Red Wolves Track Splits Squads; Has Solid Performances

All Access, Track & Field | February 4, 2013 by Sporting Life Arkansas | 0 Comments

Courtesy Arkansas State University Athletics Department

JONESBORO, Ark. (2/2/13) – The Arkansas State University indoor track and field teams split their squads this past weekend (Feb. 1-2) and came away with success at both the 38th annual Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational and the Southern Illinois (SIU) Invitational.

“I thought we had a great weekend considering we have been working our team pretty hard in preparation for the conference meet,” said ASU head coach Jim Patchell. “We had too many personal bests to mention all of them which is exciting this early in the season. I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do when we’re well rested and closer to peak condition.”

Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational

A handful of ASU athletes wrapped up competition in Saturday’s (Feb. 2) action at the 38th annual Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational in Lincoln, Neb.

Arkansas State wrapped up the second day in the men’s heptathlon, which was conducted at UN’s Bob Devaney Sports Center. Senior Ethan Turpen garnered fifth place with a 5,201 points total while junior Thomas Ligon placed sixth by totaling 5,038 points. Turpen had a third-place showing in the 1,000-meter dash with a 2:46.35 time and Ligon was fifth at 2:49.57. In the 60-meter hurdles, Turpen clocked an 8.47 time to earn third place.

Sophomore Savannah Hutchinson and freshman Shakeria Marshall concluded the final events in the pentathlon. Hutchinson would compile 3,384 points to place 11th while Marshall chalked up 2,772 points, which was good for 18th place. Hutchinson’s top performance in the second day’s pentathlon events was in the long jump as she leaped 17-07. (5.36m) to capture ninth-place honors. Marshall ‘s top placing was 12th in the 800-meter run as she posted a time of 2:30.45.

The Husker Invitational is named in honor of former Nebraska track and field head coach Frank Sevigne, who fought a gallant battle against cancer prior to his death on Jan. 29, 1985. Sevigne was posthumously inducted into the USTFCCCA Hall of Fame on Dec. 4, 2004, in Portland, Ore.

Southern Illinois Invitational

Arkansas State recorded a combined five first-place finishes in Saturday’s (Feb. 2) second and final day of men’s and women’s competition at the SIU Invitational.

Junior Sharika Nelvis captured one of the Red Wolves’ first-place showings on the women’s side as she won the 60-meter dash by clocking a 7.40 time. Junior Kristina Aubert ran the mile run on the SIU Recreation Center track in a 4:57.87 time to earn first-place honors.

A fourth-place performance in the high jump was turned in by LaKeitha Minter, who cleared the bar at 5-02.25 (1.58m).

The Red Wolves collected four fifth-place efforts, three in individual events and one in a relay event. Freshman Alecia Dodds posted a 6.25 time in the 60-meter hurdles to garner fifth while sophomore Heather Newberry had a fifth-place 2:21.11 time in the 800-meter run. Freshman Abbey Dixon clocked a time of 10:30.48 in the 3,000-meter run to cross the finish line in fifth place.

The 4×400-meter relay team of Alecia Dodds, junior Kelsey Bean, freshman Jessica Maggio, and freshman Charlotte Williams produced a fifth-place 4:04.31 time.

In the men’s competition, A-State had three individuals garner first place. Junior Kashef Daniel took first place in the high jump with a 6-06.25 (1.99m) effort. Junior Joey Meyer achieved first-place laurels in the 60-meter dash by turning in a 6.85 time while junior Justin Whitfield finished third as a result of a 6.90 time. In the 60-meter hurdles, senior Solomon Williams produced a first-place 8.09 time.

Tyler Lingo and Chris Nicasio, a pair of juniors, both place among the top five individuals in the shot put. Lingo registered a throw of 49-11 (15.21m) to earn fourth-place plaudits while Nicasio’s 49-06.50 toss (15.10m) was good for fifth place.

Women’s Team Scores:

1. Southern Illinois – 182.5

2. Alabama State – 116.5

3. Arkansas State – 84

4. Central Arkansas – 52

5. Mississippi Valley – 45

6. Arkansas Pine-Bluff – 27

7. Indiana – 17

8. Murray State – 12

Men’s Team Scores:

1. Southern Illinois – 207.5

2. Central Arkansas – 81.5