Griffin, Ross Named SLC Outstanding Field Performers
5/15/2014 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
May 15, 2014
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Two Stephen F. Austin track and field student-athletes wowed the crowd last week at the Southland Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships and have been recognized by the league's coaches for their performances.
Colton Ross and La'Tricia Griffin were named the male and female Southland Conference Outstanding Field Events Performer.
Ross set a new conference championship meet record in the pole vault with his clearance of 5.56 meters (18-2.75), besting the previous mark of former Oral Roberts vaulter and NCAA champion Jack Whitt by one centimeter. Ross is currently ranked No. 2 in the work this season with a vault of 5.70 meters (18-8.25) at the Texas Relays. He and three other vaulters were the world leaders until recently.
Griffin scored points in all three throwing events she competed in at the Southland Conference Championships. Griffin posted season-best throws in all three events as well. She opened the meet with a fourth-place finish in the hammer throw and a new personal record of 55.24 meters (181-3). On Saturday, Griffin took fifth in the discus at 44.95 meters (147-6) and closed the meet with a victory in the shot put at 15.14 meters (49-8.25). Griffin scored a total of 19 points for the Ladyjacks at the meet.
Griffin is the second Ladyjack to earn the outstanding field events performer award following the Southland Conference Championships. Ross is the fourth Lumberjack to receive the field events honor overall and the third in the last four years.
The Southland Conference also announced major award winners for male and female athlete of the year, outstanding track performer, freshman, newcomer and coach of the year on Thursday.
All-Conference Teams were also announced on Thursday with the top three finishers in every event honored.
SFA had six event champions on the men's side and two on the women's, all being named to the first team. Those champions are: Cass Brown-Stewart (400m), Josh Taylor (400m hurdles), Nick Guerra (10,000m), Jamal Peden (long jump), Colton Ross (pole vault), Cody Rhodes (decathlon), La'Tricia Griffin (shot put), Shambrail Woods (heptathlon).
Three more SFA athletes earned second team honors for their runner-up finishes at the meet: Cody Brown (steeplechase), Cameron Meyer (pole vault) and Brarysheyia Simpson (100m).
A total of eight third team honors went to the Lumberjacks and Ladyjacks for finishing third in their respective events as well: Derek Calvert (shot put), Stephanie White (100m hurdles and 400m hurdles), Jessica Hatchett (400m), Shelby Pesek (steeplechase), Courtney High (10,000m), Kirsten Knox (long jump) and Madison Johnston (javelin).
SFA's 19 all-conference honors tied with Sam Houston State for the most in the league. Southeastern Louisiana tallied 18. The Lumberjacks and Ladyjacks both finished second in the team standings at the meet with SELU's men winning the title by one point and SHSU's women winning.
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