CARROLLTON, Ga. — The Columbus State University women's track & field team turned in a strong all-around performance to place fourth overall with 73.5 points at the University of West Georgia Legends Invitational, hosted by the University of West Georgia.
The Cougars were led by a balanced effort across track and field events, highlighted by multiple top-three finishes and key scoring contributions in the hurdles, distance races, and field events.
Liza Varnum paced Columbus State with an outstanding meet, earning three podium finishes. Varnum placed third in both the 100-meter hurdles (15.57) and 400-meter hurdles (1:04.87), while also finishing third in the high jump with a clearance of 1.45 meters. Her performance accounted for 18 team points.
In the distance events, the Cougars saw strong production from their middle-distance and long-distance groups. Emmalee Johnson recorded a fourth-place finish in the 800 meters (2:23.60) and added a fifth-place finish in the 1500 meters (5:00.35).
Layla Albright delivered a runner-up finish in the 3000 meters with a time of 11:19.87, earning eight points, while also placing sixth in the 800 meters (2:26.36). Anna Petellar (5th, 12:54.59) and Reese Moss (6th, 12:54.69) added scoring efforts in the 3000 meters.
On the track, Jayda Smith led the sprint group with a fourth-place finish in the 400 meters (58.99). The Cougars also earned points in the 100 meters, with
Faith Brown placing eighth (12.41).
Columbus State's 4x100-meter relay team of Brown, Smith,
Chassidy Lock, and Zahara Walker turned in a strong performance, finishing fourth with a time of 48.72 to add five team points.
In the field events, the Cougars continued to build their team total with several key finishes. Molly Rickard placed fourth in the pole vault (3.09m), while sophomore
Kaitlyn Alston finished fourth in the triple jump (10.14m).
Adaisha Upshaw added points in both the high jump (7th, 1.35m) and long jump (6th, 5.17m), while Candace Harris placed sixth in the high jump (1.35m).
Columbus State returns to action on Saturday, April 11, as the Cougars travel to Albany, Ga., to compete in the Alice Coachman Invitational at Hampton Smith Fields at the Robert Cross Track & Field Complex.
