March 2, 2008

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - The Kennesaw State Women's team concluded their indoor season this weekend with a sixth place finish at the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship. The women put together a strong performance as they had several athletes claim medals and all-conference honors.

The Owls scored a total of 47 points, while Jacksonville University won their third consecutive Indoor championship with a score of 157 points. Belmont scored 83 points for second place and the University of North Florida took third place with 59 points.

"Our ladies had good weekend," said head coach Don McGarey. "We were missing a few of or athletes due to injury which ultimately hurt us in the point standings. Still this is a great group of athletes that had a solid conference meet."

KSU had its best performance of the day as Mackenzie Howe and Erin Sutton finished third and fourth in the five kilometer run. Facing their toughest competition of the season the dynamic duo of KSU's distance program delivered. Howe completed the race with a time of 17:52.40 to earn her second bronze medal of the weekend. Sutton quickly followed with a time of 18:06.76 as she scored critical points for the team. Sophomore Britany Reilly also had an impressive race as she finished in eighth place with a time of 18:35.74.

"This was a good race by our ladies," said distance coach Jason Waters. "Mackenzie has really out done herself in the past few weeks. She has consistently dropped her time through out the year and I expect big things out of her during the outdoor season."

On the field freshman Jill Arthur led the Owls with a third place finish in the triple jump. After competing in the pentathlon the day before Arthur pulled off a personal best jump of 37-11.50ft to secure herself a Third All-Conference Team Selection.

Also on the field freshman Ana Ruiz came in sixth place in the weight throw and earned the Owls a point as she threw for a distance of 45-04.25ft. Teammate Jessica Lumpkin came in seventh place with a throw of 42-08.75ft.

In short distance events junior Shantela Davis came in second place in the 400 meter dash with a time of 56.37. Davis later returned to the field to lead the 4x400 meter relay team of Caitlin German, Lakeshia Stinson and Soibhan Wolcott to a sixth place finish and a new KSU record of 4:03.95.

Wolcott earned the team additional points in the mile with a fifth place finish (5:19.38) and in the 800 meter dash she earned another fifth place with a time of 2:23.84.

The indoor track season may be over, but the Owls will return to action in the outdoor season this spring.

A-Sun Championship
Team Results
1. Jacksonville University 157
2. Belmont 83
3. UNF 59
4. Gardner-Webb 56
5. ETSU 52
6. KSU 47
7. Campbell 38
8. USC Upstate 30
9. Lipscomb 4

Second Team All Conference
Shantela Davis - 400m Dash

Third Team All Conference
Mackenzie Howe - 3k & 5k
Jill Arthur - Triple Jump

Individual Results

800m Dash
5. Soibhan Wolcott 2:23.84
7. Caitlin German 2:27.77
11. Kristen Gibson 2:31.21

Pole Vault
9. Whitney Hammontree 9-00.25ft

5k
3. Mackenzie Howe 17:52.40
4. Erin Sutton 18:06.76
8. Britany Reilly 18:35.74
14. Lorena Jaime 21:00.73

Triple Jump
3. Jill Arthur 37-11.50

400m Dash
2. Shantela Davis 56.37

Mile
5. Soibhan Wolcott 5:19.38
7. Kristen Gibson 5:23.40
10. Caitlin German 5:26.45

Weight Throw
6. Ana Ruiz 45-04.25ft
7. Jessica Lumpkin 42-08.75ft