Wednesday, February 03, 2010

MACON, Ga. - Jacksonville’s Charlene Charles grabbed the Atlantic Sun field athlete of the week award with the ninth-best pentathlon performance in the nation this season. Kennesaw State’s Victoria Jackson earned the track award, breaking the school record in the 200-meter dash for the third consecutive week.

Jackson broke the school record she set last week in the 200 Meter Dash, finishing in eighth-place at the Jimmy Carnes Invitational in Gainesville, Fla., with a time of 25.56 seconds. It is the third time the College Park, Ga. native set a school record this season. Jackson also competed in the 55 Meter Dash, placing 14th with a time of 7.28 seconds.

Charles bested herself in her second colligate meet to lead the Dolphins at the Jimmy Carnes Invitational in Gainesville, Fla. The Alfortville, France native broke a JU record in the pentathlon for the second straight meet after producing personal best and NCAA provisional qualifying mark of 3,861 points. Charles recorded or tied personal bests in first-place finishes in the 55-meter hurdles (8.13), 800-meter (2:27.83) and high jump (5-7 (1.70m)). The freshman’s high jump also broke the school record she set at the Carol Robinson Pentathlon on Dec. 11. Charles finished the pentathlon, winning the long jump with a leap of 19-0.75 (5.81m). The pharmacy major improved in the long jump the next day by recording a leap of 19-10.75 (6.06m) to win the event again. The pentathlon score of 3,861 also ranks as the ninth-best in the nation this season and the best mark by a freshman in the 2009-10 campaign.

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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
Zachlynn Blackburn, ETSU (Sr. - Throws - Tazewell, Va. - Physical Education) – Blackburn continued her winning ways in the weight throw on Saturday afternoon at the Liberty Open. Fresh off her record-breaking performance in the event last weekend at the Niswonger Invitational, The Tazewell, Va. native won the weight throw with a heave of 54-04.75 (16.88). Blackburn’s mark was nine-feet better than James Madison’s Jessica Wade who finished second (46-04.75).

Joane Pierre, Jacksonville (Fr. - Distance - Immokalee, Fla. - Management) - Pierre picked up where she left off in the fall and produced a good showing on Sunday in her first collegiate indoor track meet at the Jimmy Carnes Invitational. The management major led the distance group by winning the mile with a time of 5:01.01. Pierre also placed sixth in the 800-meter after running a time of 2:19.17.

Unique Singleton, Jacksonville (Jr. - Sprints - Kissimee, Fla. - Management) – Singleton finished as the top collegian in the 200 (24.83, 3rd) and 400-meters (55.87, 4th) at the Jimmy Carnes Invitational on Jan. 31. These two times ranks first in the A-Sun. The Kissimee, Fla. native also ran a time of 7.26 in the 55-meter.

Jill Arthur, Kennesaw State (Jr. - Jumps - Gainesville, Ga. - Finance) – Arthur finished second in both the long jump and triple jump at the Jimmy Carnes Invitational at the University of Florida. The finance major’s triple jump distance of 12.38 meters (40-7.50) broke her own indoor school record of 12.12 meters (39-9). Arthur’s triple Jump marks the longest in the A-Sun so far this season.

Camille Masanotti, USC Upstate (Fr. - Sprints and Pole Vault - Ladson, S.C. - Psychology) – At the Clemson Games, Masanotti became the first USC Upstate Spartan to compete and clear a height in the pole vault. The Ladson, S.C. major finished eighth in the event as she posted the school-record height of 10-00.25 (3.06m). Masanotti, with a time of 9.55, also set a school-record in the 60-meter hurdles.