Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Track and Field Wraps Up Thundering Herd Invitational
1/28/2017 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
Photo Gallery | Full Meet Results (PDF)
HUNTINGTON, W.Va.-The Marshall University track and field team completed the 2017 Thundering Herd Invitational on Saturday at the Jeff Small Track at the Chris Cline Athletic Complex. Herd athletes took one win, broke one school record, and took numerous top-20 finishes.
Hometown freshman Safiyyah Mitchell (Huntington, W.Va.) took home her first collegiate victory as she won the 60 meter hurdles with a time of 8.64 seconds. Senior Danielle Wright also qualified for the finals in the event, and finished fifth with a time of 8.90 seconds.
Senior Andrea Porter is the latest school record breaker for the women's track and field team. She finished second in her section and 15th overall in the one mile run, as she ran in 5:06.99. This time breaks the record held by Marian Brooks (5:07.03) set in 2007. This is now the eighth school record broken or tied by a Thundering Herd athlete this season.
In the triple jump, senior Antonique Butler finished second with a long mark of 40 ft., 4.25 in. (12.30m). She was followed shortly by sophomore Melany Belot who finished fifth with a jump of 39 ft., 1 in. (11.91m), and freshman Denisha West who finished seventh with a jump of 38 ft., 5 in., (11.71m).
Seniors Kametra Byrd and Hope Julmiste both qualified for the 60m dash finals with over 45 runners competing in the preliminaries. Byrd finished seventh in the finals with a time of 7.71 seconds, and Julmiste finished eighth with a time of 7.72 seconds.
Sophomore Elena Marchand finished eighth in the shot put with a longest mark of 46 feet, 7.25 inches (14.20m). Freshman Ericka Budd finished 14th with a mark of 40 ft., 9.50 in. (12.43m), and sophomore Whitney McAtee finished in 17th with a mark of 39 ft., 5 in.
A day after competing in the heptathlon, in the high jump, sophomore Sarah Bever finished eighth with a mark of 5 ft., 5 in. (1.65m). Freshman Torie Derrow finished tied for 14th with a jump of 5 ft., 3 in. (1.60m).
Freshman Danere'a White led Marshall runners in the 400m run with a time of 57.22, finishing ninth. Freshman Christiana Dougan finished 19th (58.31), and junior Breanna Hargrove finished 20th (58.34).
Junior Barkley Castro finished ninth in the 800m with a time of 2:16.67.
In the 200m dash, Safiyyah Mitchell followed up her 60m hurdles victory with an 11th place finish (25.22 sec). Senior Kametra Byrd finished 15th with a time of 25.44.
QUOTES CORNER
Head Coach Jeff Small on the meet
"It was a terrific meet. It's great to see new records in the distances. Our triple jumpers were outstanding, our 4x400 team had another great day. Our athletes in the heptathlon were great, and our sprinters did great, with Safiyyah winning the 60 meter hurdles. We had good training this week, and we'll keep training well this week and we look forward to keep pushing the sled uphill."
Freshman Safiyyah Mitchell on her day
"I had two PR's, and I won the 60m hurdles so I am proud of that. Our team did a great job today, and I'm excited for the rest of this season and am very happy."
Senior Andrea Porter on her performance
"I've been chasing after this record ever since I came to Marshall, so to get it today on the home track with my friends, teammates, and family here meant the world to me. I'm so blessed to be able to run for this school, and I can't wait to see what the rest of this season is like."
NON-HERD NOTABLES
Appalachian State's Phillip Thomas won the men's pole vault and set a meet record with a mark of 4.90m (16ft 0.75in).
Florida International's Clarissa Cutliff set a meet and facility record with her win in the women's high jump with a mark of 5 feet, 10.75 inches.
Alysiah Whittaker from Georgia State won the women's shot put with a mark of 15.87m (52 ft., 1 in.) and set a meet record.
Charlotte Imer of Eastern Kentucky won the women's one mile and set a facility and meet record with a time of 4:52.40.
Meet and facility records were broken in both the men's and women's 60m dash. James Myers of Charlotte won the men's race with a time of 6.74 seconds. Agata Forkasiewicz of Toledo won the women's race with a time of 7.30. Forkasiewicz then would break the track record in the 200m with a time of 24.08.
Florida International's nationally ranked 200m runner Alton Eliphar won the race and set a new track record of 21.28 sec.
UP NEXT
Marshall returns to action next weekend at the Akron Invitational on Friday and Saturday. In two weeks, the team will host another home meet with the Chipotle Marshall Invitational taking place on February 11-12. Follow the team on Twitter @HerdTFXC for more all season long. #OneHerd
--HerdZone.com--
