Stephen F. Austin
Houston Tune-Up
Sprinters Lead Way for SFA at Houston Tune Up
2/14/2014 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
Feb. 14, 2014
Complete Results 
| Post-Meet Notes
HOUSTON, Texas - In the final meet before the Southland Conference Championships in 12 days, the Stephen F. Austin track and field team headed to the Houston Tune Up for one last chance to improve before defending its crowns.
The Lumberjacks and Ladyjacks were up against some fellow Southland schools and other regional schools on Friday at the Yeoman Fieldhouse with the coaching staff keeping a close eye on the performances to gauge the team heading into the conference championships.
SFA came away with six wins and five runner-up finishes on Friday with the sprinters shining for the team.
Torin Crowder cruised to a pair of victories for the Lumberjacks in the 400 meters and 200 meters. He ran his best time of the season in the 400, cracking 49 seconds for the first time this season, crossing in 48.98 seconds. Crowder also won the 200 meters with a time of 22.23 seconds for another season-best. Josh Taylor was close behind him in third place and a time of 49.20 seconds in the 400.
Chasity Clark put together two great runs on Friday including one win. Clark ran her way to her fastest time of the season as well to win the women's 200 meters, leading from the gun she crossed the line in 24.81 seconds. Earlier in the day, Clark ran a new personal record in the 60 meters during her preliminary heat. She won her heat with a time of 7.59 and elected not to run in the final due to her other events.
In addition to Crowder's win in the 200, Jared Love was on his heels at 22.41, and the pair of Hampton Hawkins and Trevon Caudle gave SFA four in the top eight. Caudle also finished second for the men in the 60 meter dash, crossing the line in 6.99 seconds after running 6.90 in the prelims.
"This was a good intermediary meet for us in terms or putting up some good performances and the people we needed to get better getting better," said Head Coach Phil Olson. "We still have some improvements to make over the next two weeks for us to be as competitive as we wish at the conference championships.
Jessica Spelling tallied the first win of the day for the Ladyjacks in the shot put. Spelling posted a mark of 13.67 meters (44-10.25) to best the field by more than 15.75 inches. The mark was three centimeters off her season best.
Rebecca Blubaugh ran a new personal record in the 3,000 meters to finish second with her time of 10:26.93. She more than 15 seconds off her previous best time heading into the conference championship. Her time now places her in the top 15 in the league.
Kirsten Knox had her best performance of the season in the long jump finishing second with her leap of 5.71 meters (18-09.00). She lost by just one centimeter.
In the field events for the men, two pole vaulters had their best performances of the season to hopefully carry that momentum into the conference meet next week.
Cameron Meyer posted a new indoor personal record with a clearance of 5.20 meters (17-00.75). That mark now moves him to No. 2 in the conference behind fellow Lumberjack Colton Ross. Freshman Daven Murphree tied his PR indoors with a third-place mark of 5.05 meters (16-06.75). Combined events specialist Christian Bean also had a PR in the pole vault, going over the bar at 4.75 meters (15-07.00).
Derek Calvert posted a third-place finish with a toss of 15.75 meters (51-08.25). Bryce Willard had a season-best in the high jump, clearing 1.95 meters (6-04.75).
The sprinters closed the meet strong as well for SFA with the women's and men's groups fielding three different 4x400 relays and finishing. The top squad for each finished in first place.
SFA will head back to Birmingham, Ala., next week for the Southland Conference Championships. Both teams won the team titles a year ago and are looking to repeat. The women are seeking their sixth straight Southland crown indoors.
sfajacks.com
