Feb. 14, 2008

KENNESAW, Ga. - With only two weeks before the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship, the Kennesaw State women's track & field team head to Clemson this weekend to compete in the Tiger Invitational.

The distance group is expected to have another good showing this weekend. Freshman runner Mackenzie Howe will be leading the team in the five kilometer race. Two weeks ago at the Texas Roadhouse Classic Howe took first place and earned her first A-Sun Track Athlete of the Week Award. This week she will try to repeat her success in preparation for conference. Racing alongside Howe will be All-Conference runner Erin Sutton and sophomore Britany Reilly.

"Any one of these racers is capable of winning at Clemson," said distance coach Jason Waters. "Mackenzie had a great race at UNC, but Erin and Britany have had a great week at practice. I expect to see these ladies run their best races of the season this weekend."

In field events, throwers Ana Ruiz and Jessica Lumpkin will be participating in the weight throw and shot put. At the beginning of the season Lumpkin was the dominant athlete in both events but in the past few weeks Ruiz has started to surpass her teammate in the shot put. The two have now developed skills that will allow them to place high at Clemson this week and at Conference.

In short distance events junior Shantela Davis will lead the team in the 200 meter dash and the 60 meter dash. Sophomore Lakeshia Stinson will try to cut down her time in the 60 meter hurdles. She currently holds the school record at 9.27 seconds. Stinson will be facing some of her toughest competition of the season this weekend and could possibly respond with a new record.

"Conference is coming up soon," said head coach Don McGarey. "If these ladies want to be successful at the Championship then they have to run well this weekend. I have confidence that we will have a successful meet."

The Tiger Invitational will begin on Friday at 5:00 p.m. and continue all-day on Saturday.