Bulldogs Have Strong Performances at Appalachian Open
January 17, 2009 | Track & Field
Complete Results
Boone, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb men's and women's track and field teams had a great showing on Saturday at the Appalachian Open in Boone, N.C. Both the men's and women's team had a number of student-athletes turn in top-10 finishes and set personal records on the day.
On the women's side, the Bulldogs turned in 13 top-10 finishes and set a number of new personal bests on Saturday at the Appalachian Indoor Open Invitational Track Meet.
Senior Victoria Argus set the tone for the Bulldogs in the first event, as Argus turned in a personal best in the 55 meter hurdles with a time of 8.73, which was good enough for a fifth-place finish. Argus also took eighth-place overall in the long jump with a jump of 17-05.50 feet (5.32 meters).
In the 800 meter run, fellow senior Beth Long turned in a fifth-place finish with her time of 2:25.19.
Sophomore Laura Scott crossed the finish line in sixth-place in the 1 mile run with a time of 5:36.24, a new personal best. Senior Bree Tharpe finished right on her heels, as she took seventh-place with a time of 5:38.60, her new personal best.
In the women's 3000 meter run, the Bulldogs took seventh, eighth and 14th overall, all with personal best times. Carrie Miniard took seventh with a new personal best of 11:13.95, while Diana Palka finished eighth with her time of 11:22.92, also a personal best. Senior Rebecca Silleman turned in a personal best of 11:51.17 to take 14th overall.
In the 1000 meter run, senior Dina Nshisso crossed the line in seventh-place with her time of 3:39.37, finishing just ahead of fellow teammate Holly Scott who turned in a time of 3:40.77, placing her in eighth overall.
Senior Kelly Bridges tied her personal best in the pole vault on Saturday, as she cleared the bar at 11-05.75 feet (3.50 meters), which put her in fourth-place at the day's end.
Freshman Katherine Milton set a new personal best in the long jump on Saturday afternoon, as she turned in a jump of 16-07.75 feet (5.07 meters), which was good enough to place her in 13th overall.
In the shot put, freshman Gwennetta Jones took fourth-place with a throw of 39-08.75 feet (12.11 meters), while senior Caryn Daane finished fifth-place with a throw of 39.07.00 (12.06 meters). Daane also took eight-place in the weight throw, turning in a distance of 41-10.75 feet (12.75 meters).
On the men's side, the Bulldogs set a handful of new personal bests and had five top-10 finishes.
GWU sophomore Johnathan Rucker had a great day, as he crossed the finish line in eighth-place overall in the men's 55 meter hurdles event with a time of 7.98, a new personal best. Rucker also competed in the men's long jump event, where he had a jump of 21-01.50 feet (6.74 meters), which was also a personal best and put him in fourth-place for the event.
Red-shirt freshman Christoph Hutschalik had a strong showing in the men's weight throw, had a finals throw of 46.10.75 feet (14.29 meters), which was good enough for a six-place finish.
Fellow underclassman Travis Rogers had a throw of 42.00.50 feet (12.81 meters) in the shot put, giving him a top-15 showing with a 13th-place finish.
In the distance events, the Bulldogs ran well highlighted by freshman Nick Kelly's performance in the 1 mile run. Kelly turned in a time of 4:39.41 for the event, placing him in seventh-place overall.
In the 400 meter dash, sophomore Jason Wenzel turned in a nine-place finish with his time of 51.38, while in the 800 meter dash the Bulldogs went 10th, 11th and 12th overall. Senior Timothy Israel led the pack with his time of 2:02.35, which he was followed by Charles Steinke and Kelly, who crossed the line with times of 2:03.51 and 2:03.62, respectively.
Personal records were set in the 55 meter dash by both Van Nelson and Paul Steinke. Nelson turned in a personal best of 6.84 for the event, while Steinke crossed the finish line with a time of 6.90, his new personal best.
The men's and women's track and field teams will continue their indoor season next weekend, January 23-24, as the Bulldogs will compete at the On the Track Invitational in Lynchburg, Virginia.
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