Track & Field Team Competes at SoCon Outdoor Championships
4/24/2010 6:23:00 AM
"Anytime you go back to a place where you had a lot of success, it's exciting," said Head Track & Field Coach Natalie Smith. "I am really excited, especially for our seniors. This is where they were freshmen and had the opportunity to be part of a championship team, so we're hoping they will have that opportunity again this weekend."
The Eagles head into the SoCon Championships following two meet victories at the GSU Invitational and Alice Coachman Invitational and excellent performances at the Johnson C. Smith and War Eagle Invitationals the last two weekends.
"We have had very intense practices early this week and the rest of the week we have been tapering off," Smith said. "We have been trying to do some of the fun things to keep everybody loose. We were working on form and technique, and trying to keep them focused, and making sure they understand they have done everything up to this point to prepare for this weekend."
Senior Demetrise Anthony (Manchester, Ga.) currently owns the top time in the SoCon in the 100 meter Dash, recording an 11.83 (2.0) in the preliminaries of last weekend's War Eagle Invitational. Anthony, who is also a member of Georgia Southern's 4 X 100 meter Relay team, is returning conference champion in the Long Jump.
While Georgia Southern may not have strength in numbers, three Eagle individuals have the numbers to help earn points towards the championship. Junior Lynndsey Hyter (Dallas, Texas) will join Anthony and freshman Ebony Carter (Rome, Ga.) in the sprint events.
Junior JoAnn Benson-Jaja (Savannah, Ga.) and sophomore Morgan Jefferson (Villa Rica, Ga.) will pace Georgia Southern in the middle distance races. Both will race in the 400 meter Dash and as members of the 4 X 400 meter Relay.
Three competitors should help give Georgia Southern an advantage, and should score points, in the distance events. Laura Fuller (Cartersville, Ga.) has led the Eagles in both the 800 and 1500 meter events. Brittani Martin (Alpharetta, Ga.) and Heather McAllister (Cartersville, Ga.) have shaved significant seconds off their time in the 5,000 meter Run.
This spring, Georgia Southern has benefitted from exceptional performances in the field events. Shaunta Hamilton (Macon, Ga.) posted the best distance in the SoCon in the Long Jump and a top-five distance in the Triple Jump last weekend. With some of her top performances in the meets leading up to the SoCon meet, senior Amanda Spivy (Pembroke, Ga.) is poised to make a mark in the championship in the discus and the hammer. Freshman Ashley Thomas has made improvements throughout the season in the Shot Put with a chance to add points to the Eagles' total.
Alex Cassagnol (Augusta, Ga.) recorded her best height of 2010 in the High Jump at the War Eagle Invitational last weekend. Azura Robillard (Altamonte Springs, Fla.) matched her season best with a throw of 101-4 in the same meet.
2010 Outdoor Southern Conference Championship Schedule
