Three Win Conference Titles On First Day Of A-Sun Championship
May 16, 2008 | Track & Field
CLEMSON, S.C. – The Gardner-Webb pole vaulters shined on the first day of competition at the Bulldogs' final Atlantic Sun Conference Championship. However, it was a solid all-around team effort as the women's group surged to the front of the field after the first day with 45 points. The men's squad is second with 37, just eight points behind first-place Belmont.
Jeremy Longshore was the first Gardner-Webb student-athlete to win a title on the day, downing the rest of the competition by a wide margin. Longshore cleared 4.75m (15'7") for his 10 points. Second-place competitor Brandon Grass of Belmont jumped 4.50m (14'9"). Adam Reed took home the bronze with a third-place performance of 4.35m (14'3.25") for four team points as he tied with two other competitors.
Senior Jerel Langley's mark was one that will be remembered in the A-Sun record books. His winning throw of 64.28m (210'11") was a conference record. It was also 44'1" better than second-place competitor Casey Strickland of Kennesaw State. Langley's teammate Justin O'Sheilds took sixth with a throw of 47.52m (155'11").
Rookie Carrie Long brought home the Bulldogs' third title of the day – and the first of her promising athletic career – as she led a pack of GWU student-athletes that scored points in the event. By winning the championship, Long automatically qualifies for the NCAA East Regional pole vault competition in Tallahassee, Fla., May 30-31. Long cleared a conference record 3.70m (12'1.50").
She wasn't the only GWU student-athlete to do well in the event as
four Bulldogs combined for 23 points. Kelly Bridges tied for second
after clearing 3.55m (11'7.75") for seven points. Merissa Hawkins
and Victoria Argus each jumped 3.10m (10'2") for three points
apiece.
Elizabeth Maxwell narrowly missed out on a conference title in the hammer throw. Maxwell earned the silver medal with an effort of 47.25m (155'), which was good enough for eight points. Teammate Caryn Daane took fifth after throwing 40.75m (133'8"), picking up two points.
A trio of Bulldogs earned points in the javelin. Two-sport standout Sarah Wyszynski recorded the best throw of her season for a second-place finish. Wyszynski had a throw of 39.19m (128'7"). Maxwell was fifth with her best throw of the year, with the javelin landing 32.60m (106'11") away from where she threw it. Ashley Hall was sixth with a throw of 31.56m (103'6").
Carrie Minard crossed the line in sixth place in the 10,000m event with a time of 43:02.78.
Although he didn't win a conference title, senior Lucas McAneney continued improving upon his times this year and did so by enough of a margin Friday evening in the 10,000m. McAneney's time of 31:24.32 bettered the school record and was good enough for fourth place.
Senior Matt Knippen recorded a personal-best throw of 49.26m (161'7") in the hammer throw. Knippen's effort landed him a third-place finish for six team points.
Bryant Davis picked up two points for the men's team with a long jump of 6.85m (22'5.75"), which was good enough for fifth place. He upped his seed of 6.78m, which he had coming into the meet.
In the 100m preliminaries, Dobson Collins earned a qualifying time after crossing in fifth with a time of 10.74.
"I was pretty pleased with the effort today," head coach Brian Baker said. "Our multi-event student-athletes (Victoria Argus, Kayla Morgan and Evan Brusich) are on pace for personal-best efforts after the first day. Matt Knippen established a huge personal best as well.
"We are having a solid meet thus far and the student-athletes have put us in a great position heading into the final day of the meet."
The Bulldogs return to action tomorrow for the final day of competition.
For first day results, go to http://atlanticsun.org/stats/otf/2008/dayone.htm
