Courtesy of WKU Athletics
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Track & Field saw major personal bests across the board in
its final weekend of the regular season, with most of the team competing at the
Samford Bulldog Invite at the Birmingham Crossplex on Friday. A select few distance
runners also competed on Friday and Saturday at Vanderbilt’s Music City Challenge as
Savannah Heckman ran the fifth-fastest indoor 5k time in school history at the
exclusive meet.
Across the board, WKU had eight top-five finishes including two event titles. Ajla
Basic won the women’s weight throw with a PR of 17.78m (58′ 4″) while Kaison Barton
recorded an indoor shot put PR of 16.78m (55′ 0.75″) to win the event.
“The meet went very well for the throwers and a few other athletes,” said Director
of Cross County/Track & Field Brent Chumbley. “Almost all throwers had PRs today,
with the biggest being Brett (Brannon) finally breaking the 18-meter barrier in the
weight. Kaison had a good indoor PR in the shotput to win that event, and Ajla won
the women’s weight throw with a PR as well. We competed very well as a group and got
stronger during the competition.”
Brannon’s 18-meter-plus throw in the weight throw was good for second while John
Elam placed second in shot put and fifth in weight throw, with a PR in the latter.
In pole vault, Grace Turner finished second after clearing 3.66 meters while Devon
Montgomery finished fourth in the men’s event with a mark of 4.52 meters.
On the running side of the Bulldog Invite, mid-distance runner Elyssa Toal logged a
personal best time of 2:21.22 in the 800-meter race and finished 16th. Zackery
Martinez also improved his PR by nearly a second in the 400 to 50.32. Trey Kraimer
and Collin Pruitt also shaved off time on their PRs in the 800 and mile,
respectively.
“Grace and Devon jumped very well today even if the results show an average day,”
added Chumbley. “On the track, I think we had two big standout performances. Both
Zack and Elyssa had major PRs in their events and have been improving throughout the
season. Everyone is looking to carry this momentum into next weekend. I’m very
excited about the throws and jumps group headed into conference.”
At Vanderbilt’s Music City Challenge, Dedrick Troxell posted the fifth-fastest mile
in the conference at 4:08.89, a new personal best for the runner. Clint Sherman also
posted a PR in the event at 4:14.47. He turned around to compete again Saturday
morning and recorded another PR in the 3k.
Heckman’s 5k time of 16:45.61 is not only a new personal best by 19 seconds and the
fifth-fastest time in program history but is the fastest by any C-USA female this
season by 48 seconds.
“Coming to the Music City Challenge serves as a pivotal moment for WKU’s distance
group as this isn’t a meet we’ve been able to qualify athletes for in the past,”
said assistant coach Brooks LeCompte. “I’m proud of these young men and women for
buying in and staying committed because their hard work is paying off. Clint and
Dedrick kicked it off with mile PRs while having the best closing 400 meters they’ve
had all season which should have them ready for C-USAs. Savannah then ran the
fifth-fastest 5k in school history with a 19-second PR and a great finish in a
highly competitive field. Clint came back for another race less than 24 hours later
with a 3k PR in the morning session.”
WKU Track & Field now has a week of preparation before wrapping up the team indoor
season at the Conference USA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Birmingham on
Saturday and Sunday.
Vanderbilt Results
Mile
28th – Dedrick Troxell – 4:08.89*
49th – Clint Sherman – 4:14.47*
3,000m Women
42nd – Lucy Rutherford – 10:37.52
3,000m Men
20th – Clint Sherman – 8:27.26*
5,000m
16th – Savannah Heckman – 16:45.61* – fifth-fastest indoor women’s 5k in program
history
Samford Women’s Results
Shot Put
9th – Ines Lopez Arias – 11.54m (37′ 10.5″)
Weight Throw
1st – Ajla Basic – 17.78m (58′ 4″)*
3rd – Aitana Safont Falomir – 17.40m (57′ 1″)*
6th – Ines Lopez Arias – 15.76m (51′ 8.5″)
Pole Vault
2nd – Grace Turner – 3.66m (12′)
11th – Nikki Ogorek – 3.21m (10′ 6.25″)
Allison Ferguson – NH
Heather Gaughran – NH
Long Jump
6th – Samyzia Sears – 5.49m (18′ 0.25″)
High Jump
7th – Allison Arnett – 1.58m (5′ 2.25″)
60m Hurdles
Samyzia Sears – DNF
800m
16th – Elyssa Toal – 2:21.22*
27th – Madeline Powell – 2:30.54
Abigail Green – DNF
Mile
22nd – Jenna Vaughn – 5:29.24
Samford Men’s Results
Shot Put
1st – Kaison Barton – 16.78m (55′ 0.75″)
2nd – John Elam – 15.57m (51′ 1″)
Weight Throw
2nd – Brett Brannon – 18.07m (59′ 3.5″)*
5th – John Elam – 16.63m (54′ 6.75″)*
6th – Kaison Barton – 16.50m (54′ 1.75″)*
8th – Joel Dittoe – 15.73m (51′ 7.25″)
Pole Vault
4th – Devon Montgomery – 4.52m (14′ 10″)
60m
30th – Steven Simmons – 7.17
33rd – Gabriel Dozier – 7.22
60m Hurdles
10th – Cedric Johnson – 8.58
200m
10th – Gabriel Dozier – 22.12
24th – Steven Simmons – 22.97
400m
11th – Zackery Martinez – 50.32*
800m
16th – Trey Kraimer – 1:57.45*
18th – Jordan Eddy – 1:59.36
Mile
20th – Keegan Barnette – 4:30.96
22nd – Collin Pruitt – 4:33.68*
