Johnson, Broughton Post Big Improvements in Field Events

Friday, January 17

Nashville, Tenn.

All Day

Mississippi State

Vanderbilt Invitational (I)

Johnson, Broughton Post Big Improvements in Field Events

January 17, 2020 | Track & Field

Day 1 Results

by Brian Ogden, Assistant Director/Communications

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Mississippi State's women posted two large improvements in the field events on the opening day of the Vanderbilt Invitational on Friday night. As a team, MSU recorded four new personal bests to go along with 13 top-10 finishes.

Tiffaney Johnson recorded a personal best in the weight throw and moved up State's all-time leaderboard in the event for the second straight week. Johnson broke her personal best on her first throw and eventually finished with a 17.53m (57-6.25) throw that ranks third in school history.

Shayla Broughton posted a 15cm improvement in the long jump to place fifth with a 6.05m (19-10.25) leap. Immediately after competing in the high jump, Broughton bettered her previous career-best mark of 5.90m (19-4.25) on four of her six attempts. Asia Poe also made the finals in the event, finishing ninth with a mark of 5.89m (19-4.0).

"We had a good showing today in the field events," head coach Chris Woods said. "Tomorrow, it's important that we come out focused on competing at a high level, winning sections, winning events and personal bests. We need to be the best competitors that we can be."

On the men's side, Okheme Moore won his heat and finished seventh overall in the 200m, while Jesse Henderson ran a personal-best 23.59.

Luke Zacharias, Chandler Underwood and Benjamin Craw finished back-to-back-to-back in the 5000m with Zacharias placing fourth.

State's women's distance medley relay improved by 13 seconds, crossing the line in 12:02.02 to finish seventh.

The Bulldogs return to competition at Vanderbilt tomorrow, beginning with the women's 3000m at 10 a.m. CT. State will then take a week off before traveling to Ann Arbor, Michigan on Jan. 31 for the two-day Power 5 Invitational hosted by the University of Michigan.

For more information on the Mississippi State track and field team, visit HailState.com and follow "HailStateTF" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Women's Results

200m: Brandee Presley, Ole Miss, 24.10
MSU: T17. Alex Woodberry, 25.53 (25.527); 23. Cathrina Morris, 25.63; 36. Jaylah Bailey, 26.35; 38. Destini Pickens, 26.42

5000m: Courtney Alama, Belmont, 17:11.37
MSU: 7. Stephanie Peterson, 17:39.52; 9. Ava Weems, 17:46.62; 10. Mary Beth Woodward, 18:46.00

Distance Medley Relay: Florida State, 11:25.93
MSU: 7. Charlotte Cayton-Smith, Shardonnay Nichols, Ashley Melcherts, Emma Tucker; 12:02.02

High Jump: Courteney Campbell, Rutgers, 1.80m (5-10.75)
MSU: 6. Shayla Broughton, 1.65m (5-5.0);8. Asia Poe, 1.65m (5-5.0); 17. Emilia Lesniak, 1.55m (5-1.0)

Long Jump: Essence Thomas, Oklahoma, 6.32m (20-9.0)
MSU: 5. Shayla Broughton, 6.05m (19-10.25); 9. Asia Poe, 5.89m (19-4.0); 19. Alex Woodberry, 5.42m (17-9.5)

Weight Throw: Shey Taiwo, Ole Miss, 21.24m (69-8.25)
MSU: 11. Tiffaney Johnson, 17.53m (57-6.25); 21. Alicia Viveros, 15.34m (50-4.0); Madelyn Lee, Foul

Men's Results

200m: Joseph Sheffield, Oklahoma, 21.26
MSU: 7. Okheme Moore, 21.71; 30. Joshua Stradford, 23.13; 33. Jesse Henderson, 23.59

5000m: Tyler Phillips, Oklahoma, 14:49.78
MSU: 4. Luke Zacharias, 15:09.08; 5. Chandler Underwood, 15:12.35; 6. Benjamin Craw, 15:32.06

Long Jump: Isaac Grimes, Florida State, 7.97m (26-1.75)
MSU: 15. Cameron Crump, 6.89m (22-7.25); 19. Jesse Henderson, 6.43m (21-1.25)