Missouri
Georgia Spec Town Invitational
@MIZ_TrackField Closes Spec Towns Invitational
4/9/2016 9:32:00 PM | Track & Field
ATHENS, Ga. – Mizzou Track & Field closed out the two-day Spec Towns Invitational in Athens, Georgia, on Saturday (April 9), marking in nine personal records and five All-Time Top Ten marks to round off the third meet weekend of the outdoor season. The teams return to Columbia with a total of 14 PR's and five All-Time Top Ten marks after both days of competition.
#MIZTF RECAP - SATURDAY
Junior Reinhard Van Zyl and sophomore Alex Pascal got events started for the Tigers on Saturday morning with the men's javelin. Van Zyl led the competition with a new PR in the event, marking in a toss of 74.54m (244-7), the third-best mark in school history, to move into seventh in the most recent national rankings. Pascal placed fourth in the field with a top mark of 65.10m (213-7) for the day.
The women's shot put was the next throws events on the docket, featuring yet another PR performance from freshman Gabi Jacobs. Jacobs notched her first All-Time Top Ten performance with a PR mark in the discus last weekend at the Florida Relays. She returned to the ring in Georgia on Saturday and laid down yet another best, closing the competition with a best throw of 14.66m (48-1.25) to take fifth in the field.
The women's pole vault also saw a couple of record marks starting with junior Alyssa Applebee, who tied her outdoor best of 4.05m (13-3.50) to place second in the field. Freshman Rayce Albino was next for the Tigers with a new best bar of 3.75m (12-3.50), moving her into the No. 7 spot on the All-Time Top Ten list.
Senior Markesh Woodson was the first to take the line for the day's track events, racing in the elite section of the men's 100m dash. His third-place crossing in 10.20 was just off of his current PR, and would have ben a season's best if not for the 2.5 wind reading.
The wind died down just enough to count a pair of PR's out of the open sections of the men's 100m dash, starting with sophomore Jonathan Holder's 10.75 finish for eighth overall. Fellow-sophomore Niager Mathis closed just behind with a personal best of 10.78 to take ninth in the field.
In the women's 100m dash, junior LaQuisha Jackson led the Tigers with an 11.50 (wind-aided) finish to take sixth. Freshman Maya Cody and senior Alyssa Felton crossed side-by-side for 11th and 12th, respectively, in 11.85. That time is just off of Cody's PR from earlier this season, but was good for a new best for Felton.
Jackson, Cody and Felton, along with senior Jacqueline Obi, highlighted the day with the second-fastest women's 4x100m relay in school history. The squad hit a final time of 45.12 to take third in the field, besting their time from last weekend (45.48) to continue closing in on the 45.02 school record from 1988.
The men's 4x100m relay – made up of senior Markesh Woodson, freshman Beresford Sweeney, and sophomores Niager Mathis and Jonathan Holder – also added to the All-Time Top Ten list, closing in 40.75 to take over the eighth position in the history books.
Freshman Beresford Sweeney rounded out the PR marks for the Tigers' sprints group, crossing in 48.70 to take sixth in the men's 400m dash.
In the mid-distance events, sophomore Valeska Halamicek returned to the track after a PR performance in the 1500m on Friday evening. She placed second in the 800m on Saturday in 2:09.74, just off of her PR from last weekend's Florida Relays.
Freshman Hannah Thomas took to the line for her second outdoor competition of the season, taking four seconds off of her previous 1500m time with a 4:41.78 finish in the open section.
#MIZTF RECAP - FRIDAY
Junior Tanner Buschmann and freshman Will Fife started the day off with the men's discus. Buschmann led the pair with a seventh-place finish, throwing just under his PR with a top toss of 50.12m (164-5). Freshman Will Fife placed 11th in the competition with a new best of 46.54m (152-8).
The men's hammer throw took to the ring next, with junior Ahren Bohanan leading the Tigers with a ninth-place finish (56.44m // 185-2). Senior Nick Sublett finished just behind him in tenth overall.
Sophomore John Warren and senior Tony Carodine kicked off their two-event weekend with performances in the long jump Friday evening. Warren closed the competition in third overall with a new PR jump of 7.40m (24-3.50), followed by Carodine in ninth.
Friday evening also saw the first set of track events, beginning with the men's 110m and women's 100m hurdles. Freshman Charles Graham, Jr., earned a new PR in the event with his second-place crossing (14.36). Junior Valerie Thames's 13.43 finish, good for a school record had it not been for the wind-aid, gave her fourth in the field while Felton crossed in ninth.
A pair of Tigers also competed in the elite sections of the 1500m run, starting with the winning effort of senior Will Crocker, who ran just over his current PR (3:43.66) to cross first in 3:45.51. On the women's side, sophomore Valeska Halamicek knocked four-seconds off of her previous best, finishing in 4:26.59 for second overall.
The men's and women's 3000m runs closed out the day's events on the track, with freshman Kate Smith leading the women in second overall (9:54.79) and freshman Thomas George leading the men (8:36.12).
HEAR FROM COACH HALTER
"This was another productive weekend for both of our teams. We once again showed terrific efforts across the board. At times the weather conditions were challenging, but there were no excuses or complaints - only engaged efforts from those lining up, which demonstrates high level competitive integrity. Both teams are well positioned at the mid-point of our outdoor season. We are very appreciative of the hospitality and efforts of the Georgia track staff and support staff."
The Tigers will return next weekend with their only home meet of the season. Friday and Saturday's Tom Botts Invitational, held at the Audrey J. Walton Stadium, will also serve as the team's Senior Night. For the latest on Mizzou Track & Field, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Twitter @MIZ_TrackField.
#MIZTF RESULTS – SATURDAY
Triple Jump, Men – 4. John Warren, 15.70m (51-6.25) // 5. Tony Carodine, 15.68m (51-5.50)w
Pole Vault, Women – 2. Alyssa Applebee, 4.05m (13-3.50) PR-t #3 // 10. Rayce Albino, 3.75m (12-3.50) PR #7
Shot Put, Women – 5. Gabi Jacobs, 14.66m (48-1.25) PR
Shot Put, Men – 9. Will Fife, 15.69m (51-5.75)
Javelin, Women – 11. Jennifer Berilla, 37.38m (122-8)
Javelin, Men – 1. Reinhard Van Zyl, 74.54m (244-7) PR #3 // 4. Alex Pascal, 65.10m (213-7)
100m Dash, Women – 6. LaQuisha Jackson, 11.50w // 11. Maya Cody, 11.85 // 12. Alyssa Felton, 11.85 PR // 17. Danielle Williams, 12.85w
100m Dash, Men – 8. Jonathan Holder, 10.75 PR // 9. Niager Mathis, 10.78 PR // 13. Ser Whitaker, 10.83w
100m Dash, Men (Invite) – 3. Markesh Woodson, 10.20w
200m Dash, Women – 8. Maya Cody, 24.43 // 13. Jacqueline Obi, 24.86
200m Dash, Men – 11. Jonathan Holder, 21.69 // 14. Niager Mathis, 21.79
400m Dash, Women – 13. Ayo Adewole, 55.51 // 16. Sydney Wells, 57.65 // 17. Erika Lark, 59.44
400m Dash, Men – 6. Beresford Sweeney, 48.70 PR
800m Run, Women – 2. Valeska Halamicek, 2:09.74 // 12. Carolyn White, 2:20.12
800m Run, Men – 11. Mark Sheridan, 1:54.55
1500m Run, Women – 5. Hannah Thomas, 4:41.78 PR
1500m Run, Men – 7. Brian Hernan, 4:06.63
400m Hurdles, Women – 3. Valerie Thames, 59.98
3000m Steeplechase, Men – 3. Tim Johnson, 10:06.67
4x100m Relay, Women – 3. (Cody, Jackson, Felton, Obi), 45.12 #2
4x100m Relay, Men – 4. (Woodson, Sweeney, Mathis, Holder), 40.75 #8
#MIZTF RESULTS - FRIDAY
Pole Vault, Men - 4. Matt Ludwig, 5.11m (16-9.25)
Long Jump, Men - 3. John Warren, 7.40m (24-3.50) PR // 9. Tony Carodine, 6.90m (22-7.75)
Long Jump, Women - 8. Lynnsey Brim, 5.76m (18-10.75)w // 15. Keyoni Mbroh, 5.30m (17-4.50)w
Discus, Men - 7. Tanner Buschmann, 50.12m (164-5) // 11. Will Fife, 46.54m (152-8) PR
Hammer, Men - 9. Ahren Bohanan, 56.44m (185-2) // 10. Nick Sublett, 54.29m (178-1)
1500m Run, Men - 1. Will Crocker, 3:45.51
1500m Run, Women - 2. Valeska Halamicek, 4:26.59 PR
3000m Run, Men - 2. Kate Smith, 9:54.79 // 6. Nicole Mello, 10:04.21 // 17. Sam Garrett, 10:58.12
3000m Run, Women - 4. Thomas George, 8:36.12 // 6. Drew White, 8:44.16 PR // 9. Sheldon Keence, 8:52.48
110m Hurdles, Men - 2. Charles Graham, Jr., 14.36 PR
100m Hurdles, Women - 4. Valerie Thames, 13.43w // 9. Alyssa Felton, 13.81
Players Mentioned
