Track and field post top finishes at Spring Classic

Nicole Ely/The News Sydney Potts throws a javelin during practice March 25 at Marshall Gage Track in Roy Stewart Stadium.
Nicole Ely/The News
Sydney Potts throws a javelin during practice March 25 at Marshall Gage Track in Roy Stewart Stadium.

The Racers placed 10 top three finishes in the Bill Cornell Spring Classic in Carbondale, Ill. Two athletes won their events: Kiara Austin, junior from Fort Knox, Ky., earned first place in triple jump, posting a jump of 12.13 meters and Brittany Bohn, senior from Mahomet, Ill., finished first in the 1500 meter with a time of 4 minutes 36.40 seconds.

The Racers also finished with 18 top five and 35 top 10 overall.

“It was an overall good meet for the team,” Austin said.

Austin also participated in the 100-meter hurdles, an event in which she hasn’t competed in a year. Austin said she was proud of her performance, especially on a cold, rainy day.

“I was happy that I jumped in the 12s again,” Austin said. 

Head Coach Jenny Severns said she was proud of how the athletes pulled through during the chilly weather until sunshine peaked during the meet.

Severns said she was especially proud of senior Tonia Pratt who competed in the throwing events against the reigning NCAA national champion, Raven Saunders of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Pratt competed in the discus, hammer throw, shot put and finished in the top five in all events.

She threw 44.28 meters in the discus to finish third, while she finished fourth in the hammer throw with a distance of 54.16 meters. She finished fourth in the shot put with a distance of 13.80 meter.

Some other top performances included:

Sydney Potts finished second in the javelin throw with a distance of 36.23 meters.

LaShea Shaw set a new personal record in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.98 seconds, placing her second. Taylor McCammon wasn’t far behind, finishing third with a time of 15.19. Austin placed third in 15.66.

McCammon jumped 5.24 meters in the long jump to finish third.

Ashley Conway reached a personal record in the 200 meter with a time of 26.98.

The 4×100-meter relay team, which consisted of Shaw, Victoria Yocum, Deja Rodgers and McCammon, came in third with a time of 48.59.

The Racers will compete next at the Margaret Simmons Invitational hosted by Murray State Saturday at Roy Stewart Stadium.

Severns said she is excited because some of the athletes are expecting to have family show up in support. The upcoming meet will help work the athletes to prepare for meets to come.

Austin will sit out because of a heel injury suffered after last weekend’s meet. Austin said she would like to run in the home meet, but she said trainers suggested rest in preparation for the upcoming conference meets.

Story by John Morris, Contributing writer

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