By: by Scott Lipsky
Day One Results I
Live scoring I
A-Sun Championship homepage
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Mackenzie Howe continued her dominance in the distance events on Friday, setting a conference record in the 10,000 Meters en route to winning the event for the second consecutive year, and joined Michelle Quimby, who won the Pole Vault, as the two Owls to win events on the first day of the Atlantic Sun Conference Track and Field Championships, hosted by North Florida, and give the Black and Gold a 40 point lead over Jacksonville heading into the final day of competition.
Howe’s time of 35:16.96 broke the original event record of 35:33.07 set by the Owls Patrina Hayes in 2006, and was also a new school record. For her career, the junior has now won a total of three A-Sun outdoor track and field titles, with her 2009 5,000 meter win to go along with her pair of 10,000 meter titles. Right behind her in the event was senior Erin Sutton, who added another honor to her decorated career with a runner-up finish in the event with a time of 36:43.19.
Quimby, a freshman, won the pole event with a top jump that cleared 3.50 meters, short of her school record of 3.70 meters that she accomplished at the War Eagle Auburn Invitational in April, but enough for the victory.
Junior jumps specialist Jill Arthur was the fourth Owl to garner All-Atlantic Sun Conference Championship honors on Friday, finishing second in the Long Jump with a top leap of 5.70 meters.
\Overall, 13 Owls scored for the team on Friday to give them a total of 73.5 points and a big cushion over the Jacksonville Dolphins, the four-time defending champions. Kennesaw State, who finished as a runner-up at the championships last season, will be trying to win the outdoor title for the first time in their history. A win would also be a proper send-off for their coach, Don McGarey, who built the program from scratch and will be stepping down from his position to focus on his teaching at the conclusion of this season.
In addition to the events that have already been completed, sophomore Naomi Mack finds herself in second place in the Heptathalon through four events, with a total of 2,664 points, trailing only Jacksonville’s Tiffany Bromfield, who has a total of 2,885 heading into Saturday.
Action continues on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. for the women with the conclusion of the Heptathalon. Live scoring of the championship will be available throughout the day.
