Troy University Athletics
Austin Places Seventh in Mideast Javelin; Cichoszewska Eighth in Triple Jump
5/26/2007 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The second day of the 2007 NCAA Track and Field Mideast Region Championship proved to be much more successful for Troy Saturday as a pair of Trojans advanced from the preliminaries to the respective finals. Norman Austin finished seventh overall in the javelin, while Agata Cichoszewska was eighth in the triple jump.
Austin threw a distance of 62.51 meters (205-feet, 1-inch) on his first attempt and the mark stood throughout all six rounds, including the final. He did, however, have five of his best six lifetime throws on the afternoon, earning Troy's first two team points of the meet.
"It all came together for me today," Austin said. "With this being the toughest regional, I knew I had to perform at my best. I knew I had a slim chance at advancing to Sacramento, so I just looked at this as a training opportunity. Now, I am looking forward to next year and trying to advance.”
To finish seventh in this event - at the best of four regions - is a statement of Norman's hard work paying off,” Director of Track Bob Lambert said. The consistency he had today is what coaches look for.”
Cichoszewska set a new personal best in the triple jump with a mark of 12.66 meters (41-feet, 6.5-inches) on her first attempt. It put her in first place after two flights and virtually guaranteed a spot in the finals, which she entered in seventh place. She fouled on two of her three final attempts.
"I didn't expect to make the finals as I was 18th coming in, so I think that is pretty good," Cichoszewska, a native of Poland said. I was so nervous that at the start, but when I got my personal best on the first jump, I felt better. I am actually upset that I scratched two good jumps."
I think this has been representative of Agata's effort all year long,” Head Women's Coach Jill Lancaster said. She rises to the competition as she has been in the finals of every big meet this season.”
Juzil Rudolph also competed in the triple jump, posting her second-best effort of the season at 12.37 meters (40-feet, 7-inches). She followed that with two jumps of the same distance -- 11.70 meters (38-feet, 4.75-inches) - and did not advance to the final.
Tiphanie Baker started things off in the women's discus Saturday afternoon. Her mark of 45.22 meters (148-feet, 4-inches) was her third-best of the year, but she finished sixth in her flight and 17th overall.
"That was a really good first regional for Tiphanie," Lambert said. "To get her third-best throw of the year in regionals, I will take it."
Action during the meet was suspended at 4:16 p.m. for an hour and nine minutes due to lightning, forcing a delay of 65 most events, including the javelin and triple jump competitions involving Trojans.
Cichoszewska and Austin join Tawanna Meadows (100 meters) and Juzil Rudolph (heptathlon) in the at-large pool for the selection to the NCAA Track and Field National Championship. The complete list of national participants is expected to be announced by the NCAA on Tuesday.
