Indoor Track & Field Starts 2011 at Mountaineer Open
1/20/2011 11:39:00 PM
STATESBORO, Ga. - The Georgia Southern Track & Field team returns to action Friday-Saturday, January 21st-22nd, at the Mountaineer Open in Boone, N.C., for its second meet of the indoor season. Appalachian State plays host to the event with Georgia Southern competing against a field that includes Southern Conference opponents Western Carolina and Charleston. The 17-event Mountaineer Open begins Friday evening with the weight throw and 5,000 meter Run. The field and running events resume Saturday at 11a.m.
The Eagles are coming off solid performances at the indoor season-opening meet at the Orange and Purple Winter Classic last month at Clemson.
"We are extremely excited to be back from the break and ready to start seeing the progression of the team," said Eagles Head Track & Field Coach Natalie Smith. "Our team has great morale and spirit about what they desire to accomplish this season. We have been a little rusty coming off a four-week break. However, I do believe that we are doing what it takes to get back into the 'flow' of things. It will be interesting to see how the ladies compete. We are definitely ready to get on the road."
Sophomore Sara Curry (Lawrenceville, Ga.), transitioning from a strong cross country season, will race in the 5,000 meter event Friday evening and the Mile Run Saturday. Senior Lynndsey Hyter (Dallas, Texas), who won the Long Jump at the Orange and Purple Winter Classic with a SoCon-best distance of 5.93 meters, will compete in three events, including the 55m, Long Jump and Triple Jump.
Sophomore Ebony Carter (Rome, Ga.) posted her career-best time in the 60 meter Dash for fifth place in the Eagles' December meet and her 7.72 time currently leads the Southern Conference. Hyter is ranked second with her 7.74 time in the same event. Freshman Stephanie Hicks (Trenton, N.J.) and sophomore Jasmine Billings (Lawrenceville, Ga.) have two of the top three times in the 60 meter Hurdles. Carter is slated for two events while Billings will race in the 55m Hurdles.
Natasha Creasy (Christianburg, Va.) and Alex Cassagnol (Augusta, Ga.) earned second-place finishes in the shot put and high jump, respectively, last month. Creasy's distance of 12.87 meters, just .01 meters farther than the next competitor, was good for second place overall. Cassagnol jumped a height of 1.60 meters, improving on her best mark from last year.
Results of the Mountaineer Open will be posted on GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com and GoASU.com. The list of events can be found at http://www.goasu.com//pdf8/731300.pdf.
