Saturday, February 18, 2006

Johnson City, TN -- The final day of the 2006 Inaugural Atlantic Sun Track and Field Championship is in the record book as 22 events were contested Saturday at ETSU's Memorial Center.

Newcomer ETSU claimed its first A-Sun men's championship by a total of 37 points, outdistancing runner-up Campbell by a final count of 153-116. Jacksonville took the women's title with a 14 point margin over Florida Atlantic, 133-119.

Host ETSU rode a Saturday afternoon surge on the men's side to move from third place overnight spot into first. James Rainer, voted Most Outstanding Track Performer in the Championship, helped the Bucs with gold medals in the 60- and 200-meters.

Michael Wright, winner of the men's heptathlon, led all individuals in total points with 32, also scoring in the high jump (silver), 60 meter hurdles (silver), and the long jump (bronze). Buccaneer Head Coach Dave Walker received the Coach of the Year Award as voted by the A-Sun coaches.

In the women's competition, Jacksonville fought off an all day challenge from Florida Atlantic, retaining its team lead throughout the day. The Dolphins swept the individual honors, led by Janita Ocana, voted the Most Outstanding Track Performer and totaling 36.5 points overall. Ocana claimed four golds, winning the 60 meters, the 200 meters, the long jump, and running on the 4x400 relay for the first place Dolphins, as well as scoring in the triple jump with a fourth place finish.

The next highest individual total was 26 by Campbell's Tara Dressler. Shunisha McClinton earned the Most Outstanding Field Performer with a gold in the 20-pound weight throw and silver in the shot put. Freshman Natasha Harvey took the gold medal in the women's pentathlon and earned the Most Outstanding Freshman award, also claiming points in the long jump (silver) and the 60 meter hurdles (bronze). Head Coach Ron Grigg was voted Coach of the Year to complete the Dolphin sweep of the individual awards.

Campbell's Lincoln Gordon posted 30.5 points on his way to earning the Most Outstanding Field Performer on the men's side. Gordon took gold in the long jump and the triple jump, silver in the 200 meters, bronze with the 4x400 meter relay squad and added a sixth place spot in the 60 meters. Teammate David Bernabei, who finished third in heptathlon and second in the pole vault, claimed the Most Outstanding Freshman Performer.

The medalists in all events are recognized as All-Conference performers. Each of the winning marks established A-Sun Indoor Championship records in this inaugural championship meet.

All of the day's results can be found at www.cfptiming.com.

Men
1. ETSU - 153
2. Campbell - 116
3. Gardner-Webb - 110
4. Kennesaw State - 106
5. Belmont - 37
6. Lipscomb - 3

Women
1. Jacksonville - 133
2. Florida Atlantic - 119
3. Gardner-Webb - 63.33
4. Kennesaw State - 60.67
5. Campbell - 48
6. ETSU - 37
7. Belmont - 33
8. Lipscomb - 16
8. UNF - 16

Men's Awardees
Most Outstanding Freshman
David Bernabei, Campbell

Most Outstanding Track Performer
James Rainer, ETSU

Most Outstanding Field Performer
Lincoln Gordon, Campbell

Men's Coach of the Year
Dave Walker, ETSU

Women's Awardees
Most Outstanding Freshman
Natasha Harvey, Jacksonville

Most Outstanding Track Performer
Janita Ocana, Jacksonville

Most Outstanding Field Performer
Shunisha McClinton, Jacksonville

Women's Coach of the Year
Ron Grigg, Jacksonville