Marshall University Athletics
Heptathlon Kicks Off C-USA Championships
5/8/2013 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
May 8, 2013
Championship Central | Complete Schedule
| Heat Sheets
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Marshall will begin competition at the Conference USA Track and Field Championships at 1 p.m. ET. on Thursday in Houston, Texas with Vanessa Jules and Shanice Johnsonin the heptathlon.
The Thundering Herd has an opportunity for its best finish and highest point total in its eight-year history in C-USA. Last season, Marshall tied its best finish, 11th and recorded a program-high 28 points.
Marshall has had recent success in the 10-event, two-day competition and a large part has had to do with the talents of Jules. The senior placed third in the event last season and was the runner-up in the pentathlon at the indoor championships in February. In 2011, Elaine Derricottwon the heptathlon, capturing Marshall's only outdoor C-USA title.
Johnson is one of five freshman in the 14 person field which wraps up on Friday.
Also on Friday is the hammer throw where Amanda Hottenstein, Carrie Corriell and Bethany Drury will compete for Marshall. The day concludes with the 10,000 meters where Celia Leonardis the Herd's lone entrant.
Saturday is the 3,000 meter steeplechase which includes Paige Govey, Kelley Mortakis and Lauren Bartoldson. The rest of the day's running events are preliminaries for Sunday's finals.
The women's long jump is at 5 p.m. on Saturday where Crystal Walker enters the event with a C-USA best mark of 6.35 meters. She is joined in the event by fellow senior Amber Piersonand Derricott. Also on that day, Drury and Corriell will compete in the discus.
Along with Walker, Marshall's best chance of taking home individual titles are in the triple jump with Jasia Richardson and the high jump with Vanessa Juleson Sunday. Both hold C-USA best marks, Richardson with a best of 12.92 meters and Jules at 1.82 meters.
Amanda Kennedythrows the javelin at 6 p.m. on Sunday and is ranked second in the event with a season-best of 48.23 meters. Of the running events, Marshall may have the best chance of scoring points in the 100 meter hurdles where Jules ranks seventh in the conference with a season-best of 13.68. However, she must qualify for Sunday's final at Saturday's prelims at 7:30 p.m.
The top eight of each event earn points for their team. There has been only three different team champions of the last nine C-USA meets. Houston won the championship from 2004-06, Rice won from 2007-09 and UCF has taken home the last three titles from 2010-12.
All events will take place at Rice University-Holloway Field.
Herd Notes
Best C-USA Finish: 11th (2008, 2010, 2012)
Most Points at C-USA: 28 (2012)
Past C-USA Champions: 1 (Elaine Derricott, Heptathlon, 2011)
Top Ranked in C-USA: Vanessa Jules, High Jump, 1.82m; Jasia Richardson, Triple Jump, 12.92m; Crystal Walker, Long Jump, 6.36m
Ranks in the East Region: 2. Crystal Walker, Long Jump, 6.35m; 9. Jasia Richardson, Triple Jump, 12.92m; 12. Amanda Kennedy, Javelin, 48.23m; 14. Vanessa Jules, High Jump, 1.82m; 41. Vanessa Jules, 100m Hurdles, 13.68
Ranks in the Nation: T-9. Crystal Walker, Long Jump, 6.35m; 18. Jasia Richardson, Triple Jump, 12.92m; 19. Vanessa Jules, Triple Jump, 1.82m; 27. Amanda Kennedy, Javelin, 48.23m
Players Mentioned
