Troy University Athletics
Seven Trojans Capture Event Wins at South Alabama Jaguar Premier Invitational
3/4/2007 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
MOBILE, Ala. -- Troy opened its 2007 outdoor track and field season Saturday at the South Alabama Jaguar Premier Invitational and the Trojans walked away with numerous gold medals. With a full complement of men and the throwing corps from the women's team representing Troy, seven athletes were the best-in-class in their events.
Senior Ryan Baker had a strong day in the men's hammer, winning the event with his second-longest throw ever at 155-feet, 2-inches. Sophomore Norman Austin started out his season by dominating the field in the men's javelin, throwing 178-feet, 9-inches despite some strong crosswinds that hampered the event. Teammate and decathlete Mike Conley tossed the spear 149-feet even for second. Mike Nichols won the long jump with a distance of 22-feet, 2.5-inches.
In the 110-meter hurdles, freshman Leander McKenzie dominated the event in cruising to victory in a time of 14.54. Conley finished seventh in the same event at 15.23 seconds. Sophomore Lamar Hicks was the class of the field in the 200-meter dash, winning easily in a lifetime best of 21.61, while also finishing fifth in the 100 meters with a 10.99 effort.
Six Lady Trojans made the trip and represented their team well. Sophomore Monique Jordan walked away with the discus title (136-feet, 2-inches) and finished runner-up in the hammer throw. Freshmen Megan Young easily won the women's javelin with a throw of 125-feet, besting teammate Shenita Howell, who came in second with a 117-feet, 9-inch effort.
Freshman Tiphanie Baker had a strong day in the throws, finishing third in the shotput, fourth in the discus and fifth in the javelin. Howell also scored points by finishing third in the discus and fourth in the hammer. Other notable performances for the Trojans were turned in by freshman Matavis Madden (third in the 400 meters at 49.12), Tevis Wells (fifth in the 400 meters at 49.67), Logan Etheridge (third in the 400 hurdles at 57.51), and Scott Crews (third in the pole vault at 14-feet, 8-inches).
The men's and women's teams get back in action this coming weekend, traveling to Hattiesburg, Miss., for the Southern Mississippi Invitational.
