Track Teams Victorious in Outdoor Opener
The Oglethorpe University men's and women's track teams topped Division I Mercer University on the Oglethorpe campus today. The men outscored the Bearcats 47-37 with the women nearly tripling Mercer's score, 75-23.
Both teams benefitted from Mercer not entering a full complement of competitors in the field events which the Stormy Petrels dominated on the afternoon.
Nine different men scored points for Oglethorpe. Leading the scorers with victories in the shot put, discus and javelin was veteran Chad Smith. Freshman Allen Zow finished second in the three throws while Ellis Jones captured third in the shot put.
The Oglethorpe men swept the long and triple jumps with victories by freshman Troy Sheets in the long jump (3rd in the triple jump) and Evan Britton in the triple jump (2nd in the long jump). Rounding out the jumpers' scoring were sophomore Isaac Barron with a third in the long jump and freshman Max Duwat with a second in the triple jump. Tyler Bennett finished second in the 200m and Jamal Strickland third.
Leading the women in scoring was first year performer Sarah Foster who won the high hurdles, tied for first in the high jump, finished second in the 200m, took third in the triple jump, and ran the lead-off leg of the winning 4x400m relay team. Each event was her first competition ever for that event. In high school, where she was coached by OU track alum Dawn (Sparks) Godwin, she specialized in the 300m hurdles.
Senior Elizabeth Hale finished with a victory in the long jump, tied with Foster in the high jump, took second in the triple jump, and anchored the 4x400m relay team. Senior Chloey Mayo recorded victories in both the shot put and javelin. She also finished 3rd in the 200m and ran the third leg of the 4x400 relay team. Courtney Craig won the discus, finished second in the javelin and third in the shot. Courtney Phillips won the 800m, finished third in the long jump and ran the second leg of the relay team.
Sophomore Beth Cleary won the mile. Senior Avery Livingston took second place honors in the 3000m. Sheedra Futrell was second in the discus. Sherry Blystone was second in the long jump. Tammer Weems was second in the shot put and third in the discus. Erin Fowler was third in the javelin to complete the scoring for the women.
The squads next competition will be at SCAC rival Birmingham-Southern next Saturday.
