Bucs continue progression from solid performances over past two days

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (March 21, 2015) – Following a productive two days of competition on Thursday and Friday, the ETSU track & field program kept the momentum going on Saturday with five podium finishes to wrap up action at the Charlotte 49er Classic at the Bell Track & Field Center.

After placing third in the women’s 100-meter dash prelims yesterday with a time of 11.94, junior sprinter Keturah Williams (Alpharetta, Ga.) improved on Saturday in the event final with a personal-best 11.60 time to round out the top three.

Also looking to continue the progression from Friday’s preliminary action, sophomore Mike Williams (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) raced to a quicker time than yesterday’s 53.10 time with a race of 52.45, but finished second after leading the pack in the prelims.

Junior Emily Williams was able to turn in a third-place finish in the women’s 3000-meter finals with a time of 10:12.76. Competition this weekend in Charlotte is her first as a Buccaneer for the ETSU newcomer.

Following rounding out the top three in the women’s discus with a toss of 42.80 meters on Friday, junior Verena Tobis (Dusslingen, Germany) carried the momentum over to Saturday in throws events with a 44.73-meter toss in the javelin to place runner-up in a field featuring 31 competitors.

In the men’s seeded pole vault final, senior Chris Winkle (Gray, Tenn.) recorded a personal-best mark of 4.70 meters to finish third in the standings. In the field of competition featuring 10 jumpers, Winkle recorded an identical mark to the second-place finisher.

The ETSU track & field program will be back in action next weekend at the Raleigh Relays, March 27 – 28, in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Comments from ETSU Director of Track & Field George Watts:

"We had a solid first meet to begin the 2015 outdoor season. Many of our kids set personal bests or are way ahead of where they were at this time last year."

"Some of the highlights include a win by Nathan Rivera in the decathlon with a near personal best and a 600-point improvement from this meet last year."

"Keturah Williams' third-place finish in the 100 meters with a time of 11.60 should secure her a spot in the first round of the NCAA."

"Mike Williams had a strong second-place finish in the 400 hurdles with a time of 52.45 and like Keturah and Nathan, is far ahead of where he was last year. His mark could very well put him in the first round of the NCAA as well. I expect him to have significant progress during the season."

"In the vault, Chris Winkle and Ashley Kessler are becoming very consistent and should see big improvements very soon."

"Verena Tobis had a very solid season-opening meet in the discus and javelin. She is a school record holder and is another person that can make it to the first round of the NCAA."

"Other nice competitive efforts included the 1500 meters led by Angus Baldwin and Emily Williams in the 1500 and 3000, Nicole Alexander and Nicki Smith in the 400 hurdles, James Miller and Victoria Hutchens in the steeplechase, and Adriana Watkins in the heptathlon."

"Several of our athletes competed in events for the first time and I see opportunity for them to score in our conference championships."

"We have 2-3 more meets before the SoCon Outdoor Championships and we have to take full advantage of each opportunity."

"Other than having to get some of our men healthy, I like where we are after our first meet."

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