.
On the men's team, Heck led the way in the titles for the field team, but senior Michael Acree and junior Brandon Hughes captured first place finishes as well.
In the long jump, Acree once again exceeded the NCAA qualifying mark of 7.34 meters, when he won first place with leap of 24-09.75.
Hughes was unopposed in his first place win in the 1,500-meter run, which was with a time of 3:57.78.
In the pole vault, Blankenship was not the only one to capture the audience. Junior Scott Crews jumped more than a foot over his previous best time of 15-01.00 when he placed first with a leap of 16-00. Senior Matt VanZandt finished third behind Crews with a jump of 14-06.00.
A noteworthy performance was from freshman Norman Austin finished second in the javelin with a throw of 177-08.
I was glad for Karla and Scott because they've really been working hard this spring,” said Troy women's head coach Jill Lancaster. Pawell Grubecki has been very effective as their student coach and now we're seeing the proof of the pudding.”
We did some good things at FAMU, but still have a long way to go,” Lancaster said. Alabama will be the first true test of how we fare among the ?˜big dogs' in this sport.”
Four Trojans, VanZandt, senior Richard Stein, freshman Corry Harris, and sophomore Erin Clymer will begin competition in the decathlon and heptathlon on Thurs. March 16 at the Alabama Relays in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
The rest of the team will begin action at the Alabama Relays on Sat. March 18 in the individual events and continue with the relay portion on Sun. March 19.
