May 16, 2009

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - After their seventh place finish in the conference championships last season, the Owls were looking to move up in the standings in 2009, and did so, earning a second place finish in the Atlantic Sun Championships hosted by the University of North Florida in Jacksonville on May 15-16.

Led by Mackenzie Howe's first place finish in the 10,000m run (36:44.06) the Owls led Jacksonville 61-36 after the first day of competition.

Howe's teammate Erin Sutton, added to the team's point total as well with a third place finish in the event (37:40.92), while the Owls also added big points in the jumping and throwing events.

Jill Arthur (5.63m) and Suzzette Van-Lare (5.65m) took second and third in the long jump, while Rosemary McCollum added a second place finish in the pole vault (3.40m), a new Owls' record.

Meanwhile, Jessica Irizarry led the Owls' throwers with a first place finish in the hammer throw (49.58m), a new Kennesaw State record.

Chiquita Hawthorne added points to the Owls' score with a third place finish in the shot put (12.47), a new school record as well.

Hawthorne was even more impressive on Saturday, earning her first gold with the Owls, taking first in the discus with a throw of 42.44m, another new school record while Irizarry added another gold of her own in the javelin (43.29m). Total, Irizarry tallied 20 points on her own for the Owls.

Also off the track on Saturday, Arthur and Van-Lare once again took silver and bronze for the Owls with second and third place finishes in the triple jump, respectively, while Jakia Ragland added a third place finish in the high jump (1.70m).

After taking first in the 10,000m on Friday, Howe came back strong in the 5000m on Saturday, earning another first place finish, completing the race with a time of 17:37.61, followed by Sutton in third (17:48.15).

"We worked hard all season, and we did exactly what we wanted to this weekend, we just came up a little bit short," Howe said. "There was a lot of good competition, and Jacksonville has a great team. We keep getting closer though, so maybe next year will be our year."

Meanwhile, Shantela Davis added six points to the Owls score with a third place finish in the 400m dash (55.33), a new school record, while Lakeshia Stinson added a fifth place finish in the 100m hurdles (14.68m).

The Owls 4 X 400m Relay team of Naomi Mack, Shelby Hines, Brittany Robinson, and Daivs was once again impressive on Saturday, earning a second place finish, crossing the line with a time of 3:49.65

The Owls finished up the day with 140 points, trailing only the Dolphins who set a new record with 212. Last season in their seventh place finish the Owls scored just 45 points.

"It was a great experience for the team," Assistant Coach Devin West said. "Our women started out the day with a commanding lead, but we knew Jacksonville would come back strong, which they did. However, we did great. We couldn't be prouder of the team."

Results

Hammer Throw
1. Jessica Irizarry -49.58m
5. Jessica Lumpkin -44.56m
8. Chiquita Hawthorne -41.91m

Shot Put
3. Chiquita Hawthorne -12.47m
6. Jessica Lumpkin -12.15m
9. Jessica Irizarry -9.97m

Pole Vault
2. Rosemary McCollum -3.40m
5. Kacey Hightower -3.10m

Long Jump
2. Jill Arthur -5.63m
3. Suzzette Van-Lare -5.55m

10,000m Run
1. Mackenzie Howe -36:44.06
3. Erin Sutton -37:40.92
5. Britany Reilly -38:36.82

Discus
1. Chiquita Hawthorne -42.44m
7. Jessica Lumpkin -34.40m

Triple Jump
2. Jill Arthur -11.97m
3. Suzzette Van-Lare -11.95m

3000m Steeplechase
6. Katie Charles -12:13.16
8. Lorena Jaime -12:50.22

High Jump
3. Jakia Ragland -1.70m
6. Suzzette Van-Lare -1.60m
8. Jessica Wilcox -1.50m

100m Hurdles
5. Lakeshia Stinson -14.68
7. Jessica Wilcox -15.29

400m Dash
3. Shantela Davis -55.33
9. Brittany Robinson -58.85

100m Dash
6. Victoria Jackson -12.12

Javelin
1. Jessica Irizarry -43.29
10. Jessica Lumpkin -21.25m

800m Run
7. Soibhan Wolcott -2:21.36
9. Kristen Gibson -2:22.52
10. Caitlin German -2:22.75

400m Hurdles
7. Naomi Mack -1:06.39
8. Lakeshia Stinson -1:07.89

200m Dash
7. Shelby Hines -25.07
10. Victoria Jackson -25.76
11. Sandi Brown -25.82
12. Shantela Davis -26.00

5000m Run
1. Mackenzie Howe -17:37.61
3. Erin Sutton -17:48.15
10. Britany Reilly -18:55.33

4 X 400m Relay
2. Kennesaw State -3:49.65