Trojans Score Points on Saturday

Results

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (TroyTrojans.com) - The Troy University track and field program picked up key points on the second day of the Sun Belt Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The women are currently sixth overall with 21.5 points; while the men are in seventh with 14 points.

Before the Trojans scored any points on Saturday, they were able to score points on both the men's and women's side late Friday night with the 10,000-meters after a lengthy rain delay. On the women's side, Sylvia Chirchir scored four points for the women with her fifth place finish; while Enock Kirui mustered two points for the men with his sventh place finish in the race. The sophomore crossed the line in a time of 31:45.37; while Chirchir crossed the line in a time of 37:54.77.

"We had some great admirable efforts today that produced points as well as put several athletes in scoring positions for tomorrow," Troy University Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Jill Lancaster said. "In addition we had many personal bests with several marks making the all-time ranking list, with several athletes just missing the finals.

Many of the young athletes on this year's team gained valuable experience for the future. Our program has persevered through challenges and injuries and proven they are to be taken seriously when it comes to the Sun Belt Championship. Our competition reputation is holding up as the team continues to excel beyond the predicted ranking list. This is the true Trojan Spirit at work."

Meanwhile, on Saturday, the mult-events started the day for the Trojans and senior Grant Bullington narrowly missed on the medal stand in the decathlon. Bullington finished fifth overall with 6,370 points - just 125 points off the medal stand and just 312 points from first place in a tightly-contested battle. The finish earned the men's team four points on the day; while on the women's side, Veronica Bryant earned another five points for the Trojans with her finish in the heptathlon. The sophomore, the defending conference high jump champion, finished fourth overall with 4,507 points. She missed the medal stand by just 171 points, as she finished just behind Noelle Jones of South Alabama.

Sophomore Brynn Forsythe earned another point for the Trojan women in the shot put, as she was able to finish eighth overall in the event. The sophomore finished with a throw of 13.14 meters (43-01.50), just behind Bobbie Williamson of South Alabama's throw of 13.17 meters (43-02.50). Meanwhile, teammate Nicole Studstill finished just outside of scoring range in 10th with a throw of 12.77 meters (41-10.75).

On the men's side, Terrell Irons scored four points for the Trojans in the long jump competition with a fifth place finish on Saturday afternoon. The junior jumped a distance of 6.97 meters (22-10.50), finished just behind Keyon Jones of ULM at 7.07 meters (23-02.50), and Kenneth Bellard of Louisiana-Lafayette and Luther Ambrose of ULM at 7.11 meters (23-04.00).

Bryant, the defending high jump champion on the women's side, finished tied for sixth this season after competing in the heptathlon over the first two days. The sophomore finished with a jump of 1.58 meters (5-02.50), earning 2.50 points in the event.

The final scoring event of the day was the 3000-meter steeplechase for the men in which Kirui managed more points for the Trojans. The sophomore finished fifth overall in the competition with a time of 9:24.38, earning four points in the process, as he finished just four seconds off the medal stand.

In the long jump competition, Ariel Cavazos narrowly missed scoring for the Trojans as she finished ninth in the event with a distance of 5.56 meters (18-03.00). She finished just behind Ta'Shania Bean of Louisiana-Lafayette with a distance of 5.67 meters (18-07.25); while teammate Jasmine Patton finished 12th overall with a jump of 5.44 meters (17-10.25).

All other action on Saturday involved preliminary heats to determine the finals on Sunday, the final day of the Sun Belt Conference Outdoor Championships.

On the women's side, Patton qualified for the 100-meter hurdles finals on Sunday, assuring the Trojans of a point, as she finished sixth on Saturday with a time of 14.12 seconds - the sixth fastest time on the day. Meanwhile, on the men's side, the Trojans recorded two of the fastest times in the 100-meter preliminaries between Neko Freeman and Stanley Arukwe. Arukwe, a senior, clocked a time of 10.57 seconds; while Freeman, just a sophomore, finished with a time of 10.64 seconds - seeded just behind Ambrose of ULM and Demond Burns of UALR. The Trojans will have a chance to pick up multiple points in that event on Sunday afternoon.

The men will also pick up points on Sunday in the 800-meter finals. Kemper Morton, just a freshman, qualified eighth in the preliminaries on Saturday as he finished with a time of 1:55.07 - beating out James Ngwiri (1:55.30) of Arkansas State for the final spot. The Trojans will also pick up points in the 200-meter dash, as Arukwe qualified for the finals with the seventh fastest time of 21.78 seconds on Saturday.

The meet concludes on Sunday, beginning with the hammer (men) at 10 am, and ending with the 4x400-meter relay at 9 pm that evening. The Trojans still have multiple events to pick up points in the championship race heading into the final of competition.

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