SFA Women First After Day One of SLC Championships
2/20/2009 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
Feb. 20, 2009
HOUSTON, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks jumped out of the gates quick Friday evening on the opening day of competition in the 2009 Southland Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships. SFA enters the final day of competition leading Texas State, 76-54.66. The Lumberjacks are currently sixth overall with 20 points, but only 15 points separates sixth place from third.
The Ladyjacks recorded three SLC individual titles on the opening day, and six all-conference performances. The SFA men posted two All-SLC finishes Friday.
"I'm very pleased with how our women's team came out and performed today," said SFA head coach Phil Olson. "Anytime you can come out and score 70 points on the first day is tremendous. We really had some people step up with some big performances, but we have to remain focused. Tomorrow is a very big day and only 20 points separates us from second place. That deficit can be made up quickly."
The trio of Tabitha Riley, Ebbonye Johnson and Megan Harlan got SFA out to a great start in the pentathlon. SFA place all three in the top eight including All-SLC performances by Riley and Johnson. Riley was the SLC runner-up after recording a score of 3,548 points. Johnson was third overall with a score of 3,455 points, which is made even more impressive by the fact that she is coming off an injury. Harlan, who sat out the 2008 outdoor season with injuries, battled back to score two points for the Ladyjacks with her seventh-place finish (3,260 points).
While the Ladyjacks depth in the multis gave the team a lead, it was junior Frednisha Marshall that provided SFA with the biggest head line. Marshall, who is the reigning SLC Indoor Outstanding Field Athlete, made a huge push to repeat those honors. Marshall recorded an NCAA provisional mark of 67-1.50 to set a new school and conference record and repeat as conference champion. Marshall's throw was nearly 12 feet further than her nearest competition.
"Frednisha had a remarkable day," added Olson. "She was a favorite coming into the weight throw and really performed well. She set a new conference record, and improved her provisional mark which places her among the nation's top marks."
The Ladyjacks also showed tremendous depth in the long jump placing three in the field's top eight. Junior Silent-Joy Egboba-Waye, who really came on toward the end of the 2008 outdoor season, solidified herself as one of the top athletes in the league. She won the long jump with a mark of 19-6.75. Classmate Camelia Sams just missed all-conference honors with her fourth-place finish (18-7.75). After recording an all-conference mark in the pentathlon, Johnson snuck into the field's top eight to wrap up the Ladyjacks' dominating performance. She finished seventh overall with her mark of 17-9.75.
As if following a specific theme for the day, freshman Stephanie Ganter won an individual title in the women's 5,000 meters, and was one of three Ladyjacks to place in the top eight. Ganter posted a time of 17:27.47 to win the event, while sophomore Amy Shackelford just missed all-conference honors with her fourth-place finish (17:57.73). Brette Fleming-Wood was seventh in the event with her time of 18:04.91.
The Ladyjacks closed out the opening day with an All-SLC performance in the women's distance medley relay. The Ladyjacks finished third overall with a time of 12:26.17.
Junior Matt Langdon led the way for the Lumberjacks finishing third in the weight throw to earn all-conference honors. He recorded a throw of 60-8.50 in the event. Freshman Jon Arthur posted a throw of 53-5.00 to finish eighth in the event.
Sophomore Mitch Ownbey recorded an all-conference finish in the men's 5,000 meters. He recorded a time of 14:46.80 to finish second overall in the event. Ownbey was one of three `Jacks to finish among the field's top eight. Junior Keith Mahipala was sixth with a time of 14:54.39, while sophomore Dennis Yeats was seventh overall (15:04.00).
"We had some big performances on men's side, but we really need to come out tomorrow and have a strong day," said Olson. "I'm confident in the guys that we have competing, but when you have only 15 points separating third from sixth place, you have to take advantage of every opportunity. "
Other SFA athletes that finished among the top eight in their respective events included freshman Caitlyn Gaston who was seventh in the women's hammer throw with a mark of 47-9.75. Sophomore Whitney Trimble and freshman Carrie Hahn both cleared a height of 5-5.00 in the high jump to finish tied for fifth overall.
The Lumberjacks are in position to score big points in the heptathlon with two athletes entering the final day in the top four. Junior Chris Jones is currently third overall (2886 points) only 110 points out of second place. Freshman Andrew Plentl is 56 points off Jones' pace.
SFA returns to action Saturday at 8:30 a.m. with the final three events of the heptathlon. Field events will begin at 11 a.m. with the men's and women's triple jump. The track events get under way at 1:30 p.m., with the running of the women's mile.
-SFA-
