Wednesday, March 25, 2009

MACON, Ga. - After taking first in the 800-meter run at the 2009 Indoor Track & Field Championships, Gianni Catalano opened the outdoor season with an impressive showing at the UNF Spring Break Open, March 6-7, to earn him the first outdoor Athlete of the Week award of the season.

The Amherst, Ohio, native followed up on an incredible indoor season with a first place finish in the 800 in Jacksonville, Fla. The sophomore crossed the line with a time of 1:53.89, to take the top time in the conference in that event. In addition, Catalano anchored the men's 4 X 800m relay team that took first place at the Georgia Relays last weekend. The team finished the race with a time of 7:39.54.

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
Perrish Goggins, USC Upstate (Jumps/Springs - Columbia, S.C. - So. - Computer Science) -- Goggin's second-place finish in the men's high jump with a performance of 6-06.75 (2.00m) topped all A-Sun competitors this weekend and also represented a USC Upstate school record. Goggins also finished the weekend with a 6.43-meter (21-01.25) performance in the high jump event, besting all conference opponents.

Will Pearce, UNF (Mid-Distance - Jacksonville, Fla. - So. - Biology) -- Pearce had the highest placement of any Osprey in the second day of the UNF Spring Break Open, taking second after running neck and neck with another runner until a few hundred feet before the finish line. Pearce suddenly changed his stride and sped forward, pushing his way well into second both in his heat and overall.

Verelle Wyatt, Campbell (Distance - Copley, Ohio - Sr. - Kinesiology) -- Wyatt notched a fourth place finish in the men’s 3000 meters, leading Campbell’s distance runners at the Wake Forest Open inside Kentner Stadium opening the 2009 outdoor season. Wyatt’s time of 8:36.15 earned the Copley, Ohio a personal record in the event, one of 13 individual bests on the day. Wyatt, again, led the way for the Camels in the 1500 meters. The senior notched the event’s 12th best time, while taking the second best mark in his section, logging a 4:00.02 for another personal best.