Stephen F. Austin
Arkansas Invitational
SFA Performs Well in 2015 Season Openers
1/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
Arkansas Invitational Results: Men | Women
Houston Indoor Opener Results: Combined
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Stephen F. Austin track and field programs started the 2015 indoor season on the right foot with SFA athletes competing in the Houston Indoor Opener and the Arkansas Invitational on Friday. Four athletes in particular had big season debuts as Cass Brown-Stewart, Shawn Goff, Jamal Peden and La’Tricia Griffin all earned individual champion honors in Arkansas.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better effort from our athletes today,” said head coach Phil Olson. “They competed really well both in Houston and Fayetteville, and that’s the important thing at this point in the season.”
Peden got things going for SFA in the long jump, leaping over his competitors with a mark of 7.35 meters (24-1½) to claim first place. The senior was followed closely by junior teammate Trey Darty, who took second with a jump of 7.28 meters (23-10¾).
Griffin kept the momentum going in the field events, using a PR mark of 18.22 meters to win the women’s weight throw. She also recorded her best season-opening throw in the shot put and grabbed third place after a 14.08-meter toss.
Rounding out the SFA first place performers were seniors Brown-Stewart and Goff, who each crossed the finish line first in consecutive men’s events late Friday afternoon. Brown-Stewart made quick work of the 400-meter dash – a 47.00 second showing – to slip by Anthony Johnson of Texas State (47.40) and Omar McLeod of No. 3 Arkansas (47.41). Fellow Lumberjacks My’Lik Kerley (48.25) and Joshua Taylor (48.47) finished out the top five in the event.
Goff ran his way to SFA’s fourth and final individual crown in the 600 meter run. The Houston native was clocked at 1:21.37 – over one second faster than the closest competitor.
Junior sprinter Chasity Clark was narrowly edged by Arkansas’ Brianna Swinton in the 200-meter dash. Clark took second with a time of 24.56 – 0.36 seconds off the winning pace. Senior Stephanie White also went neck and neck with athletes on the seventh-ranked Arkansas squad in the women’s 60-meter hurdles. White garnered third place honors after posting 8.79 seconds – just tenths of a second behind the Razorback’s top hurdlers.
Both the men’s and women’s 4x400 meter relay teams closed the 2015 Arkansas Invitational with runner-up finishes on Friday evening. The Lumberjacks finished in 3:12.43 behind Arkansas (3:11.29) and the women came home in 3:46.73 behind Missouri State (3:45.20).
Closer to Nacogdoches, numerous SFA track and field athletes also performed well at the Houston Indoor Opener on the University of Houston campus.
“I think our team did as well as could be expected under the circumstances coming off of the holiday and having a lousy weather week,” said Olson. “In Houston, I think the highlight today was our sprinters and hurdlers.
“Newcomer-wise, Aliyah Davis had a great meet. She ran really, really well in the 60m (fifth place – 7.68) and was fourth overall in the 200m (25.64). Aaron Piper, who also played football this fall, made the final of 60 meter dash so I know that would make head coach Clint Conque really happy as it did our coaching staff. Bria McIver got fifth (8.77) in the 60 meter hurdles with a PR and she looked great. It was really just one good thing after another for us today, which was nice to see.”
Other notable performances in Houston include Trevon Caudle’s second place effort in the 200-meter dash. The junior notched a time of 22.51 seconds in the event. Also picking up runner-up honors was junior Bryce Willard, who used a 1.95-meter performance in the high jump to take second. Distance specialists Charles Mathenge (4:19.96) and Shelby Pesek (5:17.96) each turned in third place finishes in their respective mile run races. Sophomore Samantha Ottman (5:19.12) finished right behind Pesek on the women’s side.
After a busy Friday, SFA will now be represented by its pole vaulters who are competing in the Akron Pole Vault Convention in Akron, Ohio on Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. Demi Payne, who enters the season ranked ninth in the country according to USTFCCCA, will represent the women’s team while Colton Ross, Cameron Meyer and Daven Murphree will compete for the men. Ross sits 16th in the country entering the season according to USTFCCCA and begins his quest for a repeat conference title on Saturday night.
“Overall it was a great start to the weekend for the SFA track and field program and we get to finish it off with our pole vaulters,” Olson said. “We can’t wait to see how they do.”
Fans can watch Saturday night’s events by clicking here.
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