By: by Emily Diekelmann
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JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - Looking to capitalize on last season’s second place finish, the Kennesaw State women’s track and field team travels to ETSU for the Atlantic Sun Indoor Conference Championship Friday and Saturday. Having been runner up the past two seasons, the squad is looking to finally get over the hump and claim their first indoor title.
The team got a chance to see the track two weeks ago when they competed in the Niswonger Invitational also held at ETSU. Not only were they able to preview the site but got a glimpse of several conference rivals including ETSU, USC Upstate, Lipscomb and Campbell. Head track and field coach Andy Eggerth is excited that the weekend they have been working towards is finally here.
“The Conference Championship is the most fun time of year because the team aspect of athletics really comes into play,” Eggerth said. “Everybody needs to rise to the occasion so that we can have the ultimate team effort. It’s not uncommon for a couple thousandths of a second to differentiate the winner and second place in a race. Likewise, a centimeter can be the difference in a throw or jump. We’ve been working the little details since September, storing up money in the bank. Now it’s time to cash our paycheck and enjoy the result of our hard work.”
Fresh off her third A-Sun Track Athlete of the Week award, Mackenzie Howe is back to avenge her runner up finish in the 3,000 meters and third place in the 5,000. Already flexing her muscle in a first place finish at Clemson, Howe faces off with familiar foes Joan Tangwar of USC Upstate and Shelby Kittrell of North Florida.
Fellow senior Jill Arthur also looks to improve on her runner up finish in the triple jump from last season at the indoor championships. Earlier this season, a 12.21 meter jump gave Arthur a first place finish at the Clemson Invitational and her first A-Sun Field Athlete of the Week award.
Also on the field side, seniors Jessica Lumpkin and Chiquita Hawthorne have their last shot at A-Sun gold in shot put and weight throw. Last year, Lumpkin finished second and Hawthorne fourth, respectively in the weight throw. Sophomore Suzee Mills joins the duo in the shot put. Mills finished fourth at the A-Sun Indoor Championship last season. Throws coach Duane Morris, in his first season with Kennesaw State, is hopeful for all the throwers this weekend.
“I am very excited to see how all the ladies compete this weekend,” Morris said. “Jessica and Chiquita are seniors that have put in a lot of hard work and I am hoping for the best for them. All the throwers are competitive so I know this weekend will be no different for them. All the ladies have been improving and I don’t see them disappointing this weekend.”
