Troy University Athletics
Trojans Qualify Two Regionally In Three Events
3/22/2008 5:00:00 AM | Track & Field
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Troy University Trojans set several personal bests and qualified two student-athletes for the regional meet this weekend at the Snowbird Invitational hosted by Florida State University.
Trojan sophomore Tiphanie Baker set a new personal best and school record in the discus this weekend. Her distance of 50.30 meters (165') in the event also qualified her for the regional meet later this year in Fayetteville, winning her the gold medal in the event - her third of the outdoor season.
Senior Tawanna Meadows qualified for the regional meet in the 100-meter dash with her time of 11.61 seconds in the event. The time was good enough to set a new personal mark en route to her first gold medal in her first outdoor event of the season. The mark also broke the school record in which she set last season at 11.61 seconds. Meadows also qualified for the 200-meter dash, besting the school-record in the event with a time of 23.49 seconds and her second gold medal of the event. The time was .47 seconds faster than the time needed to qualify.
"Tawanna and Tiphanie turned in great performances this week," Troy Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Jill Lancaster said. "But I have to say that this is probably the best I have seen this team perform since I have been here. It was a great performance across the board."
The Trojans shattered many personal bests in just their second outdoor meet of the season, and first in two weeks.
Wes Jackson and Grant Bullington set personal marks in the high jump, with both student-athletes clearing a height of 1.95 meters (6'4 3/4") and missing the qualifying mark of 2.10 meters by just .15 meters.
Chonita Allen and Sametria Matthews shattered their personal bests in the long jump competition. Allen posted a distance of 5.03 meters (16'6") and Matthews a distance of 4.96 meters (16'3 1/4").
While Baker was setting a qualifying mark in the discus, teammate Shenita Howell set a personal best with a distance of 46 meters (150'11") and mised the qualifying mark by just 1.30 meters in her second meet of the season.
In the javelin competition, Erin Clymer set a new personal best on the women's side with a distance of 30.72 meters (100'9") and Mike Conley did the same on the men's side with a distance of 55 meters (180'5"). The distance by Conley was just 6.60 meters away from the qualifying standard. Meanwhile, Scott Neal set a new personal best with a distance of 12.70 meters (41'8") in the shot put.
While Meadows qualified for the regional meet with a school record in the 100-meters, Tatiana Thomas finished 24th and set a new personal best with a time of 12.55 seconds in the same event and Allen finished 43rd with a personal best of 13.28 seconds. Meanwhile on the men's side, Antonio McLeod set a new personal best with a time of 10.95 in the 100-meter dash, finishing sixth overall.
While Meadows was setting a new school record in the 200-meter dash, Jocelyn Williams set a new personal best with a time of 25.24 seconds, finished 23rd overall. Meanwhile, Thomas finished 27th with a time of 25.37 seconds, Faith Hampton finished 40th with a time of 26.11 seconds and Allen 50th with a time of 28.21 seconds. On the men's side, Burke Leonce finished eighth with a time of 21.96, McLeod 14th with a time of 22.33 seconds, Conley 18th with a time of 22.68 seconds and Michael Alexander 23rd with a time of 23.66 seconds.
In the 400-meter dash, Brentley Collins finished 28th with a new personal best of 1:03.97. On the men's side, Desmond Brown - in his first season in NCAA Division I competition - set a new personal best with a time of 49.56 and a fourth-place finish. Logan Etheridge finished eighth with a time of 51.19 and Ben Parnell 11th with a time of 54.01 seconds.
Porsche Holden set a new personal best in the 100-meter hurdles, finishing 10th with a time of 14.89 seconds, while Allen finished 25th with a time of 17.25 seconds.
In the women's 400-meter hurdles, Holden finished ninth with a time of 1:07.38 and Matthews 12th with a time of 1:09.35. On the men's side, Etheride finished eighth with a time of 55.74 seconds.
Kelly Harrington, Drew Taylor, Tim Landry and Brett Lewis all set new personal bests in the meet this weekend.
The teams return to Florida State next weekend for the FSU Combined Events meet.
