Jan. 11, 2012
Full Release Notes 
UAB Blazer Invite Schedule
Crimson Tide Indoor Opener Schedule
UAB BLAZER INVITE / CRIMSON TIDE INDOOR OPENER
The Bulldogs open 2012 with two meets over three days at the Birmingham CrossPlex. On Thursday and Friday, Jan. 12-13, Samford will compete at the UAB Blazer Invite and will wrap up the weekend on Saturday, Jan. 14 at the Crimson Tide Indoor Opener.
SAMFORD SETS SEVEN SCHOOL RECORDS IN SEASON-OPENING BIRMINGHAM ICE BREAKER
The Samford Bulldogs kicked off the 2011-12 season with an early December meet at the brand new Birmingham CrossPlex. It was the first collegiate meet at the new facility, and Samford made an impressive showing with seven school records.
Bo Ackerson-Gilroy - Heptathlon - 5,149
Justin Emerson - 200-meter dash - 22.16
Bob Elliot II - Triple Jump - 46-10.25 (14.28m)
Ashley Cope - Pentathlon - 3,391
Emily Allen - Weight Throw - 49-10.5 (15.20m)
Claire Goodson - Pole Vault - 12-3.5 (3.75m)
Katelyn Poole - Shot Put - 40-3.75 (12.29m)
BULLDOGS OPEN BIRMINGHAM CROSSPLEX WITH FOUR FACILITY RECORDS
In the first collegiate meet held at the Birmingham CrossPlex on Dec. 7-8, Samford set four facility records. On the first day of competition, Kyle Kirby won the men's weight throw with a best distance of 58-8.75 (17.90m). Samford won both the men's and women's pole vault on day two, with both Claire Goodson (12-3.5, 3.57m) and Michael Seaman (16-10.75, 5.15m) setting CrossPlex records. Goodson's mark is also a school record. The women's distance medley relay team of Chelsea Treadway, Marie Demedicis, Anna Laura Irvine and Holly Benson was Samford's only running event record, as the group finished the race in 12:01.68.
SEAMAN RANKED IN USTFCCCA PRESEASON TOP 40
Senior pole vaulter Michael Seaman enters 2012 as the 34th-ranked pole vaulter in the nation according to the USTFCCCA's Preseason Poll, released Jan. 10. The preseason rankings are based on an athlete's best performances from the previous indoor season. The Bardstown, Ky., native cleared a season-best 16-10.75 (5.15m) at the 2011 Niswonger Invite, a mark which he has already cleared this season at the Birmingham Ice Breaker in December. Seaman holds the school and SoCon record in the event, setting it at 17-0.75 (5.20m) in 2010.
DISTANCE MEDLEY, POLE VAULTERS AND MULTI ATHLETES AMONG THE TOP 20 NATIONALLY
Samford's performances at the season-opening Birmingham Ice Breaker placed the Bulldogs in the top 20 nationally in multiple events on both the men's and women's sides. The women's distance medley relay mark of 12:01.68 is second nationally, only .16 seconds behind national leader Penn State. The DMR on the men's side ran 10:42.17 and ranks 20th. Michael Seaman ranks in the top ten in the pole vault, clearing 16-10.75 (5.15m). Samford school record-holder Claire Goodson ranks 25th in the nation with a height of 12-3.5 (3.75m). Bo Ackerson-Gilroy and Ashley Cope both set school records at the Birmingham Ice Breaker, and they now rank sixth in the heptathlon (5,149) and 12th in the pentathlon (3,391), respectively.
SAMFORD LEADS THE SOCON IN 11 EVENTS
Men's 200m - Justin Emerson - 22.16
Men's Mile - Nicholas Cork - 4:59.46
Women's Mile - Rachel Sims - 5:39.87
Women's 3k - Deanna Zidar - 10:27.39
Men's DMR - 10:42.17
Women's DMR - 12:01.68
Men's PV - Michael Seaman - 5.15m
Women's PV - Claire Goodson - 3.75m
Men's WT - Kyle Kirby - 17.90m
Men's Hept - Bo Ackerson-Gilroy - 5,149
Women's Pent - Ashley Cope - 3,391
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs will again send competitors to the Birmingham CrossPlex as Auburn hosts a one-day meet, the Auburn Invitational, on Saturday, Jan. 21.
