ETSU scores in nine different events including podium finishes in five on Championship’s final day

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Feb. 28, 2015) – A team score of 96 allowed the ETSU women’s track & field team to place third in the team standings at the 2015 Southern Conference Indoor Championship on Saturday at the Birmingham CrossPlex.

In total, the Bucs scored in nine different events on Saturday including placing among the top three in five events. Highlighted among the podium finishes was senior hurdler Dede Edgecombe (Spartanburg, S.C.) taking the event crown in the women’s 60-meter hurdle.

After setting ETSU and SoCon records yesterday in preliminary action with an 8.31 finish, Edgecombe one-upped herself on Saturday in the 60mH final with an even quicker 8.29 time. This performance ranks the senior among the top 25 in the country in the event.

Edgecombe was also able to score in a couple sprints events alongside junior Keturah Williams (Alpharetta, Ga.). In the women’s 60-meter dash, the duo followed up strong prelim performances yesterday with similar results in the event final today. Williams placed runner-up with a time of 7.60, while Edgecombe was just behind her in third with a personal-best 7.66 time. In the women’s 200-meter dash, the pair again carried the momentum over from yesterday’s preliminary performances with Williams again placing second with a sprint of 24.61, while Edgecombe trailed in fourth with a 25.29 race.

The Bucs also found successes in field events with three student-athletes notching podium finishes. Sophomore jumper Ashley Kessler (Knoxville, Tenn.) again tied her school record in the pole vault with a mark of 3.80 meters to place second. Following a second-place standing in yesterday’s indoor pentathlon, senior Nicole Alexander (Rock Hill, S.C.) continued the energy on Saturday with a third-place standing in the triple jump with a leap of 11.30 meters. In the same event as Alexander, freshman Adriana Watkins (Kingsport, Tenn.) registered a second-place jump with an 11.42 mark.

ETSU other scorers for the day were sophomore Carolyn Hinch (Knoxville, Tenn.) in the women’s 800 meter (PR: 2:21.06), freshman Marabeth Clark (Maryville, Tenn.) in the 200m (25.96), junior Tyesha Jones (Nashville, Tenn.) in the weight throw (15.18 meters), and the team of Nicki Smith (Urbandale, Iowa), Alexander, Williams, and Clark in the 4x4 relay (3:58.26).

Both the ETSU women’s and men’s track & field teams will begin the 2015 outdoor season at the Charlotte 49er Classic, March 19 – 21.

Comments from ETSU Director of Track & Field George Watts

"I am pleased with our efforts over the weekend. Dede Edegecombe had a great meet scoring in three events highlighted by her record setting win in the 60 hurdles. Keturah Williams led the way in the sprints with two second-place finishes and a leg on our 4x400 relay."

"Ashley Kessler competed well in the pole vault and is very close to a huge improvement. She has equaled the indoor school record three times this season. Nicole Alexander did a fantastic job with a second place finish in the pentathlon and followed that up with a third in the triple jump and a solid leg on the 4x400 relay." 

"Two freshmen had runner up finishes in the long jump and triple jump. Timia Easley in the long jump and Adrianna Watkins in the triple jump. We had several others not expected to score that came through. Tyesha jones in the shot put, Carolyn Hinch in the 800, and Marabeth Clark in the 200. That's what we look for in championship meets. Our relays had nice efforts and we had many other breakthrough events that might go unnoticed."

"We need to improve our depth but with just two seniors competing and a strong recruiting year, we have much to look forward to."

For more information about ETSU track & field, please visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the track & field links.

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