February 23, 2008

COLUMBIA, SC –  It was a day of personal bests and Mars Hill records at the University of South Carolina Indoor Facility.  The unique 250 meter track produced some fast times for the sprinters and distance competitors while making it slower going for the mid-distance team with it’s very tight turns.  The meet is traditionally dominated by some of the best sprint schools in the nation but the Mars Hill sprint team made a strong showing.  It is an especially tough day for them as the top runners compete in prelims, semis and finals over a four hour span.

The Lions placed five competitors into the semis with Gabby Walker (Chattanooga, TN) advancing to the finals and finishing 4th overall in the 55 meter dash.  Her time of 7.21 broke her own Mars Hill record for the 5th time this season.  Also competing in the semis were Tandra Landers (Monroe, GA), Sharisse Sutherland (Marietta, GA), Nadine Hayes (Winston-Salem, NC) and Malaree Wallace (Yonkers, NY).

In the throws Erin Stowe (Cincinnati, OH) established a new Mars Hill record in the weight throw with a mark of 9.81 meters.  She also finished 3rd overall in the shot put.  Ashley McCarthy (Clearwater, FL) won the 400 meter dash.  Hannah Washburn (Clemson, SC) and Hannah Moore (Franklin, NC) finished second and third respectively in the mile run both with new personal bests.

The Mars Hill Men also advanced into the semis and finals.  Benny Davis (Morganton, NC) running unattached finished third overall in the 55 meter dash with a time of 6.54 seconds.  Reaching the semis were Will Barber (Rock Hill, SC), Juwan Benjamin (Rock Hill, SC), Michael Craver (Lexington, NC) and Josh Maxwell (Salem, VA).  Juwan also finished second overall in the High Jump.

Richard Clarke broke his own school record in the men’s weight throw with a toss of 10.09 meters.  In the men’s 800 meter run Mars Hill’s Aaron Thomas (Seminole, FL) and Tom Carpenter (Medina, OH) finished first and second.  Aaron Wells (Candler, NC) finished second in the mile.  And in the 3000 meter run Trey McCain (Leesville, SC), Josh Corbin (Franklin, NC) and Ben Crenshaw (Linville Falls, NC) all had personal best performances.

Complete results can be found at: http://gamecocksonline.cstv.com/sports/c-track/stats/2007-2008/results.html

Next up is the Virginia Tech Last Chance Meet on March 8th in Blacksburg, VA.  A limited squad will be competing against some of the top Division I competition in the nation.  The banked 200 meter track is recognized as one of the fastest surfaces in the country.

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