May 17, 2008

CLEMSON, S.C. - The Kennesaw State women's track & field team started off the Atlantic Sun Outdoor Conference Championship with several season high performances and two third team All-Conference selections.

Going into the second day of competition the Owls are sitting in fifth place with 16.33 points, while Gardner-Webb holds the led with 45 points, North Florida is in second place with 30.33 points, Belmont is in third with 23 points and defending champions Jacksonville are in fourth with 21.33 points.

"The ladies are really in the hunt for the championship," said head coach Don McGarey. "Going into conference we had lost some of the team to injury, so we were focusing on quality not quantity when it came time to enter them into events. Each one of our athletes is focused on their best event and that strategy is paying off."

Distance specialist, Britany Reilly led the Owls in scoring as she won her first All-Conference honors by finishing third in the 10k. The sophomore began the race by leading the pack for more than ten laps before fading into third behind Brittany Thune of Belmont and Amanda Davey of North Florida. Reilly closely followed the pair throughout the 25 lap event until she crossed the finish line with a personal best time of 38:21.83.

"Britany ran a great race," said distance coach Stan Sims. "She has ran hard all season and it's just fantastic to see her finally win a medal. She is still a sophomore and I think this race is going to lead her into much better things in her final two years with the program."

The Owls also scored points on the field as Jessica Lumpkin set a personal record in the hammer throw to take third place. Her mark of 148-11.0ft surpassed her old record by twelve feet. Meanwhile, teammate Ana Ruiz tacked on points for KSU as she came in fourth place in the javelin with a toss of 111-03.0ft.

"Jessica has come along way in her freshman season," said field coach Mike Goss. "Even as her coach it's hard for me to believe that she improved in the hammer by twelve feet in just one week. Regardless of how we finish at conference I am sure that she will have a long and amazing career at KSU."

Also on the field, freshman Jill Arthur posted a distance of 16-08.75ft to take ninth place in the long jump, while Whitney Hammontree pole vaulted 9-08.0ft to take sixth place in her event and set a new KSU record.

The A-Sun Outdoor Conference Championship will resume at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday and conclude around 9 p.m.

Team Results
1. Gardner-Webb 45 points
2. North Florida 30.33 points
3. Belmont 23 points
4. Jacksonville 21.33 points
5. KSU 16.33 points
6. ETSU 10 points
7. Campbell 9 points

Individual Results
10k
3. Britany Reilly 38:21.83

Hammer Throw
3. Jessica Lumpkin 148-11.0ft
8. Ana Ruiz 128-05.0ft

Javelin
4. Ana Ruiz 111-03.0ft
9. Meredith Steinmetz 89-00ft

Long Jump
9. Jill Arthur 16-08.75ft

Pole Vault
6. Whitney Hammontree 9-08.0ft