Wednesday, March 31, 2010

MACON, Ga. –. ETSU’s Mike James set a new facility record to earn Atlantic Sun Track Athlete of the Week honors while Campbell’s Diego Lawrence won the long jump at the Asics/Winthrop Invitational to earn field athlete accolades.

James was also busy setting a new facility record on Saturday afternoon at the Catamount Classic, hosted by Western Carolina. As James’ teammate Jasmine Ingram was breaking records on the women’s side, James was doing the same in the 110-meter hurdles. James flew his way to the title and set a facility record – finishing with a time of 14-seconds. James’ time not only broke Appalachian State’s Charles Derrickson’s mark of 14.25 (set in 2007), but it also puts him 12th in the country on the performance lists.

Lawrence highlighted Campbell's efforts on day one of the Asics/Winthrop Invitational with a win in the men's long jump Friday at the Irwin Belk Track Complex. Lawrence, who won the event twice during the indoor season, took the title with a mark of 7.42-meters. Lawrence was also one of four Camels moving on to day two action, qualifying seventh in the preliminary round of the 100-meter dash. Lawrence finished sixth in the event with a time of 11.02. The Waxaw, N.C. native registered a time of 10.92 Friday.

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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
Ryan Beaver, ETSU (Fr. - Jumps - Virginia Beach, Va. - Business) – Beaver captured first-place efforts in the long jump and triple jump over the weekend at the Catamount Classic. The freshman business major, who stood as one of four Buccaneer athletes to take home first-place nods at the meet, dominated the competition. Beaver took first-place finishes in both events. The Virginia Beach, Va. native won the long jump with a leap of 22-02.50 (6.77-meters), while recording a mark of 46-08.25 (14.23) in the triple jump.

Ryan Chastain, Lipscomb (Sr. - Distance - Mitchell, Ind. - Mechanical Engineering) – Chastain broke school's men's outdoor 5000-meter school record with a 14:34.97 mark (breaking David Curd's record from 1988 by 26 seconds) at the Alabama Relays in Tuscaloosa. The senior’s mark ranks first in the A-Sun for the 5000-meter run. Chastain has broken school records in seven different events for Lipscomb this year. The native of Mitchell, Ind. claimed the conference mile title and helped Lipscomb to the distance medley relay championhip during the 2010 indoor track season. 

Justin Crawford, USC Upstate (Jr. - Jumps - Elgin, S.C. - Nursing) – Crawford ranked as one of five competitors to post a mark of 14-11.00/4.55-meters in the pole vault at the Catamount Classic in Cullowhee, N.C. That mark sits as third best in school history and gives the junior nursing major four of the top-five marks in the record books. Crawford rates tied for the conference lead with the mark he recorded over the weekend.

David Dennison, USC Upstate (Fr. - Distance - Carlisle, Pa. - Business Administration) – In the men’s 1,500-meter run, Dennison posted a fifth-place finish at the Beynon Sports Surfaces Catamount Classic. The freshman’s time of 4:03.46 set a new program record and places him 12th-overall in the Atlantic Sun. In the 800-meter run, Dennison finished 10th as he crossed the line less than half a second ahead of Kenneth Rotich of ETSU. The criminal justice major posted a time of 1:59.97, which ranks 11th-best in the conference and also less than sixth-tenths away from setting a new school record

Joe Frye, Belmont (Jr. - Throws - Roscommon, Mich. - Music Business) – Frye only finished lower than third in one event during the two-day Vanderbilt Black and Gold Invitational over the weekend. Most, impressively, the Roscommon, Mich. native picked up the top spots in both the shot put (14.56-meters) and hammer throw (54.76-meters). Frye’s mark in the hammer stands as the best among Atlantic Sun throwers so far this season. The music business major also went on to take third in the javelin (44.57-meters) and fifth in the discus (44.45-meters) at the meet.