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Photo by: Dave Brandsma
Racers Provide Thrills In OVC Championship Final
5/13/2017 8:39:00 PM | Women's Track and Field
The Murray State Racers saved the best for last when the 2017 Ohio Valley Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championship wrapped up Saturday at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Alabama.
In the three-day event, the Racers set 21 season bests, recorded 18 top-10 finishes, including 10 top-5 finishes.
Among the big story lines on the final day of competition, MSU's Tamdra Lawrence set personal records in the 100 and 200 meter events in trying to be OVC champion in back-to-back seasons. Lawrence won the 100 meter title, but came up short and placed second in the 200 meter event. Jabruena Brimlett set the MSU record in the 100 meter hurdles and took second place.
The Racers placed fourth in the field of 12Â OVC teams, which marks their best finish since 2013Â when they placed second, while MSU head coach Jenny Swieton was named OVC Coach of the Year.
"It was a very good few days for our team," Swieton said. "Our kids really know how to come together when it counts and compete. I always say, all you can give is all we can ask for and everyone competing this weekend did that. It will not always workout for everyone, but that is why you have a team. If everyone gives their all, some are going to hit big and we did that at the OVC. It was a great day to be a Racer!"
2017 OVC Outdoor Championship
Eastern Illinois 128 points
Tennessee State 102
Tennessee Tech 91
Murray State 89.5
Austin Peay 87.3
Eastern Kentucky 87
Jacksonville State 75.3
Southeast Missouri State 70
SIU Edwardsville 47.3
Belmont 27.5
UT Martin 13
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Here is the scoop on how day two at the OVC Championship went for the Racers.
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Sprints
Sophomore Tamdra Lawrence was going for back-to-back seasons of winning the OVC 100 and 200 meter dash. She got the job done in taking the 100 meters with a time of 11.51, which was her best time of the season. She becomes the fifth OVC runner to win the 100 title in back-to-back seasons since records started in 1979. She becomes the third Racer to do and first since Alexis Love was a two-time champion in 2012 and 2013. Here are the all-time Murray State winners in the OVC 100 meters, including MSU Hall of Famer Heather Samuel who is still the only runner in OVC history to win it in three-straight seasons.
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Murray State OVC 100 Meter Champions
1985 Maxine Best, MUR 11.89
1991 Felicia Upton, MUR 12.18
1992 Heather Samuel, MUR 11.81
1993 Heather Samuel, MUR 11.91
1994 Heather Samuel, MUR 11.00
2012 Alexis Love, MUR 11.28
2016 Tamdra Lawrence, MUR 11.81
2017 Tamdra Lawrence, MUR 11.51
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A while later, Lawrence was in the finals of the 200 meters a 23.26. However, Tennessee Tech's Naasha Robinson was a little faster and won the event with a
time of 23.13. MSU's Norma Abdur-Rafia was also involved in the finals of the 200 meters and placed sixth with a time of 24.23.
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After they finished second and third in the Heptathlon, Jabreuna Brimlett and Taylor McCammon had good showings in the 100 meter hurdles on the final day of the OVC. Brimlett set the MSU record and placed second with a time of 13.22, just behind the 13.12 that Tennessee Tech's Amber Hughes recorded to be the champion. Brimlett's run bested the 2013 MSU record of 13.53 by Sharda Bettis. McCammon placed fifth with a time of 14.25.
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Middle Distance
MSU's Norma Abdur-Rafia had her PR when she placed third in the 400 meter run with a time of 55.84. D'Myia Thornton and Anna Curlin each set their season best at 47.91 and 58:06, but didn't qualify for the final.
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Ali Hester had her season best and was MSU's top finisher in the 1500 meters with a ninth place finish with a time of 4:39.06. Mason Swenson placed 19th at 4:55.43.
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Jocelyn Payne and Taylor Adcock each set their PR in the finals of the 400 meter hurdles. Payne placed second at 1:01.44 just behind champion, Miya Dorsey of Southeast Missouri at 1:00.25. Adcock was a 15th place finisher with a time of 1:05.99.
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Distance
The Racers had a trio of runners performed well in the 3000 meter Steeplechase on Friday as they placed sixth through eighth place. Rebekah Priddy had a time of 11:10.33 for a spot in sixth place with a time that was inside eight seconds from her 2016 performance, which is third all-time at MSU. Freshman Mason Swenson was seventh at 11:18.54 and Ali Hester was ninth at 11:27.93.
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Meagan Smith led MSU with a 12th place finish in the 5000 meter run with a time of 18:12.38. Rebekah Priddy placed 20th at 18:50.86.
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On Friday, Smith placed 11th in the 10,000 meter run with a time of 38:27 after leading the race for four miles. Emily Flaherty placed 17th with a time of 39:52. The Racers third competitor was a 19th place finish from Carolina Grogan at 40:10.
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Field Events
Jabreuna Brimlett and Taylor McCammon placed sixth and seventh in the long jump. Brimlett had a leap of 19-feet 1.25-inches, while McCammon was 18-feet 7.25-inches. Tennessee State's Amber Hughes was the champion at 20-feet 8.50-inches. Brimlett placed 10th in the triple jump at 38-feet 8.1-inches. TSU's Hughes was the winner at 44-feet 4.28-inches.
Chleo LeGrand led the way for the Racers with a sixth place showing in the pole vault with a jump of 10-feet 8.25-inches, while Yasmine Homa placed eighth at 10-feet 2.5-inches. The OVC champion was Austin Peay's Savannah Amato at 12-feet 8-inches.
Hope Tewes was MSU's top finisher in the high jump with an effort of 5-feet 1-inch for a spot in 13th place. Haleigh Knapp of Eastern Illinois was the OVC champion at 5-feet 9.25-inches.
Kristen Higgins had a PR to place seventh in the javelin with a throw of 122-feet 5.29-inches.
In the shot put, MSU's Jewel Wagner and Destiny Carey placed 12th and 13th each with a throw of 40-feet 6.22-inches. Byrn Buckwalter of Eastern Illinois was the winner at 49-feet 11.21-inches.
Rachel Gootee was 16th as MSU's top finisher in the hammer throw at 126-feet 11.6-inches. Jacksonville State's Marelly Ballentina was the winner at 140-feet 1.1-inches.
Relays
The Racers had the top time in the OVC as they lined up for the 4x100 relay and bested it with a time of 45.85. However, TTU was a little better in taking the OVC title at 45.78 in what was a near photo finish. The MSU team consisted of Taylor McCammon, Norma Abdur-Rafia, Jocelyn Payne and Tamdra Lawrence.
Payne and Abdur-Rafia joined Hilary McAdam and D'Myia Thornton to place third in the 4x400 relay with a time of 3:48.11. Tennessee State was the winner at 3:41.85.
Heptathlon
Jabreuna Brimlett sat on the lead of the Heptathlon overnight, and ended up placing second with 4,932 points, just behind SIUE's Lauren White who had 5,001 points. It all came down to the 800 meter run, where Brimlett ran a 2:33.68 to place third, but it wasn't enough to overtake White. MSU's Taylor McCammon also had a great Heptathlon and placed third with 4,629 points. The Racer duo were trying to become the first in school history to claim the OVC title. Brimlett becomes the new all-time points leader in the Heptathlon with 4,932 points as she topped the 4,663 points LaShea Shaw produced in 2015.
In the three-day event, the Racers set 21 season bests, recorded 18 top-10 finishes, including 10 top-5 finishes.
Among the big story lines on the final day of competition, MSU's Tamdra Lawrence set personal records in the 100 and 200 meter events in trying to be OVC champion in back-to-back seasons. Lawrence won the 100 meter title, but came up short and placed second in the 200 meter event. Jabruena Brimlett set the MSU record in the 100 meter hurdles and took second place.
The Racers placed fourth in the field of 12Â OVC teams, which marks their best finish since 2013Â when they placed second, while MSU head coach Jenny Swieton was named OVC Coach of the Year.
"It was a very good few days for our team," Swieton said. "Our kids really know how to come together when it counts and compete. I always say, all you can give is all we can ask for and everyone competing this weekend did that. It will not always workout for everyone, but that is why you have a team. If everyone gives their all, some are going to hit big and we did that at the OVC. It was a great day to be a Racer!"
2017 OVC Outdoor Championship
Eastern Illinois 128 points
Tennessee State 102
Tennessee Tech 91
Murray State 89.5
Austin Peay 87.3
Eastern Kentucky 87
Jacksonville State 75.3
Southeast Missouri State 70
SIU Edwardsville 47.3
Belmont 27.5
UT Martin 13
Â
Here is the scoop on how day two at the OVC Championship went for the Racers.
Â
Sprints
Sophomore Tamdra Lawrence was going for back-to-back seasons of winning the OVC 100 and 200 meter dash. She got the job done in taking the 100 meters with a time of 11.51, which was her best time of the season. She becomes the fifth OVC runner to win the 100 title in back-to-back seasons since records started in 1979. She becomes the third Racer to do and first since Alexis Love was a two-time champion in 2012 and 2013. Here are the all-time Murray State winners in the OVC 100 meters, including MSU Hall of Famer Heather Samuel who is still the only runner in OVC history to win it in three-straight seasons.
Â
Murray State OVC 100 Meter Champions
1985 Maxine Best, MUR 11.89
1991 Felicia Upton, MUR 12.18
1992 Heather Samuel, MUR 11.81
1993 Heather Samuel, MUR 11.91
1994 Heather Samuel, MUR 11.00
2012 Alexis Love, MUR 11.28
2016 Tamdra Lawrence, MUR 11.81
2017 Tamdra Lawrence, MUR 11.51
Â
A while later, Lawrence was in the finals of the 200 meters a 23.26. However, Tennessee Tech's Naasha Robinson was a little faster and won the event with a
time of 23.13. MSU's Norma Abdur-Rafia was also involved in the finals of the 200 meters and placed sixth with a time of 24.23.Â
After they finished second and third in the Heptathlon, Jabreuna Brimlett and Taylor McCammon had good showings in the 100 meter hurdles on the final day of the OVC. Brimlett set the MSU record and placed second with a time of 13.22, just behind the 13.12 that Tennessee Tech's Amber Hughes recorded to be the champion. Brimlett's run bested the 2013 MSU record of 13.53 by Sharda Bettis. McCammon placed fifth with a time of 14.25.
Â
Middle Distance
MSU's Norma Abdur-Rafia had her PR when she placed third in the 400 meter run with a time of 55.84. D'Myia Thornton and Anna Curlin each set their season best at 47.91 and 58:06, but didn't qualify for the final.
Â
Ali Hester had her season best and was MSU's top finisher in the 1500 meters with a ninth place finish with a time of 4:39.06. Mason Swenson placed 19th at 4:55.43.
Â
Jocelyn Payne and Taylor Adcock each set their PR in the finals of the 400 meter hurdles. Payne placed second at 1:01.44 just behind champion, Miya Dorsey of Southeast Missouri at 1:00.25. Adcock was a 15th place finisher with a time of 1:05.99.
Â
Distance
The Racers had a trio of runners performed well in the 3000 meter Steeplechase on Friday as they placed sixth through eighth place. Rebekah Priddy had a time of 11:10.33 for a spot in sixth place with a time that was inside eight seconds from her 2016 performance, which is third all-time at MSU. Freshman Mason Swenson was seventh at 11:18.54 and Ali Hester was ninth at 11:27.93.
Â
Meagan Smith led MSU with a 12th place finish in the 5000 meter run with a time of 18:12.38. Rebekah Priddy placed 20th at 18:50.86.
Â
On Friday, Smith placed 11th in the 10,000 meter run with a time of 38:27 after leading the race for four miles. Emily Flaherty placed 17th with a time of 39:52. The Racers third competitor was a 19th place finish from Carolina Grogan at 40:10.
Â
Field Events
Jabreuna Brimlett and Taylor McCammon placed sixth and seventh in the long jump. Brimlett had a leap of 19-feet 1.25-inches, while McCammon was 18-feet 7.25-inches. Tennessee State's Amber Hughes was the champion at 20-feet 8.50-inches. Brimlett placed 10th in the triple jump at 38-feet 8.1-inches. TSU's Hughes was the winner at 44-feet 4.28-inches.
Chleo LeGrand led the way for the Racers with a sixth place showing in the pole vault with a jump of 10-feet 8.25-inches, while Yasmine Homa placed eighth at 10-feet 2.5-inches. The OVC champion was Austin Peay's Savannah Amato at 12-feet 8-inches.
Hope Tewes was MSU's top finisher in the high jump with an effort of 5-feet 1-inch for a spot in 13th place. Haleigh Knapp of Eastern Illinois was the OVC champion at 5-feet 9.25-inches.
Kristen Higgins had a PR to place seventh in the javelin with a throw of 122-feet 5.29-inches.
In the shot put, MSU's Jewel Wagner and Destiny Carey placed 12th and 13th each with a throw of 40-feet 6.22-inches. Byrn Buckwalter of Eastern Illinois was the winner at 49-feet 11.21-inches.
Rachel Gootee was 16th as MSU's top finisher in the hammer throw at 126-feet 11.6-inches. Jacksonville State's Marelly Ballentina was the winner at 140-feet 1.1-inches.
Relays
The Racers had the top time in the OVC as they lined up for the 4x100 relay and bested it with a time of 45.85. However, TTU was a little better in taking the OVC title at 45.78 in what was a near photo finish. The MSU team consisted of Taylor McCammon, Norma Abdur-Rafia, Jocelyn Payne and Tamdra Lawrence.
Payne and Abdur-Rafia joined Hilary McAdam and D'Myia Thornton to place third in the 4x400 relay with a time of 3:48.11. Tennessee State was the winner at 3:41.85.
Heptathlon
Jabreuna Brimlett sat on the lead of the Heptathlon overnight, and ended up placing second with 4,932 points, just behind SIUE's Lauren White who had 5,001 points. It all came down to the 800 meter run, where Brimlett ran a 2:33.68 to place third, but it wasn't enough to overtake White. MSU's Taylor McCammon also had a great Heptathlon and placed third with 4,629 points. The Racer duo were trying to become the first in school history to claim the OVC title. Brimlett becomes the new all-time points leader in the Heptathlon with 4,932 points as she topped the 4,663 points LaShea Shaw produced in 2015.
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