April 6, 2012

C-USA OTF Notebook #2

MEMPHIS, Tenn.- Memphis track and field squads return to action Friday at the Joey Haines Invitational hosted by Southeast Missouri State. The Tigers look to make improvements as they make the trip to Cape Girardeau for the third meet of the outdoor track and field season.

"I'm excited for this meet because it's the polar opposite of last week's meet," said head coach Kevin Robinson. "It's a short meet with fewer teams, it's going to give the entire group a chance to compete for titles and make finals. Hopefully it will help us build some confidence and some momentum moving forward into the season."

Day one of the two-day meet kicks off at 4:00 p.m. with the men's and women's hammer throw set as the only event to be contested. Competition continues on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. with a full slate of track and field events scheduled.

Results from the Joey Haines Invitational will be posted on GoTigersGo.com as they become available.

Where the Tigers Stand
The Tiger men checked in at number 14 on week one of the USTFCCA'S South Region Team Rankings. In the USTFCCA's South Region Event Rakings, pole vaulter Karlis Pujats and high jumper Darius Lynwood hold positions in the top ten. Pujats outdoor-best vault of 5.26m ranks third, while Lynwood's leap of 2.15m checks in at fourth.

Pujats' and Lynwood's performances rank in the top 10 on the NCAA East Qualifier List, with Lynwood tied for eighth and Pujats in sole possession of ninth. The pair of Tigers each hold the top spot Conference USA in their respective events.

Several other Tigers hold top 10 spots in the latest C-USA rankings. Sophomore Kala Funderburk ranks fifth in the women's 400m dash with her season best of 54.95.

Funderburk, Monica Mason, Keyona Neal and Maya Williamson sit a second in the women's 4 x 400m relay with their school-record setting performance of 3:41.84. Williamson (4:29.96) also checks in at fifth in the women's 400m hurdles.

Three Tiger men hold top 10 positions in hurdle events. Senior Robert Jackson takes the second spot with his season best time of 14.26, while freshman Tyrell Forde takes sixth with a mark of 14.76. Fellow hurdler Brandon Williams (52.74) is tied for second in the 400m hurldes.

Louisa Lingley checks in at fifth in the women's 1,500m run, with her personal-best of 4:29.96. For the men, James Maglasang ranks sixth in the event with a time of 3:52.64. Fellow distance runner Fabian Feige checks in at fifth in the men's 800m run.

Memphis holds two top-five spots with three athletes in the women's high jump. Sophomore Laura Toldy ranks second in the event clearing the bar at 1.73m. Kirsten Berding (1.65m) and Vivian Haynes (1.65) are tied for fifth.

In the women's shot put, Britta Jaarats (13.96m) and Allison Hotz (13.96m) are tied for fifth, as Cyarra Wells (13.86m) and Anna-Maria Bischof (13.71m) rank seventh and eighth. For the men, Tom Willcox (16.26m) and Andrew Miller (15.58m) rank eighth and 10th respectively.

Miller, Willcox and William Hubber make an appearance in the men's hammer throw. Hubber (56.29m) and Miller (55.66m) rank fifth and sixth, with Willcox (48.61m) taking ninth. For the women, Jaarats (52.11m) ranks third, with Wells (48.38m) taking tenth.

In the Javelin throw a combined six Tigers hold top ten positions in C-USA. Freshman Kyle Bynum leads the men at 61.64m which ranks third. Casey Carl (60.00m), Thomas Poole (53.96m) and Austin Crenshaw (52.01m) rank fifth, eighth and ninth respectively. Bischof (43.15m) leads the women at fourth on the list, while freshman Xenia Rahn (40.51) takes seventh. Bischof (44.28m) also ranks tenth in the women's discus.

Last Time Out
Last week's Ole Miss Invitational saw the return of senior Robert Jackson to hurdles competition. Jackson had not competed since early March in a final effort to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships. The Georgia native took second the 110m hurdles crossing the line at 14.26.

The Tigers trip to the Magnolia State was also highlight by another record breaking performance in the women's 4 x 400m relay. Kala Funderburk, Monica Mason, Keyona Neal and Maya Williamson broke their own school record in the event with a time of 3:41.84 as they took second place.