Jan. 30, 2008

KENNESAW, Ga. - This weekend, the Kennesaw State women's track & field team travels to the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill to compete in the Texas Roadhouse Classic. The team will be led by freshman Jill Arthur who makes her debut in the heptathlon.

Arthur is coming off of her best performance of the season at the Tom Jones Memorial Classic. The freshman had an outstanding day as she broke the school records in the long jump (18-01.0ft) and triple jump (37-11.25ft). Since the beginning of the season she has been all over the track competing in jumping events, hurdles and relay races. This weekend she puts her skills to the test as she participates in her first collegiate heptathlon.

"Jill is a great athlete," said sprint coach Devin West. "She is truly committed to this program and she can compete in any event. In the past few weeks she has been smashing the school jump records and I think she will do the same to the decathlon this week."

In distance events Erin Sutton makes her return to the squad after sitting out last week's meet. Earlier in the month Sutton took first place in the three kilometer run at UNC. She returns this week to run in the five kilometer race alongside freshman Mackenzie Howe, who set a personal best time for the 3k (10:17.33) at Florida last week.

With one month remaining before the Atlantic Sun Indoor Conference Championship KSU is relying on outstanding athletes like Jessica Lumpkin and Ana Ruiz to have a good showing in both the weight throw and the shot put. The team also expects hurdler Lakeshia Stinson to have an impressive meet. The sophomore has been repeatedly dropping her time in the 60 and 55 meter hurdles. The team's focus this weekend is to get these athletes as much experience as they can handle.

The Texas Roadhouse Classic will begin on Friday at 11:00 a.m. and continue all-day Saturday.