Troy University Athletics
Trojans Run Well in Auburn
4/4/2010 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
AUBURN, Ala. - The Troy University track and field program fared well this weekend at the Auburn Tiger Track Classic; including running into the school's record books.
The 4x100-meter relay team of Antonio McLeod, Burke Leonce, Payton McGhee and Neko Freeman ran their way into the record books on Saturday. Although they finished second in the meet, the team jumped to second in the all-time record books at Troy and currently has the ninth fastest time in the country in the event at 40.16 seconds.
In the other relay, the men's 4x400-meter relay team of Stanley Arukwe, Andre McElroy, O'Jike Maat and Chris Upshaw finished seventh in the event with a time of 3:20.00 - narrowly missing their season best of 3:19.74.
The Trojans also fared well in individual events on Saturday, as O'Jike Maat ran a personal best for the second consecutive weekend in the 400-meter hurdles. He crossed the line 14th overall, but he finished with a time of 55.34 seconds. Meanwhile, in the 800-meters, sophomore Andre McElroy ran his second-fastest time of the season as he crossed the line in a time of 1:58.52.
Senior Burke Leonce returned to action for the first time in three weeks, and promptly ran a season-best time of 48.17 seconds in the 400-meters. He was joined in the race by Chris Upshaw, who finished 18th overall with a time of 49.40 - a new personal best for the junior.
In the sprints competition, Antonio McLeod finished sixth overall in the 100-meters with a time of 10.51 seconds, followed closely by teammates Stanley Arukwe (10.55 seconds) and Payton McGhee (10.60 seconds). Sophomore Terrell Irons was also entered into the competition for the first time this season, and promptly ran a time of 11.11 seconds; while Randall Askew crossed the line in a time of 11.29 seconds.
In the 200-meters, four Troy runners crossed the line in the top 10 led by Arukwe. The junior college transfer ran a time of 21.32 seconds, the fastest time by a Trojans this season. He was followed by Neko Freeman (21.34 seconds), Burke Leonce (21.35 seconds), McGhee (21.40 seconds) and McLeod (21.55 seconds).
In the distance competition, a trio of Trojans competed in the 3000-meters led by senior Jeremy Moujoodi with a time of 8:34.31. He finished seventh overall but narrowly missed out on a top three finish. Meanwhile, freshman Enock Kirui finished 10th overall with a time of 8:48.93, and Jeff Rhodes finished 20th overall with a time of 9:09.23. In the 1500-meters, senior Brett Lewis finished 20th overall with a time of 4:08.28 in a strong field of competitive runners.
In the long jump, sophomore Terrell Irons set a new personal best on Saturday afternoon by recording a distance of 6.73 meters (22-01.00). The jump beat his previous personal best of 6.70 meters last season, and beat his previous season best of 6.60 meters set earlier this season. In the high jump, freshman narrowly missed his personal best with an 11th-place finish and a jump of 1.97 meters (6-05.50).
Meanwhile, in the discus, freshman Eddy Lynn narrowly missed his personal best with a throw of 47.53 meters (155-11). His personal best was set at the Southern Miss Invitational with a throw of 48.71 meters, back on March 13.
On the women's side, Latoya Ragland and Ariel Cavazos finished back-to-back with times of 12.07 and 12.09 seconds in the 100-meters. The only other runner in the competition, freshman Ashley Hall, finished 31st overall with a time of 12.62 seconds. Meanwhile, in the 200-meters, freshman Ja-Courteny Alexander ran a personal best and a team-best time of 24.11 seconds in the 200-meters to finish fifth overall - also finishing as the top collegiate athlete as the top four runners were unattached. She was joined in the race by fellow freshman Simone Pugh with a time of 25.80 seconds and Ashley Hall at 26.10 seconds.
In the 400-meters, freshman Luv Dean finished 21st overall with a time of 1:00.98, while senior Kapri Hockaday finished 15th overall in the 800-meters with a time of 2:24.04 - the fourth fastest time of the season for the Trojans.
In the distance competition, freshman Morgan Paulson ran a personal best and a team best time of 10:58.27 in the 3000-meters; while her sister Allison Paulson finished 17th overall with a personal best time of 11:00.69. Anastasia Limo finished 21st overall with a time of 11:58.08 in the event.
Ragland ran a season-best time of 13.73 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles, finishing eighth overall; while teammate Naquita Rowe finished 10th overall with a time of 13.81 seconds. Freshman Veronica Bryant finished 25th overall with a time of 15.81 seconds. Meanwhile, in the 3000-meter steeplechase, Kelly Harrington ran for the first time this season in the event and finished with time of 11:50.28 - finishing sixth in the event.
In the relay competition, the Trojans finished seventh overall with a time of 46.33 seconds; while the 4x400-meter finished 11th overall with a time of 4:07.40.
The Trojans return to action next weekend at the South Alabama Invitational, hosted by the University of South Alabama.
