NASHVILLE - Sophomore Cenitra Hudson's school-record triple jump highlighted
Austin Peay State University women's track and field team at the Ed
Temple/Tennessee State Invitational, Saturday, at the Gentry Center in
Nashville.
While Hudson improved her personal best in the 200-meter
dash to 26.08, her greatest performance came in the triple jump. The Memphis
native bested the school record - previously held by APSU Hall of Famer Ayesha
Maycock - with a 12.45m (40-10.25) jump .
The winter break had no effect on Austin Peay and it was
evident at TSU.
A team typically carried by the field events, Austin Peay
recorded seven top-10 finishes on the track, including a pair notched by the
relay teams.
"They worked hard
over the break and it's showing," head coach Doug Molnar said. "They came back
and ran times that were either similar or better than what they had done at the
end of last semester. Their work is paying off and I can see it in their times
and their effort. That's a testimony to this team; that they want to be good."
Senior Chiamaka Obi had the Lady Govs highest finish, taking
home second place in the 400-meter dash (57:56). Junior Janelle Avery finished
fourth in the mile run (5:34.41), freshman Xiamer Richards finished seventh in
the 3000-meter (11:16.48) and sophomore Leigha Tolliver finished ninth in the
55-meter hurdles (8:94).
"Cenitra had a huge day," Molnar said. "I knew her jump was
going to be close. She's put a lot of work in and I'm glad to see her effort pay
off. A school record is always a big deal.
"She also led our group in the 200-meter dash with a
personal best there as well. Obi was two-an-half seconds faster than where she
was a year ago at this time."
The 4x400 relay team finished fourth (4:01.98) which was
just two-tenths of a second off its finish at the MT Christmas Invite. The distance medley team, meanwhile, finished
seventh.
Also in the field events, Molnar was impressed by freshman
Destiny Wilks, a Clarksville Northeast High School product, in the weight
throw. Wilks, who is new to the event, finished 10th in the weight throw at
13.41m (44-00.00).
"Destiny is going to be very good for us down the road,"
Molnar said. "She's just learning the event and once she gets it down, she's
going to be dynamite. I'm very pleased with where we're at right now. We
practiced really hard this past week and I'm very pleased with the overall
effort."
-AP-