HICKORY, N.C. — A total of 15 Tusculum University runners advanced to the finals on the opening day of the South Atlantic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championship, which began Wednesday at Lenoir-Rhyne University.
The Pioneers had 13 women’s runners and two men’s runners move into the finals, which will be contested on Thursday beginning at 2 p.m. Field events will start at 11 a.m. on Thursday, along with the conclusion of the men’s decathlon and women’s heptathlon.
Tusculum’s men are in sixth place after six events while the Pioneer women are in 11th place after day one in anticipation of a large points day on Thursday.
WOMEN’S RECAP
The Pioneers advanced five runners to the finals of both the 100 meters and 200 meters, led by junior Jahzara Hart who was second in both events, running 11.54 seconds in the 100 and 23.58 seconds in the 200. Junior Shanice Cox was third in the 100 (11.65) and fourth in the 200 (24.21), with junior Kiera Taylor fourth in the 100 (11.74) and seventh in the 200 (24.31). Freshman Qitarah Castlin also moved on in both events, taking seventh in the 100 (11.80) and eighth in the 200 (24.46).
Junior Theresa Green-White qualified as the top seed in the finals of the 100 hurdles at 13.80 seconds, with freshman Kori Moore in second with a time of 13.81 seconds in prelims. Green-White also moved on to the 100 finals with an eighth-place run of 11.91 seconds, while Moore qualified for the 200 finals after placing fifth at 24.19 seconds.
Grad student Tashianna Gray broke her own school record in the 400 meters and qualified third for Thursday’s finals with a time of 55.88 seconds. Sophomore McKenzie Morton was 10th in the 400 meters at 57.42 seconds, and junior Jesica Mbhamali was 11th in the 800 meters with a season-best time of 2:21.66.
Sophomore Kieley Smith is fifth through four of seven events in the heptathlon, amassing 2,695 points. Her best finishes on Wednesday were fourth place in the 100 hurdles at 15.63 seconds, and fifth in both the 200 meters (26.36 seconds) and high jump (1.54 meters).
In field events, senior Amber Hogan was seventh in the hammer throw at 40.28 meters (132 feet, 2 inches) to account for the two points scored by the Pioneers on the first day of the meet.
Wingate sits atop the team standings after six of 21 events with 63 points, followed by Anderson with 43 points and Newbery in third with 25.
MEN’S RECAP
Junior Isaiah Olson and freshman Mica Ruffin advanced to the finals of the 100 meters, with Olson taking second place in prelims at 10.44 seconds and Ruffin fifth at 10.52 seconds. Olson was 10th in the 200 prelims with a time of 21.40 seconds.
In the javelin, the Pioneers received a fourth-place finish from sophomore Michael McGrath who threw 51.12 meters (167 feet, 8 inches), and fifth place from sophomore Noah Girard at 51.01 meters (167 feet, 4 inches). Sophomore Dylan Horne placed ninth with a best mark of 46.20 meters (151 feet, 7 inches).
Senior Joshua Stephens earned fifth place in the long jump at 6.99 meters (22 feet, 11 1/4 inches), his second-best jump of the season and fourth-longest in program history.
Wingate has the lead in the team standings through six of 21 events at 77 points, with Lenoir-Rhyne in second with 48 points and Anderson third with 37 points. Tusculum is sixth with 13 points, just behind fifth-place Catawba (17) and ahead of seventh-place Newberry (11 points).
South Atlantic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championship
at Hickory, N.C. – Day 1 of 2
Tusculum results
MEN
100 prelims: 2. Isaiah Olson, 10.44 (advances); 5. Mica Ruffin, 10.52 (advances); 13. Joshua Stephens, 10.78; 27. Kayvon Pickett, 11.10.
200 prelims: 10. Isaiah Olson, 21.40.
400 prelims: 25. Xay Bogus, 50.92; 28. Jonathan Harris, 51.29.
400 hurdles prelims: 16. John Ross, 58.04.
800 prelims: 29. Levi Carson, 2:03.03.
Long jump: 5. Joshua Stephens, 6.99m (22-11 1/4).
Javelin: 4. Michael McGrath, 51.12m (167-8); 5. Noah Girard, 51.01m (167-4); 9. Dylan Horne, 46.20m (151-7).
Team scores (6 of 21 events): 1. Wingate 77; 2. Lenoir-Rhyne 48; 3. Anderson 37; 4. Emory & Henry 19; 5. Catawba 17; 6. Tusculum 13; 7. Newberry 11; 8. Mars Hill 4; 9. Limestone 3; 9. Lincoln Memorial 3; 11. UVA Wise 2; 12. Coker 0; 12. Carson-Newman 0.
WOMEN
100 prelims: 2. Jahzara Hart, 11.54 (advances); 3. Shanice Cox, 11.65 (advances); 4. Kiera Taylor, 11.74 (advances); 7. Qitarah Castlin, 11.80 (advances); 8. Theresa Green-White, 11.91 (advances); 9. Kori Moore, 11.97; 15. Alonda Shelton, 12.26.
100 hurdles prelims: 1. Theresa Green-White, 13.80 (advances); 2. Kori Moore, 13.81 (advances).
200 prelims: 2. Jahzara Hart, 23.58 (advances); 4. Shanice Cox, 24.21 (advances); 5. Kori Moore, 24.19 (advances); 7. Kiera Taylor, 24.31 (advances); 8. Qitarah Castlin, 24.46 (advances); 10. Theresa Green-White, 24.48; 16. Alonda Shelton, 25.26.
400 prelims: 3. Tashianna Gray, 55.88 (advances/school record); 10. McKenzie Morton, 57.42.
400 hurdles prelims: 15. Eva Tolliver, 1:09.02.
800 prelims: 11. Jesica Mbhamali, 2:21.66; 20. Alayna Suitte, 2:31.72; 23. Megan Humiston, 2:35.98.
Heptathlon (4 of 7 events): 5. Kieley Smith, 2,695 points.
Long jump: 22. Agustina Dittrich, 4.88m (16-1/4).
Hammer throw: 7. Amber Hogan, 40.28m (132-2).
Javelin: 14. Kieley Smith, 25.36m (83-2); 19. Agustina Dittrich, 22.04m (72-3).
Team scores (6 of 21 events): 1. Wingate 63; 2. Anderson 43; 3. Newberry 25; 4. Catawba 23; 5. Carson-Newman 20; 6. Lincoln Memorial 19; 7. Lenoir-Rhyne 17; 8. Coker 8; 8. Mars Hill 8; 10. UVA Wise 6; 11. Tusculum 2; 12. Emory & Henry 0; 13. Limestone 0.
