Track & Field Qualifies 15 for Florida Relays
4/2/2011 3:53:00 AM
STATESBORO, Ga. - Five relay teams and two individuals will represent the Georgia Southern Track and Field team at the Florida Relays this weekend. The Eagle relay teams in the 4X100, 4X400, 4X800, the Sprint Medley Relay and Shuttle Hurdle Relay will participate in this annual event in Gainesville, Fla., the largest meet in the region. Junior Azura Robillard (Altamonte Springs, Fla.) and sophomore Sara Curry (Lawrenceville, Ga.) qualified as individuals. Robillard is set to compete in the Javelin event and Curry in the 5,000 meter Run.
"This meet is the premier meet for this side of the region and is one of the largest events for with both the Florida and Texas meets," said Eagles Head Track and Field Coach Natalie Smith. "With this being a big qualifying year for the Olympics we will see some of the best professional athletes and competition the U.S. has to offer this weekend."
Robillard ranks seventh in the Southern Conference 2011 performance list with her throw of 104'5" at the Shamrock Invitational in mid-March. Curry set the University record in the outdoor 5,000 meter event with a time of 18:23.14 at the same meet.
The lineup for the Eagle 4X100 meter Relay Team this weekend is the same one that posted a 2011 season-best time of 47.16 at the UCF Invitational last weekend. Jasmine Billings (Lawrenceville, Ga.), Ebony Carter (Rome, Ga.), Amber Vaughn (Macon, Ga.) and Kwajelin Holsendolph (Hinesville, Ga.) look to drop their relay time as they compete against some of the nation's top relay teams.
Carter, who holds the Eagles' top times in the 100 meter and 200 meter Dash, has been added to the 4X400 Relay team. Kristiana Towns (Decatur, Ga.) is set to kick off the race with Racquel Daly (Decatur, Ga.) in the second spot. Carter takes the third leg and Holsendolph will anchor the team. In the 4X800, Georgia Southern sends the same team that placed fifth at the Shamrock Invitational with Robillard, Daly, Morgan Jefferson (Villa Rica, Ga.) and Asea Mayfield (Marietta, Ga.) on the final leg.
"Our team is very excited, and if weather permits we will see some outstanding times this weekend," Smith said. "Our 4x100 and 4x400 teams are looking to move into the top two of the SoCon standings. We have moved a couple of things around this week and made some changes. We will see how it pans out on Saturday."
The Shuttle Hurdle Relay team features three freshmen and Billings. Holsendolph, Billings, Stephanie Hicks (Trenton, N.J.) and Dana Edwards (Athens, Ga.) are set for this race. Cherelle King (Elmont, N.Y.), Ray Toomer (Savannah, Ga.) and Mayfield will fill the final three spots of the Sprint Medley Relay with a final decision on who will run the first leg, Billings or Jefferson, prior to the race.
More information on Georgia Southern Track and Field can be found at GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com/track&field. Short updates are available at twitter.com/GSAthletics or facebook.com/GSAthletics.
