GWU Track and Field Has Strong Showings at Charlotte 49er Classic
March 21, 2009 | Track & Field
Charlotte, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb men's and women's track and field teams opened up its outdoor season this weekend, turning in a number of strong performances at the Charlotte 49er Classic in Charlotte, N.C.
On the women's side, the Bulldogs had a large number of outstanding
performances highlighted by seven top-five finishes over the
weekend's events.
GWU senior Victoria Argus took first-place in the women's
heptathlon event, posting a score of 4432 points. Over the seven
heptathlon events, Argus finished first in the 800 meter run
(2:34.22), first in the 100 meter hurdles (15.09), second in the
long jump (5.21 m), second in the javelin throw (30.21 m), second
in the 200 meter dash with a new personal best time of 27.23. Her
lowest finish was fourth-place in the high jump with a height of
1.45 meters.
Also taking a first-place finish for the GWU women this weekend was
senior Kelly Bridges, who won the pole vault event, clearing the
bar at 3.40 meters.
Fellow senior Bree Tharpe finished second overall in the 3000 meter
steeplechase, as she turned in a time of 12:02.58 for the
event.
Not to be outdone, freshman thrower Gwenetta Jones took second in
the women's shot put event, turning in a long throw of 12.77
meters.
Rounding out the other Bulldog top-five finishes was senior Sarah
Wyszynski taking third in the javelin throw with a toss of 37.67
meters; Caryn Daane finishing fourth in the shot put with a throw
of 12.25 meters and sophomore Laura Scott picking up a fourth-place
finish in the 3000 meter run with a personal best time of
10:46.08.
Other notable Bulldog performances include senior Beth Long turning
in a personal best time in both the 800 meter run, crossing the
finish line with a time of 2:18.42, which was good enough for an
eighth-place finish, and in the 1500 meter run with a time of
4:55.98.
Junior Abby Callahan also set new personal record times in both the
800 meter run, with a time of 2:26.01, and in the 1500 meter run,
crossing the finish line at 5:00.25.
In the 3000 meter run, five total Bulldogs, including Scott who
finished fourth, set new personal best times. Diana Palka
(11:18.18), Allye Littrell (11:43.47), Rebecca Silleman (11:48.73)
and Lia Hudak (12:13.03) all set new personal bests this
weekend.
GWU's Carrie Minard had a great showing in the 5000 meter run, as
the senior crossed the finish line with a time of 18:58.02, setting
a new personal best and shattering her old record time.
On the men's side, the Bulldogs had nine top-10 finishes
highlighted by an overall win in the triple jump and two
second-place finishes, one in the 400 meter hurdles and one in the
hammer throw events.
Senior Jake Didion took first-place in the men's triple jump event,
turning in a leap of 14.82 meters. Didion also finished
seventh-place overall in the long jump, turning in a jump of 6.69
meters.
Junior Paul Steinke turned in a personal best time of 53.68 in the
400 meter hurdles, which placed him in second-place overall, while
redshirt-freshman Christoph Hutschalik picked up second overall in
the hammer throw with a toss of 53.25 meters.
GWU sophomore Johnathan Rucker had a number of strong performances
this weekend. After setting a new personal best time of 14.88 in
the 110 meter hurdle preliminaries, Rucker went on to finish sixth
overall in the finals, crossing the finish line with a time of
15.24. Rucker also had a top-10 finish in the high jump, taking
nine-place overall, clearing the bar at 1.95 meters, and in the
long jump, turning in a distance of 6.53 meters.
Sophomores Adam Reed and Evan Brusich both turned in sixth-place
finishes in their respective events, as Reed took sixth in the pole
vault with his height of 4.30 meters, while Brusich finished sixth
overall in the decathlon with 5824 points.
In the men's decathlon, Brusich finished second in the 400 meter
dash (50.58), third in the 1500 meter run (4:43.35), fifth in the
110 meter hurdles (16.26) and fifth in the pole vault (3.79 m),
which was a new personal best. Brusich also set a new personal best
in the high jump with a height of 1.81 meters.
The Bulldogs will return to action next weekend, March 27-28, as
GWU will participate in the Asics Winthrop Invitational in Rock
Hill, S.C.
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