Carrollton, Ga. - The Columbus State University track and field team competed at the University of West Georgia's Legends Invitational on Saturday, April 1. The Legends Invite was postponed due to lightning and tornado warnings, but once the meet kicked off at 11:30 a.m. the Cougars didn't disappoint.
The men's team dominated the meet, scoring 118 points and placing first out of 18 teams. The Lady Cougars scored 76 points and placed second out of 18 teams.
Men's Field Events
In the men's pole vault, Alexander Kendall took first place, clearing a height of 4.42m (14'06). Matthew Pfledderer placed fifth and Mason Thomas placed sixth, clearing a height of 4.11m (13'05.75). Donovan Stone placed seventh (3.96m) and Jack Decker took eighth (3.51m).
In the shot put, freshman Brandon Akers placed fourth with a throw of 13.62m (44'08.25) and Tereil Mitchum finished fifth, throwing 13.61m (44'08).
In the men's hammer, Mitchum finished in third place with a throw of 40.18m (131'10), Olatunde and Luke Herron tied for sixth place, each throwing the hammer 36.53m (119'10).
Justin Love placed fifth in the javelin, throwing 41.13m (134'11) and freshman Collin McKinnon was close behind with a throw of 40.77m (133'09).
Kevin Wood placed ninth in the men's long jump, jumping 6.27m (20'07)
Men's Track Events
Aiden Rush was the leading man for the Cougars in the men's 5k placing sixth and running a time of 15:51.79. Nicholas Phillips finished in ninth with a time of 16:02.37. There were 37 athletes entered in this men's 5k.
In the men's 1500m run, Blake Lewis beat the field by five seconds, crossing the line first with a time of 4:00.07. Savian Taylor placed third with a time of 4:05.28. Lewis also finished third in the men's 800m with a time of 1:55.99
In the 110m high hurdles, Gary Grimes crossed the line at 15.13 seconds, earning him a second place finish. Kameron Collier hurdled his way to a third place finish with a time of 15.68 seconds. Grimes also finished second in the 400m hurdles with a time of 55.39 seconds, followed by teammate Dante Walls who placed third running a time of 55.67 seconds.
In the men's 400m, Jailen Dalton finished in third, stopping the clock at 49.37 seconds.
In the 4x400m relay, the 'A' team finished fourth with a time of 3:27.51 and the 'B' team finished eighth with a time of 3:36.43 The two teams are battling to see who will represent CSU at the Peach Belt Conference Track and Field Championships April 20-21 in Daytona, Fla.
Women's Track Events
Cynthia Lopez-Jordan and Coach Marley had a plan and Lopez-Jorden executed it masterfully as she destroyed the field by 11 seconds in the 5k. Lopez-Jordan crossed the line with a time of 19:01.35. Freshman Kaeleigh Brooks finished in eighth place with a time of 20:33.51.
In the 1500m run, Royal Delay placed first with a time of 5:01.86. Delay also placed first in the 800m run with a time of 2:23.22. Also in the 800m, De' Aisha Stephens crossed the line in sixth place with a time of 2:29.54.
In the 100m hurdles, Clareese Spahn stopped the clock at 16.31 seconds earning her sixth place. Spahn will be representing CSU as a Heptathlete at the PBC Championships.
Alesia Johnson ran 59.16 seconds in the 400m, placing her fifth, and teammate Amber Elder crossed the line in 1:03.18 earning her 10th place.
Women's Field Events
Freshman Jenna Rolen ended her day with a first place finish in the pole vault, clearing 3.05m (10'0). Teammate Cai Lin Davis tied for second, clearing 2.90m (9-06.25), Amber Johnson vaulted her way to fourth place, clearing 2.60m (8'06.25), and Meghan Koh placed fifth as she cleared 2.45m (8'0) with a smile.
Cyan Green continues to lead the way for the Lady Cougars in the throwing events, placing fourth in the shot put with a throw of 13.04m (42'09.50), and teammate Ar'Rionne Hickson finished 10th with a throw of 11.41m (37'05.25).
Hickson and Green also competed in the hammer throw, with Green finishing fifth with a throw of 41.92m (137-06) and Hickson placing seventh with a throw of 40.07m. Kailyn Thomas finished 10th with a throw of 39.55 (129'09).
UP NEXT
CSU has one meet left to compete in before the Peach Belt Conference Championships. The teams will travel to Albany, Ga. for the 2023 Alice Coachman Invitational on Saturday, April 8, hosted y Albany State University.
