BLACKSBURG, VA. – Emma Kroger led a stellar team performance in the pole vault and the Coastal Carolina women find themselves in a familiar second-place position after Friday’s first day of the Big South Championships.
Anacia Hines started the day off for the Chanticleers qualifying for the finals on Saturday in the 60 meter hurdles dash with a personal best time of 8.87. The top eight times advance into Saturday.
The Chants claimed 10 points in the 3000 meter run with Kyla van Graan captured a second place finish with a time of 9:40.25 earning eight points. Van Graan finished just eight seconds behind first place Liberty’s, Ednah Kurgat. Rachel Byrd took a ninth place finish earning two points for the Chants with a time of 10:46.60. Also for Coastal, Jackie Brengel finished with a time of 11:03.07 placing 14th, respectively.
Three Chanticleers qualified for the finals on Saturday in the 60 meter dash giving Coastal a good opportunity to rally back on its final day. Teka Simpson led the Chants with a time of 7.70, a personal best, placing herself in fourth tying with Liberty’s Dana Mercer. Karissa Lunn (7.72) and Kelila Naules (7.74) also qualified with personal best times. Hines also competed in the 60 meter dash finishing with a time of 7.78 just one spot away from qualifying.
In the 800 meter run, all three Chanticleers qualified for the finals on Saturday. Imani Boatwright crossed the finish line for the Chants in the number one spot overall with a time of 2:15.23. Following close behind was Aynslee van Graan (2:17.17) and Lisha Van Onselen (2:18.56) who will join Boatwright in the finals. Also joining these three will be three Liberty Flames who have been very competitive against the Chants.
Simpson also found herself qualifying for 200 meter dash on Saturday finished with a time of 24.65, just .03 milliseconds behind Charleston Southern’s, Jasmine Pilgrim. Jonnay Anthony (25.60) and Karissa Lunn (25.78) did not qualify for Saturday’s finals.
Coastal earned three points in the distance medley with a time of 12:47.06 finishing sixth place overall. Alesia Muklebust led off for the Chants, followed by Rozelle Meier and Regina Peattie, then closing out the race was Rachel Byrd.
Teka Simpson captured third place in the long jump with a personal best of 5.69 meters (18-08.00). Finishing fifth was Coastal’s Kelila Naules with her best jump at 5.60 meters (18-04.50). Also in the field for the Chants, Amirah Al-Bayyinah (5.58 meters 18-03.75) and Kelsey Briggs (5.42 meters 17-09.50) finishing sixth and eighth, respectively. Coastal earned a total of 14 points in the long jump, it’s most of the day.
Kroger who earned a total of 10 points for the Chants and claimed her first ever Big South Individual title had her best jump at 3.90 meters (12-09.50). This was also a personal best for Kroger. Brianna Cristiano placed ninth, along with three others, had her best jump at 3.15 meters (10-04.00).
Ending the day for Coastal in the field, Samantha Layko had her best throw at 14.67 meters (48-01.75) finishing 13th overall while Cari Pallini finished 15th overall with her best throw at 13.57 meters (44-06.25).
Saturday’s action begins at 11 a.m. with the high jump, followed by the mile run, triple jump and shot put. The finals of the 60 hurdles and 60, 200, 400 and 800 meters will then be contested before the 5,000 meters and the 4×400 relay conclude the meet.
From: http://www.goccusports.com/sports/c-track/recaps/022616aaa.html
