Wednesday, February 04, 2009

MACON, Ga. - Kennesaw State continued to set records this weekend at ETSU's Niswonger Invitational. Sophomore Gianni Catalano posted the Atlantic Sun's fastest time this season in 800-meter run to earn his first career Athlete of the Week Award, the conference announced Wednesday.

A week after having his school record in the 800 broken just minutes after he set it, by his teammate James Verdi, Catalano broke another school record on Jan. 30, placing first in the seeded 800 in Johnson City, Tenn., with a time of 1:52.32. The Amherst, Ohio, native returned strong on Saturday to run the 800m leg of the Distance Medley Relay with a time of 1:53.04, to help lead the Owls to a first place finish in the event.

The Owls have one more meet before returning to Johnson City, Tenn. for the Conference Championships Feb. 20-21. Kennesaw State will train for a week and end its season at the Clemson Invite on Friday, Feb. 13.

The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun stands for achievement with integrity in both the academic and athletic arenas, with a focus on the balance between the two for our student-athletes. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.

Other Top Performers:
Jarrod Burton, ETSU (Throws - Bastain, Va. - Jr. - Physical Education) -- ETSU junior thrower Jarrod Burton enjoyed a stellar weekend at the 31st annual Niswonger Invitational On Friday night, the Bastian, Va. native posted his second longest throw of the season in the weight, and finished second overall (33-man field) with a mark of 62-04.50 (19.01m). Then, on Saturday, Burton flexed his muscles and broke the ETSU shot put record with heave of 54-10.75 (16.73m), which placed him second out of 38 competitors. Burton’s toss broke his previous mark of 53-00 (16.15m), which was set two weeks ago at Clemson.

Justin Crawford, USC Upstate (Pole Vault - Elgin, S.C. - So. - Biology) -- Crawford's height of 14-7.25/4.45 meters in the pole vault was a new personal best record for him and the University. He currently leads all A-Sun contenders in the pole vault after Saturday's finish.

Harold Sims, Campbell (Sprints/Hurdles - Oxford, N.C. - Jr. - Biology) -- Sims claimed the men's 60 meter hurdles title at the Carolina Classic with a time of 8.25 in the event's finals. The Camel men’s 4x400 meter relay squad, featuring Sims, as well as sophomore Adoniss Jones, freshman Kelvonto Cooper and junior Cardel Johnson, took third, clocking in at 3:29.51 behind Johnson C. Smith (3:21.01) and North Carolina (3:23.86). Sims also finished seventh in the men’s 400 meters, posting a 49.86.

Weekly Notes:
Campbell: Camel sophomore Adoniss Jones won the men’s 60 meter hurdles preliminaries with a time of 8.17, but Harold Sims claimed the title with a time of 8.25 in the finals. Jones took fourth overall with a time of 8.28. The Camel men’s 4x400 meter relay squad, featuring Sims, Jones, Kelvonto Cooper and Cardel Johnson, also took third, clocking in at 3:29.51 behind Johnson C. Smith (3:21.01) and UNC (3:23.86).

In all, 20 personal bests were set for the Camels, not including one tied mark, with 12 coming on the women’s side and eight from the CU men.