Jan. 27, 2008

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The Kennesaw State women's indoor track team had a good showing at the Tom Jones Memorial Classic this weekend. The Owls were facing their toughest competition of the season as they had several outstanding performances including a record setting day by freshman Jill Arthur in the Triple Jump and the Long Jump.

Arthur had a great day of competition as she broke two KSU records. First in the long jump she posted a distance of 18-01.00 for 21st place in the event. She later returned to the pit to post a jump of 37-11.25ft for a 14th place finish in the triple jump.

"Jill is a monster," said sprint coach Devin West. "She is smashing all of these jumps records every single week. She comes out to the track focused and prepared to do what it takes to win."

In the three kilometer run freshman Mackenzie Howe put together her best race of the season. She was able to pick her way through the pack and finish the race with a time of 10:17.33 for a 17th place finish. Running in such a competitive field pushed the freshman to her limits and helped her set a new personal record by almost twenty second. She was followed teammate Britany Reilly who dispite having stumbled at the beginning of the race was able to set a new personal record with a time of 10:42.62.

"That was the fastest race the ladies had been in all season," said assistant coach Stan Sims. "Some of the best runners in the country were on the track, but Mackenzie and Britany were able to run right in there with them. I have a good feeling that if Mackenzie stays that this level she will go under ten minutes flat this year."

In the mile run Kristen Gibson took 19th place with a time of 5:23.36. The freshman won her heat as she out paced her competitors on the track in one of her best performances of the season. She was closely followed by sophomore Caitlin German who took 23rd place with a time of 5:25.10.

In throwing events, the Owls were led by freshman Jessica Lumpkin who took 17th place in the weight throw. She tossed the 20 pound weight for a distance of 45-04.50ft. to tie her personal record.

In sprint events, Shantela Davis posted a time of 26.76 seconds in the 200m dash and sophomore Lakeshia Stinson set a school record in the 55m hurdles as she crossed the finish line with a time of 8.74 seconds.

The Owls will be back in action next week when they travel to the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill to participate in the Texas Roadhouse Invitational.

Results
Tom Jones Memorial Classic

55m Hurdles Preliminaries
36. Lakeshia Stinson 8.74
40. Jill Arthur 8.95

Long Jump
21. Jill Arthur 18-01.00ft

Mile
19. Kristen Gibson 5:23.36
23. Caitlin German 5:25.10

Weight Throw
17. Jessica Lumpkin 45-04.50ft

200m Dash
45. Shantela Davis 26.76

3k
17. Mackenzie Howe 10:17.33
28. Britany Reilly 10:42.62