March 23, 2008

CLEMSON, S.C. - Starting off their outdoor season at the Clemson Relays, the Kennesaw State women's track & field team had a strong showing as freshman Mackenzie Howe took first place in the 5k race. The Watkinsville, Ga., product set the pace for the team as they broke three school records and had numerous personal best performances.

After earning two bronze medals at the Atlantic Sun Indoor Conference Championship, Howe kicked-off her outdoor season by being the number one seed at Clemson's 5k. The freshman easily won the race as she turned in a time of 18:34.89. Her nearest competitor was teammate Britany Reilly who completed the race with a time of 19:27.91 to finish second. She was followed by Lorena Jaime in sixth place with a time of 21:35.02.

"This was a good race for Mackenzie," said distance coach Jason Waters. "She took the lead from the very start and did not give an inch to anyone on the track. She has established herself as our number one distance competitor."

The Owls also had an outstanding performance by their throwing corps as freshman Ana Ruiz set three school records. Ruiz started off the meet by taking second place in the discus (115-11.0ft), while teammate Jessica Lumpkin followed in third place with a mark of 82-02.0ft. The ladies then moved over to the hammer throw where Ruiz claimed her second school record of the meet with a fourth place finish (117-0.0ft), while Lumpkin took fifth place (114-11.0ft). The duo concluded the meet with the shot put where Ruiz took third place (36-7.50ft) and Lumpkin placed fourth (32-02.25ft).

"This was a real solid performance by Ana today," said head coach Don McGarey. "She has come a long way in her first season and we expect great things out of her."

Also in field events, freshman Jill Arthur took third place in the triple jump with a distance of 36-04.0ft, while veteran Jakia Ragland posted a height of 5-01.0ft for third place in the high jump.

On the track, the Owls competed in numerous relay events including the distance medley and the 4x100m relay. In the distance medley, the Black and Gold secured a second-place finish with a time of 13:23.37, while the 4x100m team of Ragland, Arthur, Lakeshia Stinson and Shantela Davis had the strongest performance of the day as they took second place with a time of 49.34.

Davis later returned to the track as she completed in the 100m dash with a time 12.35 seconds for fourth place. Stinson also competed in individual events as she took fourth in the 100m hurdles (15.38). "This was a good meet for our ladies," said sprint coach Devin West. "Shantela and Lakeshia had solid races and they performed well in their relays. In the coming weeks we will be relying on them to place high in their events. "

The Owls will be back in action next weekend as they travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala. to compete in the University of Alabama Relays.

Clemson Relays
Individual Results

5k
1. Mackenzie Howe 18:34.89
2. Britany Reilly 19:27.91
6. Lorena Jaime 21:35.02

100m Hurdles
4. Lakeshia Stinson 15.38

Hammer Throw
4. Ana Ruiz 117-0.0ft
5. Jessica Lumpkin 114-11.0ft

Shot Put
2. Ana Ruiz 36-07.5ft
5. Jessica Lumpkin 32-02.25ft

Discus
2. Ana Ruiz 115-11.00ft
3. Jessica Lumpkin 82-02.0ft

Distance Medley
2. KSU 13:23.37

Triple Jump
3. Jill Arthur 36-04.00ft

High Jump
3. Jakia Ragland 5-01.0ft

4x100m
2. KSU 49.34

3k Steeplechase
2. Katie Charles 13:33.06

100m Dash 4. Shantela Davis 12.35