Jacksonville's Seventh-Straight A-Sun Title Sets Record
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jacksonville cruised to their conference-record seventh consecutive Atlantic Sun Women’s Track and Field Championship on Saturday in Jacksonville, Fla.
The Dolphins dominated throughout, racking up 242 points over the course of the two-day competition. Kennesaw State took runner-up honors with 151 points, edging out host North Florida, who finished third with 148 points.
Jacksonville swept the top-two places in their third throwing event of the weekend, as senior Laura Phillips won the discus with a meet-record toss of 46.74m (153-4) to edge out junior Akeela Bravo, who had a mark of 44.80m (147-0). Bravo earned Championship Most Outstanding Performer honors by totaling 28 points over the two-day event. Junior Shannon Hooper of Kennesaw State earned third place with a throw of 43.65m (143-2).
In the triple jump, sophomore Lexie Bu
rley of ETSU led the way with a mark of 12.31m (40-4 3/4). Freshman Shanique Walker of Jacksonville took second at 12.22m (40-1 1/4), followed by junior Jennifer Smyth of North Florida at 12.14m (39-10).
Kennesaw State junior Suzee Mills threw 40.40m (132-6) to win the javelin, while teammate freshman Chelsea Wood was second with a mark of 38.53m (126-5). Junior Taylor Mason of Lipscomb threw 37.86m (124-2) to finish third.
Junior Christie Leverette of Kennesaw State tied a facility record in the high jump, clearing 1.76m (5-9.25) in order to win the event. Jacksonville junior Charlene Charles finished second after jumping 1.73m (5-8). UNF senior Andrea Bridges placed third with a jump of 1.67m (5-5.75).
Jacksonville finished just ahead of Kennesaw State in the 4x100m relay. The Dolphins posted a conference-winning time of 45.28, while the Owls took second with a time of 45.31. UNF ran 46.64 and placed third.
Jacksonville junior Joane Pierre paced the 1500m with a race-winning time of 4:31.41. Sophomore Dani Walker of Lipscomb ran 4:34.66 to finish second, while senior Joan Tangwar of USC Upstate placed third with a time of 4:37.68.
Senior Stacy Young of Jacksonville took first in the 100m hurdles with a time of 13.72. UNF junior Jasmine Jackson clocked a time of 13.85 to finish second. ETSU freshman Demeteria Edgecombe was third with a time of 13.90.
In the 400m, sophomore Briana Frazier of UNF raced to a conference-winning time of 53.83. Jacksonville junior Latonya Payne was second with a time of 55.32, while freshman Kentrell White of Kennesaw State ran 55.46 and finished third.
Jacksonville freshman Courtney Walker set a new facility record en route to winning the 100m. Walker clocked 11.57. Junior Cynthia Davis of Kennesaw State was second with a time of 11.80, while ETSU sophomore Emani Harrison ran 11.82 and placed third.
The Dolphins went one and two in the 800m. Junior Bienna Freeman broke her own conference an
d facility records, clocking a winning time of 2:07.63. Junior Joane Pierre placed second with a time of 2:08.51. ETSU senior Anja Claussnitzer took third with a time of 2:09.10.
It was also a Jacksonville sweep in the 400m hurdles. Junior Latonya Payne won with a time of 1:00.51. Freshman Shanique Walker took second with a time of 1:01.10, while senior Stacey Young finished third in a time of 1:01.87.
UNF sophomore Briana Frazier won her second event of the day by recording a winning-time of 23.66 in the 200m. Jacksonville freshman Courtney Walker ran 23.99 and placed second. Sophomore Emani Harrison of ETSU placed third in a time of 24.45.
Freshman Kendra Lobley of Lipscomb claimed the 5000m title with a time of 17:16.69. Senior Jemeli Sang of USC Upstate placed second in 17:29.44. Senior Erin Nixon of UNF ran 17:35.86 for a third-place finish.
UNF won the 4x400m relay with a time of 3:43.47. Lipscomb finished in second, clocking 3:50.26. Jacksonville placed third with a time of 3:50.26.
ETSU came in fourth as a team, collecting 109 points to edge out fifth-place Lipscomb, who finished with 98 points. Rounding out the field was USC Upstate and Belmont, with 38.5 points and 27.5 points, respectively.
Freshman Katerina Vodova of ETSU claimed the top spot in two of the last three events to win the women’s heptathlon with a meet-record 5152 points at the Atlantic Sun Conference Track and Field Championships in Jacksonville, Fla. on Saturday.
Junior Christie Leverette of Kennesaw State scored 4955 to take second place, while senior Naomi Mack, also from Kennesaw State, grabbed third place with 4663. Vodova earned victories in the long jump and 800m on Saturday morning to give her wins in three of the seven events.
Follow the Atlantic Sun on
Twitter and become a fan on
Facebook.
The Atlantic Sun Conference is an NCAA Division I league with 10 member institutions committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun meets the challenge of maintaining the highest standards in academic and athletic achievement with a true balance between student and athlete. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region:Belmont University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.