Records fall, Trojans Qualify For Finals of Sun Belt Championships

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – The Troy University track and field team had an impressive first day of competition at the Sun Belt Indoor Championships on Monday at the Birmingham Crossplex.

Troy's distance medley group of Sara Zylstra, Sierra King, Naomi Sheppard and Julia Ostendorf places seventh at 12:21.17, the best mark for Troy this season, which broke Troy's previous record of 12:26.30 from 2007.

In the opening event for the Trojans, Allison Taylor broke three consecutive new personal records in the women's weight throw during each throw of her heat. Taylor finally finished with a 16.48-meter throw, placing twelfth.

"Allison finished twelfth today, and she showed a lot of promise for the future," said
Director of Track and Field coach, Marc Davis.

After Taylor's performance, Troy's sprinters followed in the record breaking and also qualified for Tuesday's final races.

Freshman Niata Alexander won her heat in the 400-meter dash, and the 200-meter dash placing third and fourth overall, respectively. Alexander's time of 56.54 seconds in the 400 qualified her for a spot to represent the Trojans in the finals, set to start at 1:35 p.m., Tuesday. Her 24.33-second sprint in the 200 also earned the best time in her heat earning her yet another personal best.

Sydney Wright also took home first in her heat in the 200-meter dash, with a personal-best 24.70 time, which lands her at seventh overall. In the 60-meter dash Wright set a new personal record, placing seventh to qualify for the final. She shattered her previous personal-best 7.74 seconds in the event with a new time of 7.63 seconds.

Alexus Cobbs set a new personal record in the long jump, soaring 5.62 meters, earning a place in the final on Tuesday.

Paige McMillian earned ninth place finish, fallings just short of qualifying for the final, but still set a new personal record clocking in at 7.66 seconds in the 60-meter dash. In the 200-meter dash, McMillian narrowly missed the top eight, finishing with a time of 24.98 seconds, coming in ninth.

In the 60-meter hurdle, Lacey Marcus finished thirteenth with a time of 9.11 seconds, while Naomi Sheppard's 2:19:19 performance in the 800-meter run resulted in a new personal record, earning her a fifteenth place finish.

Dallas Worthy clocked in at 58.34 seconds in the women's 400-meter, placing 14^th overall and second in her heat.

Samantha Smith's 10:58.23 finish in the 3,000-meter run earned her a 16^th place finish.

The Trojans will wrap up competition at the Championship on Tuesday, competing in the 60-meter and 400-meter finals, as well the remaining field events, 1 mile and 5,000-meter runs and the 4x400-meter relay. Fans can check back tomorrow for the final recap of the 2015 Sun Belt Indoor Track and Field Championships.

For more information on all of Troy Athletics, fans can find the Trojans on Twitter and Instagram at @ TroyAthletics, or on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/TroyAthletics.

Troy University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Niata Alexander

Sierra King

Lacey Marcus

Naomi Sheppard

Dallas Worthy

Sydney Wright

Sara Zylstra

Records fall, Trojans Qualify For Finals of Sun Belt Championships

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