Track & Field Competes at Shamrock Invitational
3/18/2011 1:47:00 AM
STATESBORO, Ga. - The Georgia Southern Track and Field team heads to Coastal Carolina for the Shamrock Invitational Friday and Saturday, March 18-19th, in Conway, S.C. More than 1,500 student-athletes representing 40 men's and women's teams will be participating in one of the largest meets on the East Coast this spring. A contingent of 26 Eagles is set to compete in 16 events.
"Of our meets this year, other than the Florida Relays, this will be the largest meet we will be a part of this season and we'll see competition at a number of levels," said Eagles Head Track and Field Coach Natalie Smith. "This two-day meet keeps our team focused on competing at a high level on back-to-back days, which is the mode that they have to be in during our championships."
After solid performances last week at the Palmetto Classic, Georgia Southern looks to make improvements this week as it prepares for the Southern Conference Outdoor Championship next month.
Three sprint events are on the docket for Kwajelin Holsendolph (Hinesville, Ga.). Holsendolph, who earned All-Freshman honors at the Southern Conference Indoor Championships, will compete in the 100 meter Dash, the 100 meter Hurdles and will run as a member of the 4X100 meter Relay. Sophomore Ebony Carter (Rome, Ga.) joins Holsendolph in the 100 meter Dash event and will also run a leg of the 4X100 meter Relay.
Sophomore Jasmine Billings (Lawrenceville, Ga.) had the best time for the Eagles last year in the 100 meter Hurdles (14.18) and will compete in this event as well as join Carter, Holsendolph and Amber Vaughn (Macon, Ga.) in the 4X100 Relay. Stephanie Hicks (Trenton, N.J.), who also achieved Southern Conference All-Freshman status, will run in the 100 meter Hurdles event.
Three of the four Eagles racing in the 800 meter Run will pull double duty by also running the 4X800 Relay. Junior Racquel Daly (Decatur, Ga.), freshman Asea Mayfield (Marietta, Ga.), sophomore Talisha Rice (Stockbridge, Ga.) and junior Azura Robillard (Altamonte Springs, Fla.) will be split up in four different heats in the 800 meter Run. Junior Morgan Jefferson (Villa Rica, Ga.) replaces Rice for the 4X800 Relay event.
Eagles Sara Curry (Lawrenceville, Ga.), Brittani Martin (Alpharetta, Ga.), Kassi Lee (Elberton, Ga.) and Amanda Ventre (Acworth, Ga.) compete in the 5,000 meter Run with Coastal Carolina volunteer coach Zola Budd-Pieterse, a two-time cross country World Champion and three-time Olympian. Curry will also race in the 1,500 meter Run Saturday with teammate Amanda Tennyson (Grayson, Ga.).
Robillard leads the charge in the Javelin, followed by freshmen Hicks and Amber Braswell (Grayson, Ga.). Coming off a personal best in the Shot Put at the Palmetto Classic, sophomore Ashley Thomas (Lawrenceville, Ga.) has three events during this meet. Thomas is scheduled to compete in the Hammer Throw, Discus and Shot Put.
The trio of Shaunta Hamilton (Macon, Ga.), Millicent Brooks-Millender (Douglasville, Ga.) and Brianna Charles (Lithonia, Ga.) is set to jump in both the Triple and Long Jump events. Hamilton recorded a top-five finish in the Triple Jump while she, and Brooks-Millender placed in the top 15 of the Long Jump. Hicks will also compete in the Long Jump. The High Jump will be the only event for junior Alex Cassagnol (Augusta, Ga.).
Follow the Georgia Southern Track and Field team and the results from day one of the Shamrock Invitational by visiting GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com. Short updates will be available at twitter.com/GSAthletics and at facebook.com/GSAthletics. As results become available during the day, they will be posted on twitter.com/GSScores.
