Murray State University Athletics
Friday, February 10
Bloomington, Ind.
Murray State
at
Hoosier Hills Invite (Indiana)
Photo by: Fred Mullane
Racers Have Strong Showing at Hoosier Hills Invitational
2/11/2012 12:14:00 PM | Women's Track and Field
Results
The Murray State women's track and field team had a strong showing at the Hoosier Hills Invitational in the final meet before the Racers head to the Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Championships (Feb. 24-25).
In a meet that included several teams from the Big 10 and OVC, as well as teams from every level of the NCAA track & field, MSU produced 14 top-10 finishes, eight top-5 awards and eight personal-bests.
"I am really happy with this weekend," said head coach Jenny Severns. "We had some great performances. Tonia has a great day in the weight throw and coach Duncan threw a personal best in the shot put."
Freshman Tonia Pratt claimed the top finish for the Racers, claiming second in the weight throw. The Michigan City, Mich., native landed a personal-best throw of 16.94m (55'7”), over .50m longer than her previous high of 16.29m (53'3.5”). Pratt also earned a ninth-place finish in the shot put, with a throw of 12.62m (41'5”).
Junior Alexis Love also earned a second-place finish for the Racers. The Palmetto, Fla., native finished the prelims in a time of 7.58 and then was second in the finals with a time of 7.63. Sophomore Sharda Bettis finished fourth in the same event with a time of 7.93. Freshman LaShae Shaw then took fifth in the 60, with an 8.00 time in the finals and a personal-best time of 7.94 in the prelims.
Bettis followed her fourth-place finish in the 60 by claiming second in the 60 hurdles. The Dallas, Texas, native recorded a time of 8.86, just shy of the school record of 8.75 set in 1993 by Val Lemoignan.
Senior Christina Johnson finished the 400 in a career-best time of 57.76, good for third place.
Freshman Halie Holloway then added a fifth-place mark in the triple jump. The Elizabethtown, Ky., native cleared 10.60m (34'9.5”).
The final top-5 finish came as a group effort in the 4x400 relay. Sophomores Bettis and Katie Forshey and seniors Johnson and Amber Mills combined for a 3:56.68 finish, good for fourth. The time was the second-best for an MSU group this season.
The Racers will now have two weeks to prepare for the OVC Indoor Championships, Feb. 24-25 in Nashville, Tenn. A year ago MSU finished seventh at the meet that this year will be hosted by Tennessee State.
Note: Assistant Coach Ashley Duncan also competed in the meet as an individual and claimed first place in the shot put. Her throw of 17.57m (57'7.75") was not only a personal best, but it was also a World B standard. The mark is currently the fifth-best in the USA.
The Murray State women's track and field team had a strong showing at the Hoosier Hills Invitational in the final meet before the Racers head to the Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Championships (Feb. 24-25).
In a meet that included several teams from the Big 10 and OVC, as well as teams from every level of the NCAA track & field, MSU produced 14 top-10 finishes, eight top-5 awards and eight personal-bests.
"I am really happy with this weekend," said head coach Jenny Severns. "We had some great performances. Tonia has a great day in the weight throw and coach Duncan threw a personal best in the shot put."
Freshman Tonia Pratt claimed the top finish for the Racers, claiming second in the weight throw. The Michigan City, Mich., native landed a personal-best throw of 16.94m (55'7”), over .50m longer than her previous high of 16.29m (53'3.5”). Pratt also earned a ninth-place finish in the shot put, with a throw of 12.62m (41'5”).
Junior Alexis Love also earned a second-place finish for the Racers. The Palmetto, Fla., native finished the prelims in a time of 7.58 and then was second in the finals with a time of 7.63. Sophomore Sharda Bettis finished fourth in the same event with a time of 7.93. Freshman LaShae Shaw then took fifth in the 60, with an 8.00 time in the finals and a personal-best time of 7.94 in the prelims.
Bettis followed her fourth-place finish in the 60 by claiming second in the 60 hurdles. The Dallas, Texas, native recorded a time of 8.86, just shy of the school record of 8.75 set in 1993 by Val Lemoignan.
Senior Christina Johnson finished the 400 in a career-best time of 57.76, good for third place.
Freshman Halie Holloway then added a fifth-place mark in the triple jump. The Elizabethtown, Ky., native cleared 10.60m (34'9.5”).
The final top-5 finish came as a group effort in the 4x400 relay. Sophomores Bettis and Katie Forshey and seniors Johnson and Amber Mills combined for a 3:56.68 finish, good for fourth. The time was the second-best for an MSU group this season.
The Racers will now have two weeks to prepare for the OVC Indoor Championships, Feb. 24-25 in Nashville, Tenn. A year ago MSU finished seventh at the meet that this year will be hosted by Tennessee State.
Note: Assistant Coach Ashley Duncan also competed in the meet as an individual and claimed first place in the shot put. Her throw of 17.57m (57'7.75") was not only a personal best, but it was also a World B standard. The mark is currently the fifth-best in the USA.
| Racers Hoosier Hills Invitational Results | |||
| Athlete | Event | Time/Distance | Finish |
| LaShea Shaw | Long Jump | 5.17m (16'11.5") | 8th |
| Ashley Conway | Long Jump | 5.04m (16'6.5") | 11th |
| Sharda Bettis | Long Jump | 5.01m (16'5.25") | 13th |
| Lexie Barr | Pole Vault | 3.20m (10'6") | 10th |
| Katie Forshey | High Jump | 1.61m (5'3.25") | 16th |
| Ashley Conway | High Jump | 1.56m (5'1.25") | 20th |
| LaShea Shaw | High Jump | 1.56m (5'1.25") | 9th |
| Addie Paris | Shot Put | 11.88m (38'11.75") | 12th |
| Ashley Conway | Shot Put | *11.31m (37'1.25") | 18th |
| LaShea Shaw | 60 Hurdles | 9.06q/9.36 | 6th |
| Sydney Potts | 60 Hurdles | *9.79 | |
| Abbie Oliver | 800 | 2:27.34 | 30th |
| Natalie Pattin | 800 | 2:24.33 | 38th |
| Abblie Oliver | Mile | *5:14.43 | 20th |
| Anne Jablinski | 3,000 | 10:38.40 | 22nd |
| Kayla Crusham | 3,000 | *10:45.76 | 28th |
| Anna Grimes | 3,000 | *10:47.94 | 29th |
| Amber Mills | 400 | 59.43 | 8th |
| *=Personal Best | |||
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