Mississippi State
UAB Invite (I)
MSU Sprinters Boast Top Finishes On Day One At UAB
January 11, 2014 | Track & Field
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Traveling east to commence its 2014 campaign, the Mississippi State track and field team used the University of Alabama at Birmingham's Blazer Invite to start the season off on the right foot.
“We've been ready to get back in action, and I think our performances today really showed how hard we've been training,” MSU coach Steve Dudley said.
The Bulldogs saw a mix of action, competing in 12 different events on day one at the Birmingham CrossPlex, but it was the MSU sprinters and men's distance medley that shined.
The Maroon and White men's distance medley took first place, clocking a 10:12.61. The quartet comprised of Scottie Hearn, Dustin James II, Andrew Monaghan and Patrick Monaghan had a time that greatly surpassed its competition, finishing seven seconds ahead of second-place Tennessee and 20 seconds ahead of a third-best Shorter foursome.
Junior sprinter Ocian Archer clocked a 1:14.70 in the 500-meter dash to garner a first-place finish in a field of nearly 50 runners. Freshman Kaelin Kersh followed in 17th with a time of 1:18.65.
Also with top performances in the 60-meter hurdles prelims included sophomore Ste'yce McNeil (8.57), junior Erica Bougard (8.59) and senior Keisha Wallace (8.71). The three women finished second, fourth and seventh, respectively, and each earned a spot in tomorrow's event finals slated for 11:50 a.m.
Hearn continued the success for the Bulldogs as he posted a 1:03.87 in the 500-meter dash to finish second. Behind him in 10th was junior Steve Shoto with a time of 1:05.81.
Later on, the women's distance medley earned a third-place finish (12:00.09) to top conference foes Ole Miss and Tennessee.
In field events, junior Ebony Brinker leaped 39-01.25 to place 12th in the triple jump, while sophomore Sydney Rodkey's 10-11.75 in the pole vault landed her a spot in 19th.
MSU will continue competition tomorrow as day two of the Blazer Invite begins at 9 a.m. For more information and meet details, visit uabsports.com or follow the team on Twitter (@HailStateTF).
Day One Results
Women:
300m Dash
Winner: Felicia Majors, Tennessee, 38.07
MSU: 25. Ste'yce McNeil, 40.30; 41. Euricka Hardy, 41.72
500m Dash
Winner: Ocian Archer, Mississippi State, 1:14.70
MSU: 1. Ocian Archer, 1:14.70; 17. Kaelin Kersh, 1:18.65
60m Hurdles (Prelims)
Winner: Bridgette Owens, Florida, 8.30q
MSU: 2. Ste'yce McNeil, 8.57q; 4. Erica Bougard, 8.59q; 7. Keisha Wallace, 8.71q
1000m Run
Winner: Chanelle Price, Speed Factor, 2:40.03
MSU: 2. Rhianwedd Price, 2:52.08
Distance Medley
Winner: Tennessee, 11:57.85
MSU: 3. Mississippi State, 12:09.91
Pole Vault
Winner: Catherine Street, 13-07.25
MSU: 19. Sydney Rodkey, 10-11.75
Triple Jump
Winner: Gissell Warner, Florida, 41-05.25
MSU: 12. Ebony Brinker, 39-01.25
Men:
60m Dash (Prelims)
Winner: Antwan Wright, Florida, 6.65q
MSU: 10. James Anderson, 6.95
300m Dash
Winner: Tucker Peabody, Lipscomb, 33.57
MSU: 25. Charles Taylor, 35.81
500m Dash
Winner: Terrance Livingston, Tennessee, 1:03.26
MSU: 2. Scottie Hearn, 1:03.87; 10. Steve Shoto, 1:05.81
Distance Medley
Winner: Mississippi State, 10:12.61
Players Mentioned
