May 16, 2008

Results

EL PASO, Texas - Outstanding performances by the Tigers put both the men's and women's team in second place, after day two of the Conference USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Susan King won the women's shot put in great fashion as she had a career-best mark of 17.84 meters (58-06.50) that set a new meet and school record, also improving her NCAA regional qualifying mark moving her to the No. 1 spot. The previous record (16.57m) was set back in 2005 by Chandra Brewer of South Florida. King's mark is the sixth best throw by an American shot putter this year. Sivan Aballi took third in the shot put with a distance of 15.78 meters (51-09.25) and Charlotte Abrahamsen grabbed fourth with a mark of 14.93 meters (48-11.75). King and Aballi both earn all-conference honors. The trio scored 21 points for the women's team in the shot alone.

Memphis men ruled the shot put sweeping the event just as they did at indoor championships. The Tigers were led by Glen Edwards who pulled out the best throw of his career to win the event with a personal-best and NCAA regional qualifying mark of 17.60 meters (57-9). Edwards took second in the event last year. Coming in second place for Memphis was Knut Syversen who had a mark of 16.81 meters (55-2). Seth Major took third with a distance of 16.47 meters (54-00.50). All three men earned all-conference honors. Harding Zills rounded out the Memphis shot putters as he grabbed sixth place with a mark of 15.15 meters (49-08.50). The Tigers grabbed 27 out of a possible 39 points in the event.

Preston Williams finished the decathlon today with a total of 5,293 points placing third.

Senior high jumper Chen Edri won the event with an NCAA regional qualifying mark of 1.75 meters (5-8.75). This is Edri's first championship title and the fourth consecutive year she has qualified for regionals.

Defending 110 hurdle champion Amaechi Oselukwue enters tomorrow's finals with the fastest prelim time of 14.41; his best time of the season. Joining him in tomorrow's race will be teammate Darius Anderson who advances with a time of 15.13. Both Oselukwue and Anderson have both qualified for the 400 meter hurdle finals along with hurdler Richard Lowe.

The pole vaulting pair of Ashton Baldwin and Whitney Bolton finished fourth and sixth. Baldwin had a leap of 3.55 meters (11-07.75) that earned her a tie for fourth and Bolton jumped 3.40 meters (11-01.75) finishing tied for sixth.

Tina Sherratt has qualified for the finals of the 1,500 meters and will enter tomorrow's race with the ninth fastest qualifying time of 4:41.88.

Christian McDonald placed fifth in the men's javelin with a distance of 60.11 meters (197-02).

The final day of the C-USA Championships will begin tomorrow at 1 p.m. MT with the women's discus throw. Running events begin at 5 p.m. MT beginning with the women's 4x100 meter relay. The presentation of awards is set for approximately 8:50 p.m. MT.

              Women - Team Rankings - 9 Events Scored
1) Rice               65
2) Memphis            46  
3) UTEP               40.50
4) Tulsa              31.50
5) SMU                31
6) Southern Miss      29
7) UCF                24.33
8) Houston            21.50
9) Marshall           17.33
10) Tulane            16
10) UAB               16
12) East Carolina     12.83
                     Men - Team Rankings - 7 Events Scored
1) UTEP               70
2) Memphis            52  
3) Houston            48
4) Rice               39
5) Southern Miss      28
6) Tulsa              27
7) East Carolina      8