Friday, May 11, 2007

Johnson City, Tenn. – The pack atop the team leaderboard turned into a tight race late into Day 1 as just one point separates Gardner-Webb, ETSU, and Jacksonville at the 2007 Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships being held at the Sidney Smallwood Track in Johnson City, Tenn.

The day began with the heptathlon where Jacksonville’s Tiffany Bromfield pulled out to an early lead through four events; by managing to finish in the top half of the field in each event. Bromfield earned a second place finish in both the 100-meter hurdles and the shot put, while also picking up third-place finishes in each the high jump and 200-meter dash.

When the rest of the field began competition at 2:00 p.m., ETSU picked up a quick 14 points with Zachlynn Blackburn earned the first of her two individual titles in the hammer throw. Blackburn posted a mark of 46.09 meters in the event, topping Gardner-Webb’s Elizabeth Maxwell by just over one half meter. Her winning ways continued late into the first day’s events, when Maxwell earned top honors in the discus. Maxwell won the event by nearly two meters over teammate Brooke Berarducci. Combined the Buccaneers collected 19 of their 34 points in the event.

The Bucs were not alone, however, as Gardner-Webb and Jacksonville made quick work of the leaderboard.

GWU earned 18 of the 28 awarded points in the pole vault, finished with Kelly Bridges, Merissa Hawkins and Victoria Argus finishing 2-3-4, respectively.

Jacksonville made its jump with a 22-point showing in the long jump. Natasha Harvey won the event and was followed by Janita Ocana in second and Shaquania Lundy in fourth.

Entering the final event of the day, four points separated the three teams, but Jacksonville was the only one to capture any points in the 10,000-meter run as North Florida’s Amanda Davey and Sarah Coghlan finished first and six, respectively, to earn 11 points.

At the conclusion of the first day, Gardner Webb sits in first with 34 points, followed by Jacksonville (33), ETSU (33), Belmont (18), Campbell (12), North Florida (12), Kennesaw State (8), and Lipscomb (2).

Day 2 action of the 2007 Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship is set to begin at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday when the heptathlon athletes compete in the long jump. For complete cover of the event, visit the Women’s Championship Page at www.atlanticsun.org.