By: by Scott Lipsky
KENNESAW, Ga. - Kennesaw State women’s track and field is excited to get back into action this weekend in Johnson City, Tenn. at the Niswonger Invitational, hosted by East Tennessee State.
It has been seven weeks since they competed in their lone meet of the season thus far, the Appalachian State Invitational, and while they were able to use the holiday season to improve in all of their areas, a repeat of the squad’s performance on December 5 wouldn’t be too much cause for concern.
Indeed, the Owls had a productive trip to Boone, North Carolina, as members of the Black Gold, freshmen and upperclassmen alike, won three events and shattered four school records. Owls head coach Don McGarey was pleased with how many of his athletes competed, and is hoping for a similar outcome this weekend.
"Overall I hope we pick up from where we left off at Appalachian State. It's been over a month and one half since that meet and we are all ready to get back in the field of competition," McGarey, the only head coach in the program’s history, said. "Our student athletes came back from the break in great shape, so I expect to see excellent performances. This will be a debut meet for some of our distance runners as they will hit the track for the first time this year. We should see them finishing in the top spots if they run this weekend like they have in practice."
For the second straight meet to open up the indoor season, the Owls will be not put a lot of distance runners in the mix. At Appalachian State, there was no 5000 Meter event, with the meet coming so soon after the conclusion of the cross country season. Senior Caitlin German and junior Kristen Gibson competed in the One Mile Run and 3000 Meters, respectively. German is moving over the 800 Meters for this weekend, while Gibson will not compete this weekend. Senior Erin Sutton will make her indoor debut in the 5000 Meters.
In the field events, the Owls expect to score big in the High Jump with senior Jakia Ragland and sophomore Suzzette Van-Lare, the Weight Throw with junior Jessica Lumpkin and in the Pole Vault with freshman Michelle Quimby. Ragland and Van-Lare finished third and fourth in the high jump at Appalachian State, respectively, while Lumpkin and Quimby won their respective events. Quimby was named the Atlantic Sun Conference Women’s Field Athlete of the Week for her efforts.
Quimby will be one of several freshmen to watch this week for the women. Fellow newcomers Cynthia Davis and Naquia Williams also helped to re-write the school record books on December 5, Davis with her time of 7.19 seconds in the 55 Meter Dash and Williams with her 8.54 second effort in the 55 Meter Hurdles. Both will compete this weekend, Davis the 60 Meter Dash and Williams in the 60 Meter Hurdles.
The meet, which will be held at the site of the Atlantic Sun Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships, will be a good barometer for the Owls regarding how they may fare at the Conference meet, which be held on February 26-27. Other than competing at the same site, the Black and Gold will also get to compete against A-Sun rivals East Tennessee State, Lipscomb, and USC-Upstate, who will be among the approximately 70 teams that will be at the Niswonger.
List of Events:
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60 Meters
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Davis ,Cynthia
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Williams,Naquia
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Jackson,Victoria
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Brown ,Laswann
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Stinson,LaKeshia
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200 Meters
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Hines,Shelby
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Mack,Naomi
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Boswell,DeCoshia
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Davis ,Cynthia
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Jackson,Victoria
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Brown ,Laswann
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400 Meters
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Boswell,DeCoshia
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800 Meters
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German,Caitlin
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5000 Meters
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Sutton,Erin
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Reilly,Britany
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60 Meter High Hurdles
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Leverette,Christie
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Williams,Naquia
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Stinson,LaKeshia
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Mack,Naomi
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4 x 400 Meter Relay
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Squad A
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Boswell,Jackson,Williams,Hines
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Squad B
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Davis ,Mack,Leverette,Stinson
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High Jump
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Ragland,Jakia
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Van-Lare,Suzzette
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Leverette,Christie
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Quimby,Michelle
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Pole Vault
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Quimby,Michelle
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Smith,Teresa
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Hightower,Kacey
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Long Jump
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Arthur,Jill
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Van-Lare,Suzzette
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Leverette,Christie
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Triple Jump
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Arthur,Jill
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Van-Lare,Suzzette
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Shot Put
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Leverette,Christie
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Hawthorne,Chiquita
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Mack,Naomi
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Weight Throw
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Lumpkin,Jessica
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Hawthorne,Chiquita
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