COMPLETE RESULTS
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- Samford opened its outdoor season this weekend competing at the Southern Invitational, hosted by Birmingham Southern.
Katelyn Poole set a new school record in the shot put and many others started their outdoor season well.
Poole broke her own record in the women's shot put, winning this weekend's event with a mark of 42-4 (12.90m). This beats her old personal-best mark of 41-8.75 (12.72m) which was set last season. Fellow thrower
Shelby Builta set a meet record in the women's javelin, winning the event with a best toss of 136-5 (41.57m) which also ties her own personal best.
Samford swept the top two spots in both the men's and women's pole vault. In the women's event,
Laura Bedsole and
Ashley Cope both cleared identical heights of 11-11.75 (3.65m), but since Bedsole cleared it on her first attempt and Cope did on her second, Bedsole earned the event win while Cope placed second. Defending indoor conference champion
Ryan Cook won the men's side at 15-5 (4.70m) with
Brandon Bassett in second at 14-11 (4.55m).
Samford's defending indoor high jump champions started off their outdoor seasons with good performances as well.
Chenelle Terry won the women's event (5-7, 1.70m) while
Bob Elliot II was second in the men's (6-4.75, 1.95m).
In addition to her performance in the pole vault, Cope was the highest-placing Bulldog in the women's 100-meter hurdles, finishing second in 14.60 with
Julie McDonald close behind in third (14.93). Mid-distance standout
Marie Demedicis went out of her comfort zone a bit Saturday, competing in the women's 400-meter hurdles and earning a respectful third-place finish (1:04.33).
Other top-five finishers for the weekend include Builta (3rd, 130-3, 39.70m) and
Kristin Brining (4th, 128-10, 39.27m) in the women's discus,
Danielle Blanco (3rd, 59.12) and
Leslie Graf (4th, 59.47) in the women's 400-meter dash,
Justin Emerson (3rd, 10.87) in the men's 100-meter dash,
Sidney Jordan in the men's shot put (5th, 47-1.75, 14.37m) and
Kimberly Ruch in the women's 100-meter dash (5th, 12.44).
Next weekend, Samford will host the first of two outdoor meets this season, competing in a two-day event starting Friday, March 15 and continuing through Saturday, March 16. More detailed meet information and a full event schedule can be found on the track and field schedule page on samfordsports.com.
