Troy University Athletics
Conley Third after First Half of Sun Belt Conference Decathlon; Troy Tied for Seventh
5/11/2007 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
Sun Belt Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championship Central
LAFAYETTE, La. - Freshman Tiphanie Baker became the first champion at the 2007 Sun Belt Conference Track and Field Championship Friday afternoon, setting the school discus record twice during the competition and for the fifth and sixth times this year. Her second preliminary toss of 46.78 meters (153-feet, 6-inches) was bettered only by her marking of 46.87 meters (153-feet, 9-inches) on her final attempt, after she had already clinched the title.
I am excited,” Baker said, especially after finding out that her champion status earned her an automatic spot at the NCAA Mideast Regional in Columbia, Mo., in two weeks. I didn't expect to set another (personal-best) today, but this is the conference championship. Most freshmen don't have a season like this, but my coach and teammates have brought me a long way.”
This is a culmination of a lot of hard work this year for Tiphanie,” Director of Track Bob Lambert said. For a freshman to come out and win this championship for us is special. I don't think people understand what it takes to be a conference champion.”
Junior Juzil Rudolph won three of the four heptathlon events to take the early lead with 3,159 points, 165 better than the next competitor. The final three events - long jump, javelin and 800-meter run take place Saturday.
Rudolph finished first in the 100-meter hurdles (14.54 seconds), shot put (11.46 meters/37-feet, 7.25-inches) and 200-meter dash (25.29 seconds) to eclipse her school record pace from the Auburn Invitational, when she had 3,122 points after day one and finished one point shy of the NCAA provisional qualifying standard. Rudolph also tied for second in the high jump Friday at 1.63 meters (5-feet, 4.25-inches).
It was good to win three of the four events today to get a solid start,” Rudolph said. You never know what can happen in the hep, sometimes getting a personal best in one event and then bombing in the next. You have to take it one event at a time. How I do tomorrow starts tonight with everything from cool down to nutrition. I am excited.”
Troy's women's team stands fifth with 10 points, while the men's team is tied for seventh with three points. Friday featured a limited schedule of events with only the first half of the multi-events, the discus competition and the 10,000-meter runs taking place.
Mike Conley stands third after five of the 10 decathlon events with 3,386 points - 138 behind Matt Vining of Arkansas State. He won the 400-dash with a time of 50.66, while finishing second in the 100-meter dash and fourth in the long jump, shot put and high jump.
Trojans Erin Clymer - seventh at 2,015 points - and freshman Chris Hale - ninth at 2,408 points - are also competing in the heptathlon and decathlon, respectively.
Suprisingly, Monique Jordan and Shenita Howell, who finished second and fourth in the discus last year, did not advance to the final round, despite posting better numbers.
Troy pulled an upset of sorts in the men's discus as three Trojans earned spots in the nine-man final. However, the trio was not able to move up and finished 7-8-9. Drew Oliver placed ninth with a throw of 47.01 meters (154-feet, 2-inches), while Michael Heck was eighth at 47.77 meters (157-feet, 8-inches). Ryan Schmeling improved his mark on all three throws in the final round, finishing seventh at 47.94 meters (157-feet, 3-inches).
We are on form,” Lambert said of the day's effort. We couldn't be in a better position if we scripted it - Juzil (Rudolph) is leading the heptathlon, which we hoped, Mike (Conley) is in the position where we thought he would be and we picked up 10 points in the discus, although all of it was from Tiphanie. Our men's discus has best throws of the year but the field was strong. We are looking forward to tomorrow.”
