2007 A-10 Coach of the Year Bob Olesen and the 49ers got their final tune-up before the conference championship at Appalachian State this weekend |
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Duo of School Records Fall as 49ers Compete in Final Tune-Up Before Conference Championship
Feb. 11, 2008
Boone, N.C. - Sophomore Sunita Brathwaite lowered the 55m hurdles record to 8.05 and moves to the top of the Atlantic 10 rankings for the final weekend leading into the lead championship as the 49ers indoor track and field team competed at the Appalachian State Limited this weekend. Freshman Dakota Lowery also moved into the record books in the 1000m, cutting two seconds from the mark set only two weeks ago by teammate Jordan Rickard.
"This meet served our purposes well," head coach Bob Olesen said. "We achieved some times that will improve our seeding in the conference finals next week and also got some athletes a needed final tune-up competition, while the remainder of the team took the weekend off to rest and prepare."
In the women's 55m dash, junior LaDrea Dortch ran a lifetime-best 7.05 seconds for second place and seventh all-time, ranking her third in the A-10. The event was won by fifth-year senior and All-American Courtney Patterson, who competed unattached, in 6.99 seconds. Junior long jumper/hurdler Pat Springs gave the 55m dash a try at Appalachian as well, posting a great showing at 7.12 seconds for fourth place and a fourth-place ranking in the conference. With other sprinters Lamarra Currie and Lajarsha Moses, who were resting the weekend, the 49ers have the top four times in the conference this season. Dortch followed up with another best in the 200m at 25.23 for 2nd again behind Patterson in 24.92 and will be fourth in the A-10, giving Charlotte the top five times on the season. Freshmen Ebonie Cunningham and Shanice Jones won the 400m and 500m in 56.51 and 1:16.11, respectively, with Jones' time setting a new Holmes Center facility record. A number of other sprinters also had top four finishes, including Tacara Morrisey (55h; 4th; 8.27), Toree Roseboro (200m; 4th; 25.69), Ashley Brown (500m; 2nd; 1:17.99), Ayana Wyse (500m; 1:19.77), and Karmel Stapleton (500m; 4th; 1:22.10).
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In the women's distance events, junior Aja Jackson led the way with her first career try at the 1000m run, winning in 2:55.72 to ranking her second all-time and second in the conference. Christina Hobbs followed Jackson in third with a lifetime-best, fourth-all-time 3:02.37. In the 800m, freshmen Jackie Ross and Nicole Quagliana finished first and second with season's bests of 2:20.75 and 2:21.19, respectively.
In the women's field events, senior Ashley Wiley finished fourth in the weight throw with a season-best and near school record 49'8.25 (15.14m). Freshmn Makenzie Mullinax tied her season's best finishing fourth in the pole vault with a 10'6 (3.20m) clearance and was joined by fellow freshman Anna Malone with her season's best of 9'6.25 (2.90m). Heptathlete Kallyn Falvo cleared 5'1 (1.55m) in the high jump for third place.
For the men's team, in addition to Lowery's 1000m, freshman Darius Law and sophomore hurdler/long jumper Dewayne Chandler were responsible for significant improvement in the team's conference standings in the 200m dash. The duo finished third and fourth in 22.20 and 22.21, respectively. Neither runner was previously ranked in the conference but will now be ranked second and third entering the week of the championship. In other running events, freshmen Handy Dawes and Derrick Eure finished 2-3 in the 500m run at 1:05.63 and 1:08.99. Also in the 1000m were Javan Lapp at 2:33.76 and Jordan Rickard 2:34.71 for third and fourth place.
Jarryd Novotni achieved a new personal best in the weight throw with 51'10.5 (15.81m) for fifth place accompanied by freshman Jason Roberts who also recorded a best at 46'8.75 (14.24m) for eighth. Sophomore Sam Hodapp tied his personal best in the pole vault at 14'7.25 (4.45m) and unsuccessfully attempted to tie the school record of 15'1 (4.60m) finishing in fifth place.
