ETSU with tough performances in both the Tennessee Relays and the Catamount Classic

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., and CULLOWHEE, N.C. (April 12, 2014) – The ETSU track & field program used a pair of solid split-squad performances on Saturday, at the University of Tennessee for the Tennessee Relays presented by Sea Ray as well as at Western Carolina University for the Beynon Sports Catamount Classic, to end a strong weekend of competition.

In Knoxville, the Bucs followed up on a productive Friday at Tom Black Track at LaPorte Stadium with another firm display on Saturday to end competition at the Relays.

On the women’s side, Victoria Hutchens (Stuart, Va.) started the day off on the right foot with a ninth-place finish in the 3000 meter steeplechase with a time of 11:27.97.

Furthermore, the men placed in the top three in five events to cap a off a promising final day of action in Knoxville. In relays events, the squad of Ryan Jones (Apopka, Fla.), Thomas Miller (Lithonia, Ga.), Filip Jalovy (Modrice, Czech Republic) and Desmond Pierce (Morristown, Tenn.) raced to a runner-up finish in the 4x800 meter relay with a time of 7:34.06, while in the distance medley relay, the team of Matt Warriner (Maryville, Tenn.), Michael Williams (Mt. Laurel, N.J.), Simeon Roberts (Greeneville, Tenn.) and Angus Baldwin (Tumbi Umbi, Australia) placed third with a 9:58.37 time.

In the field, Tyler Stepp (Dandridge, Tenn.) slotted into third overall in the long jump with a wind-aided 7.63 meter leap, while on the track, Williams took second in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 53.87.

Meanwhile, at the Catamount Athletic Complex in Cullowhee, a number of ETSU student-athletes tallied strong displays against a reduced field of competition.

For the women, the Bucs experienced success in multiple field events. Tyesha Jones (Nashville, Tenn.) took the runner-up spot in the discus throw with a toss of 41.30 meters, while also placing in the top-five in the hammer throw with a fourth-place mark of 42.95 meters. In addition, Sammie Dunlay (Chattanooga, Tenn.) made strides in jumps events with a 5.00 meters mark in the long jump to finish eighth and a 10.69 meters mark in the triple jump to finish fifth.

The women totaled 24 points in 20 scorable events for the day; good for eighth out of 14 squads.

On the men’s side, Matt Moore (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) placed third in the 100 meter dash with a time of 10.97, while the Bucs did even more damage in the field. Justin Grant (Johnson City, Tenn.) and Justin Harris (Johnson City, Tenn.) each had very productive days including a second-place finish in the discus throw with a toss of 43.58 meters and a third-place finish in the hammer throw with a launch of 46.67 meters, respectively.

In total, the men finished Saturday’s competition with 62.50 points in 20 scorable events; good for third overall and behind Mars Hills in second with 69 points and leader Western Carolina with 326 points. There were 12 men’s teams in competition at WCU on Saturday.

The Bucs will be back in action next weekend, April 18 – 19, at the War Eagle Invitational in Auburn, Ala.   

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