Stephen F. Austin
SLC Outdoor Championships
Johnson Wins Heptathlon Title
5/10/2008 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
May 10, 2008
HUNTSVILLE, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks are currently leading the pack at the 2008 Southland Conference Outdoor Championships, while the SFA men are third overall, only 16.5 behind Southeastern Louisiana. The Ladyjacks have posted 73.33 points, and have a 10-point cushion on the field heading into Sunday's final day of competition, while the 'Jacks have scored 48.5 points.
SFA recorded eight All-Southland Conference performances, five NCAA qualifying marks and an SLC individual title in the second day of competition. The surprise of the day may have been freshman Ebbonye Johnson's ability to hold off a talented field to win the heptathlon individual title. Johnson scored a personal best 4,894 points to win the event. Sophomore Tabitha Riley past Texas State's Danete Wright on the final day of the competition to finish second overall. Riley brought home her third career all-conference honor with her score of 4,782.
In the men's multi-events, sophomores Aaron Harlan and Chris Jones each dropped a spot, but finished among the top five. Harlan earned all-conference honors with his runner-up finish. He posted an NCAA provisional score of 7,319 points. Jones just missed all-conference honors, finishing fourth overall, but he joined Harlan with an NCAA provisional score (6,998). Freshman Jacques Neyrey who entered the day fifth was only able to finish one event before having to withdraw from the competition.
Sophomore Frednisha Marshall added to her all-conference haul Saturday afternoon. Only 24 hours after earning All-SLC honors in the hammer throw, she equaled that performance in the shot put. Marshall finished second overall recording a throw of 44-4.25. On the men's side sophomore Martin Agoes recorded a throw of 49-10.00 to finish eighth overall.
Senior co-captain Sumbo Adeniran recorded an individual runner-up finish in the men's long jump. Adeniran posted a mark of 24-3.75, which was also an NCAA regional mark. Freshman Corvell Arterberry joined Adeniran in the finals of the long jump. Arterberry finished sixth overall with a jump of 23-10.00.
Senior Justin Reyes scored 2.5 points for the 'Jacks in the men's high jump. Reyes cleared a height of 6-10.75 to finish sixth overall. Reyes' mark was also good enough to qualify for the NCAA regional meet.
Senior Leah Matthews led the Ladyjacks in the women's high jump. Matthews cleared a height of 5-7.00 to finish fifth overall. Joining Matthews in the finals was freshman Whitney Trimble. The Big Sandy, native recorded a mark of 5-5.00 to finish sixth overall.
The Ladyjacks scored big points in the long jump, and posted two more NCAA regional marks. Sophomore Silent-Joy Egboba-Waye finished second overall, and earned all-league honors, with a jump of 20-4.50. Matthews just missed all-conference honors in the event recording a mark of 19-8.75 to finish fourth overall.
SFA closed out the day's events with the men's and women's 3,000-meter steeplechase. Freshman Meredith Blocker earned all-conference honors with her third-place finish (11:14.74). Blocker just beat out teammate Kirsten Wieseman (11:26.94), who finished fourth overall. On the men's side, junior Keith Mahipala earned all-conference honors with his third-place finish. He recorded a time of 9:12.41 overall.
SFA also tacked on points in two events that were run late Friday evening. Freshman Amy Shackelford earned all-conference honors in the women's 10,000 meters with her time of 38:30.90. Shackelford finished third overall. Sophomore Heather Adams scored a point in the event by crossing the line eight overall (41:08.43). On the men's side Gerardo Moreno finished seventh overall with a time of 33:13.70.
SFA returns to action Sunday afternoon for the final day of competition. The field events will begin at 1 p.m. with the women's discus, while running events will get started at 5:05 p.m. with the women's 4X100-meter relay.
-SFA-
