North Carolina State University Athletics
Track Starts Season at UNC Opener
1/13/2007 12:00:00 AM | Track
Raleigh, N.C. – The NC State track and field squads started its 2007 indoor season this weekend, competing in Chapel Hill at the UNC Opener. The Wolfpack sent its sprinters, throwers and jumpers, and brought home a first place showing in two events.
All-American Mitchell Pope started the season off strong with his performance in the throws. Pope brought home a first place finish in the shot put with a NCAA provisional mark of 60’10.50”. Pope was also second in the weight throw with a toss of 56’05.25”.
Chris Crawford also won one of the throwing events, as he had the top finish in the weight throw at 59’10.25”. Crawford also placed fifth in the shot put with a mark of 49’06.50”. Jason Jones was fourth in the shot put (50’04.75”) and fifth in the weight throw (56’05.25”), while Kent Dickens was fourth in the weight throw (47’01.75”).
A’Tolani Akinkuotu had the Pack’s top showing in the 60 meters, running a time of 6.80 to take third. Akinkuotu also ran a 23.47 200 meters. Ressie Reese place eighth in the 60 meters (6.94). Sabian Culbreth ran a 23.46 in the 200 meters, and 7.29 in the 60 meters.
In the 800 meters, Kevin Hutton ran a 2:05.36, LT Dickens a 2:19.56, and Stephen Gardner a 2:20.14. Rounding out the sprints was Armand Quenum in the 400 meters (52.51) and Ben Barrett in the 60 hurdles (10.42).
In the jumps, Dexter Adams was fourth in the long jump (23’09.50”), and Eric Davis placed eighth in the high jump clearing 6’04”.
A pair of NC State women tied with the Pack’s top finish on the day. Laila Thomas and Mattie Bethea each cleared 5’04.25” in the high jump for a sixth place showing. Jennifer Webster also cleared 5’02.25” for 12th in the high jump. Bethea was 12th in the long jump with a mark of 16’09.25”, while Thomas jumped 15’07.75”. Rounding out the field events on the women’s side was Kayla Lawson with a mark of 16’02.25” in the long jump, and Njeri Wainaina jumped 33’10.75” in the triple jump.
In the sprints, Joya Rodgers had a time of 7.81 in the 60 meters and 26.65 in the 200 meters. Cassandra Williams posted a time of 8.16 in the 60 meters and 26.34 in the 200 meters. Megan Rumley also ran those two races, 8.19 in the 60 meters and 27.44 in the 200 meters.
Gabrielle Daniel had the top times for the women’s squad in two events, running a 26.19 in the 200 meters and 1:01.04 in the 400 meters. Also in the 400 meters were Tajaron Lewis (1:04.47), Chapin Payne (1:04.49) and Julie Pitts (1:10.12). In the 800 meters, Marilyn Angell had the Pack’s top time of 2:32.83. Also in that race it was Melanie Yelardy (2:34.71), Brenda Stanton (2:40.09), and Ayana West (2:45.97).
NC State will return to action next weekend, competing in the Clemson Invitational, the site of the Indoor ACC Championships.
For Complete results: http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/sports/c-track/stats/2006-2007/2007uncchapelhillopenerresults.html
