The ETSU track & field squad kicked off the 2005-06 indoor season with an impressive showing at the Appalachian Invitational placing in the top-three in five events, including three victories.

Sophomore MacKenzie LaBonte (Port Charlotte, Fla.) delivered a victory in the mile run on the women’s side in 5:26.52, topping 14 other competitors from four different schools.

Three Buccaneers were the first three to cross the finish line in the 3,000 meters with freshman Heather Adkins (Kansas City, Mo.) snapping the tape in 11:03.99, 25 seconds ahead of teammate Traci McAmis (Fr., Cleveland, Tenn.) and 47 seconds ahead of sophomore Ali Carney (Sevierville, Tenn.).

Freshman Rebecca Cole (Knoxville, Tenn.) set a new school record in the pole vault, finishing sixth in the event with a vault of 2.91 meters (nine feet, six and a half inches).

In the throwing events freshman Hannah Simpson (Bluff City, Tenn.) set a new personal best in the shot put with a toss of 11.71 meters (38 feet, five inches), good for an eighth place showing. Simpson was also impressive in the hammer throw, hurling a school record 12.88 meters (42 feet, three and a quarter inches) to finish seventh.

On the men’s side freshman Jeff Crane (Taylors, S.C.) and junior Joshua Hicks (Riceville, Tenn.) finished one-two in the mile with Hicks (4:29.50) finishing first, just ahead of Crane (4:29.97).

Freshmen Michael Deren (Blesdell, N.Y.) and David McDaniel (Watauga, Tenn.) also turned in strong efforts. McDaniel took third in the 800 meter run finishing in 2:01.26, and Deren came in second in the 3,000 meters with a time of 9:08.31.

The Bucs now take a month off before returning to action January 14 at the Virginia Tech Invitational in Blacksburg, Va.

Release courtesy of ETSU Athletic Communications ] ]>