By: by Emily Diekelmann
KENNESAW, Ga.- Participating in their second competition of the outdoor season, the Kennesaw State women’s track and field team will be sending individuals to separate events while the bulk of the team will be revisiting Georgia Tech for the Yellow Jacket Invitational, Friday and Saturday.
Starting on Thursday with the heptathlon, Naomi Mack, Hannah Mule, Patricia Damron and Vynnessa Smith will be traveling to Tuscaloosa, Ala. for the Alabama Relays. The quartet will get their shot at the seven event competition against some of the top schools in the country including host Alabama, Notre Dame, Mississippi and Louisville.
During the indoor season, Mack proved she is a force to be reckoned with in combined events by winning the JRF Invitational in the pentathlon. At the Atlantic Sun Indoor Conference Championships, Mack finished in second with a season best time of 2:23.37 in the 800.
On the other coast in the Stanford Invitational, Mackenzie Howe will get a shot at the elite track programs in the 10000 meter race. Having already proven herself this season in the 5,000 meters, she will get a chance to face off against competitors from Arizona State, UCLA, Illinois, Indiana and Oklahoma State. Distance coach Stan Sims knows that Howe can compete with the top dogs but this is her time to shine.
“I told her that when running the 10K this Friday to respect it and give it her all but don’t be careless,” Sims said. “For the 10K you have to be patient but aggressive. Mackenzie is getting a chance of a lifetime at Stanford running with a national class field.”
While the other members of the team travel out of state, the rest of the women’s team returns to Georgia Tech to compete in the Yellow Jacket Invitational. Last weekend at the Georgia Intercollegiate Invitational, the Owls started their outdoor season with a solid performance and several new personal records set.
Sophomore Suzee Mills participated in four events last weekend, coming out on top in the javelin. Her time throw of 43 meters not only was good enough for first place but helped her set an 3 and a half meter personal record. The distance also gave her the top spot in the Atlantic Sun in javelin.
