Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Oiler Opener
Marshall Concludes Season Opener at Findlay
12/3/2011 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
Dec. 3, 2011
FINDLAY, Ohio- Junior Vanessa Jules began the 2011-2012 Marshall track and field season with two first-place finishes on Saturday, as the Thundering Herd claimed four first-place wins at the Oiler Opener hosted by Findlay University.
Jules took first in the 300m dash (41.00) and high jump (1.72) events while also finishing second in the 60m hurdles to cap-off a bright start to the All-Conference USA performer's 2011-2012 season. The Silver Springs, Md., native also broke her own school record for the indoor 300m dash by .5 seconds, drawing the praise of Head Coach Jeff Small.
"I was very pleased with our performance this weekend," said Small. "Our squad is way ahead of where we were a year ago in all areas. The sprinters, hurdlers, jumpers, and throwers were all in mid-season form. Special congrats to Vanessa Jules for breaking her school record in the 300 meter."
Amber Pierson, who finished first in the 400m dash with a time of 1:00.28, and 2011 All-Conference USA member Jasia Richardson, who finished first in the triple jump with a total of 11.52m, were the other two members of the Herd to claim first place finishes in their respective events.
Other top-three performances included Delkira Maybin's second-place finish in the 60m dash (7.92), Loren Dyer's third-place finish in the 300m dash (41.68), and Hadassah Lynch's second-place finish in the 400m dash (1:00.44).
Thrower Elizabeth Barnhart, who opened the Herd's season in the weight throw event on Friday night, finished 10th, and the 4x400 relay A and B teams placed fourth and fifth, respectively.
"It was great for the girls to get a chance to go out and compete," said Assistant Coach Willie Johnson. "This being the first meet of the season, I saw some really nice things for us to build on heading into the spring."
The Herd will now take a month-long break before returning to indoor action at the Kentucky Invitational on January 13, in Lexington, Ky.
Players Mentioned
