By: by Scott Lipsky
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - Erin Sutton followed the example that her teammates set for her on the first day of competition, posting a top-ten finish of her own on the final day of the Niswonger Invitational, held at East Tennessee State in Johnson City, Tenn.
The senior distance runner immediately picked up where her team left off Saturday morning, competing in the first event of the day, the 5000 Meter Run, and finished in sixth place with a time of 18:00.74. The Owls had placed in the top-ten in six events on Friday and had shattered three school records, and Sutton was happy to join the club.
“I was happy with the race went, it gave me a base to work from when I’m trying to improve my times this season,” said Sutton, the distance specialist who was limited during the cross country season due to injury. “Now that I’m healthy again, I can really focus on what I need to do speed-wise.”
Saturday saw the Owls compete in four events, culminating in the 4x400 Meter Relay, which saw the Black and Gold post an 11th place finish on the strength of a 3:59.23 time from the squad featuring DeCoshia Boswell, Naquia Williams, Victoria Jackson, and Shelby Hines.
With six of their seven top-ten finishes coming on Friday, Don McGarey’s team did most of their damage on the opening day of the event. However, getting the chance to spend the entire weekend at the site of the Atlantic Sun Conference Championships, which will take place at East Tennessee State beginning February 26, is an invaluable experience.
“It was great to see the facility where we will be competing for a conference championship a month from now,” said senior thrower Chiquita Hawthorne, whose 41’8.5” throw set a new school and personal record on Friday. “It was great to get a feel for what I’ll be seeing at conference at the actual box I’ll be throwing in. I was happy with how I performed, but now I know exactly the type of conditions I’ll be throwing in come conference time.”
The Owls have two more meets before they return to Johnson City for the A-Sun Championship. They will be back in action on January 31 at the University of Florida in Gainesville, when they dual against North, Jacksonville, and Florida Atlantic.
NISWONGER INVITATIONAL- FINAL RESULTS
Women’s 60 Meter Dash
24 Jackson, Victoria SO 7.86***
35 Williams, Naquia FR 7.95
42 Davis, Cynthia FR 7.98
55 Stinson, LaKeshia SR 8.12
96 Brown, Laswann FR 8.50
Women’s 200 Meter Dash
12 Jackson, Victoria SO 25.26***
31 Boswell, DeCoshia FR 25.74
56 Davis, Cynthia FR 26.21
57 Hines, Shelby SO 26.22
125 Mack, Naomi SO 27.52
155 Brown, Laswann FR 28.51
Women’s 400 Meter Dash
38 Boswell, DeCoshia FR 60.79
Women’s 800 Meter Run
20 German, Caitlin SR 2:26.10
Women’s 5000 Meter Run
6 Sutton, Erin SR 18:00.74
Women’s 60 Meter Hurdles
28 Stinson, LaKeshia SR 9.43
33 Leverette,Christie SO 9.57
38 Mack, Naomi SO 9.63
41 Williams, Naquia FR 9.68
Women’s 4x400 Meter Relay
11 Kennesaw State 'A' 3:59.23
Boswell, DeCoshia FR Jackson, Victoria SO
Williams, Naquia FR Hines, Shelby SO
Women’s High Jump
4 Ragland, Jakia SR 1.66m 5-05.25
6 Van-Lare, Suzzette SO 1.61m 5-03.25
Women’s Pole Vault
7 Quimby, Michelle FR 3.30m 10-10.00
Women’s Long Jump
37 Arthur, Jill JR 4.98m 16-04.25
Women’s Triple Jump
4 Arthur, Jill JR 11.97m 39-03.25
9 Van-Lare, Suzzette SO 11.74m 38-06.25
Women’s Shot Put
9 Hawthorne, Chiquita SR 12.71m 41-08.50***
Women’s Weight Throw
11 Hawthorne,Chiquita SR 15.35m 50-04.50
26 Lumpkin, Jessica JR 12.30m 40-04.25
***INDICATES SCHOOL RECORD
