Troy University Athletics
Alexander Named Freshman of the Year
3/1/2010 3:10:00 AM | Track & Field
MUREFFESBORO, Tenn. - Troy University indoor track and field athlete, Ja-Courteny Alexander made a splash at her first Sun Belt Conference championship meet by winning two medals. For her efforts, she was named the Sun Belt Conference Indoor Track and Field Freshman of the Year on Sunday afternoon at the conclusion of the championship meet.
The freshman rewrote the history books in the 400-meter dash for the Trojans, capturing a silver medal along the way. Alexander ran a time of 56.11 seconds in the finals, finishing second only to Kellie Morrison's time of 55.32 seconds. The time was good enough to break the school record held by LeUrsula Lumpkin (set in 2001).
The freshman ran the third-fastest time in the event in the prelims, crossing the line in a time of 57.06 seconds - which at the time was the second fastest time in school history. She was joined in the event by Ariel Cavazos (59.82 seconds), Tamara Curtis (59.94 seconds) and Luv Dean (1:00.31).
Alexander finished fifth in the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.35 seconds, finishing less than .34 seconds behind the top overall finisher - Alysha Adams of North Texas - and just .22 seconds out of medal contention. The freshman ran the fastest time in the preliminary round with a time of 24.36 seconds - a new personal best this season.
Both times broke her previous season-best of 25.06 seconds set at the Tiger Paw Invitational on Valentine's Day. The time is also the second-fastest time in school history, trailing just Tawanna Meadows' time of 23.94 seconds, set in 2008.
The 4x400-meter relay team comprised of Ariel Cavazos, Ja-Courteny Alexander, Veronica Bryant and Kapri Hockaday captured a silver medal in the competition with a time of 3:56.00. The group finished less than three seconds behind the gold medal winners from North Texas.
The time in the 4x400-meter relay was the fastest of the season for the Trojans, and it tied for the third fastest time in school history.
