Jan. 23, 2010
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. ---- The Samford University track and field team rounded out day two of the Niswonger Invitational Saturday by breaking six school records to start off the 2010 season. Records were set in the 3000 meters, pole vault, triple jump and weight throw by the men while eight women placed in the top 10 of their respective events.
"I think this weekend was a great start on what we want to accomplish by the conference meet," Samford head coach Rod Tiffin said. "We had some people that picked up right where they left off last year and our freshmen were able to come in and make an immediate impact. To have six school records set in the first weekend makes it a special start but there is a lot we need to work on before the conference championship."
In the 3000 meters, Cameron Bean broke a three-year old record previously held by Drew Anderwald with a time of 8:26.02, earning fourth place in the event.
The Bulldogs also dominated the pole vault competition, taking the top three spots as well as seventh place while also smashing a school record. Zac Epperson cleared a height of 15'01.00", tying his personal best to take seventh place. Freshman Ryan Cook took third place with a vault of 15'07.00". Patrick Wells broke his own school record set last season with a height of 16'00.75 to take second place, but sophomore transfer Michael Seaman broke the record again with a winning vault of 16'06.75".
"I thought the men's pole vaulters really set the tone for the weekend by sweeping the top three spots," Tiffin said.
Chinedu Amah finished 12th in the triple jump with his school record mark of 45'01.50" while Kyle Kirby broke a five-year old record in the weight throw with a toss of 51'08.25", earning ninth place.
In the relays, the Samford men placed 16th in the 4x400-meter relay with a school record time of 3:24.29. The women placed 16th in the 4x400-meter relay with a time of 4:02.84 while an all-freshman Bulldog relay team finished 20th with a time of 4:07.09.
Also in the throws, Chris Davis threw a personal best of 46'11.00" in the shot put, earning 13th place.
Bo Ackerson-Gilroy tied for sixth place in the high jump as he cleared a height of 6'04.75" while also taking 10th in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.59.
In the middle distance events, Blaise Carie placed sixth in the seeded mile with a time of 4:17.12. Scott Cope took 13th place in the unseeded 800-meter run with a time of 1:58.10 while Will Denton took 13th place in the seeded 800-meter run with a time of 1:57.15.
On the women's side, Jessica Van Ausdall won the unseeded 800 meters with a time of 2:19.42 while freshmen Lauren D'Alessio (2:18.56) and Holly Benson (2:20.62) placed fourth and eighth, respectively, in the seeded 800 meters.
Hillary Neal placed second in the mile invitational with a time of 5:06.00 while Ina Ables (10:29.55) and Deanna Zidar (11:15.08) placed seventh and 13th, respectively, in the 3000 meters invitational.
Morgan Tyler took sixth place in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.04 while also taking seventh in the triple jump with a jump of 38'07.50" and tying for 19th place in the seeded long jump with a leap of 17'06.00". Freshman Emily Allen took 17th in the triple jump with a distance of 36'07.50" while also tying for 34th place in the seeded long jump with a jump of 16'06.00".
Chenelle Terry tied for sixth place in the high jump, clearing a height of 5'03.25" while Mackenzie Wills tied for 12th place in the pole vault with a cleared height of 10'10.00". Mary Barron and Lauren Bedsole also cleared 10'10.00" but tied for 14th place.
Samford will be back in action two weeks, Feb. 6, as it travels back to Tennessee. This time, the Bulldogs will head to Mufreesboro, Tenn., to compete in the Middle Tennessee State Invitational.
