Track and field competes against loaded field
April 9, 2013
The Georgia Southern University track and field team competed against a loaded field that included six nationally ranked women’s teams at the 69th annual Pepsi Florida Relays over the weekend.
“Competing at a national meet like this one helps our student-athletes understand where we need to go, especially as we are going up against more established programs,” head coach Marlo Mincey said in a news release.
The increased level of the competition seemed to bring out the best in the Eagles as they turned in some of their best results of the outdoor season.
Sophomore Jasmin Walker, senior Ebony Carter, junior Aarian Tipton and freshman Alyssa Felton teamed up in the 4×200 meter relay and broke the school record in the event.
Their final time of 1:36.91 (12th) is now first in GSU’s record books and replaces the previous record of 1:38.94, which had stood since 2005.
Senior Amber Vaughn joined Walker, Carter and Felton in the 4×100 meter relay and captured the school’s best time since 2007 at 45.72 seconds (12th).
After shuffling the relay teams in the past few weeks, Mincey was able to find the right mix but still expects better results.
“The relays did really well. We had the right teams out there, but we didn’t have a perfect race,” Mincey said in a news release. “I think we can run faster, and that’s what we are going to try and do.”
In the long jump, Felton achieved her best result of the outdoor season with a jump of 5.83m (19’1.5”, -1.5 wind) and landed in 11th place.
Senior Jasmine Billings improved her season-best time in the 100-meter hurdles by shaving off .02 seconds and finishing in 14.77 seconds (+2.4 wind).
In the 100-meter dash, Carter represented the Eagles and finished in 11.88 seconds (+3.0 wind), which placed her in the top-30 of more than 60 participants.
The Eagles will have a week off to continue training before hosting the Southern Conference Outdoor Championships on April 20 at the Eagle Track and Field Complex at Erk Russell Athletic Park.
Mincey said in a news release, “As we get ready for championships, we are going to be sharpening things up, making sure we are technically sound and mentally focused.”
