Austin Peay Lady Govs Track and Field’s Kendra Kirksey and Tanesha Campbell set school records at Coastal Carolina Invitational

APSU Sports: Austin Peay Women’s Track and Field

Fort Myers, FL – Austin Peay State University women’s track and field team set two school records in its first outdoor meet, the Coastal Carolina Invitational, at Doug Shaw Stadium.

After a grueling indoor season, it was only appropriate that the outdoor season open on a cold, rainy day, as was the story for the Lady Govs. Despite the weather, Austin Peay got school record performances from Kendra Kirksey in the 3000-meter steeplechase (11:35.83) and Tanesha Campbell in the shot put (13.96m).

“It was a good start for us,” head coach Doug Molnar said. “The weather was a little rough, but we got 11 top-10 finishes. In a meet this large, that’s a great showing.”

Kirksey’s steeplechase time turned out more than a minute faster than her previous personal best, overtaking Melissa Nobb’s 11:40.89 mark set in 2009.

“Kendra really came out of nowhere on that one,” Molnar said. “It was one of the best times we’ve had in a long time in the steeplechase.”

Campbell, meanwhile, only continued in the outdoor shot put what she spent the entire indoor season doing. This time it was Kacie Brown’s 13.23m mark, set in 1996, extended by Campbell. Molly Basch also finished sixth in the pole vault at 3.20m.

Kirksey and Campbell were two of Austin Peay’s 11 top-10 finishes. Chantelle Grey finished second in the 1500-meter run (4:42.99). Two third-place finishes came in the relays. In the 4×200-meter relay it was Candace Johnson, Erika Adams, Cenitra Hudson and Kelley Colbert at 1:43.25. In the 4×400-meter relay, Johnson led Taelor Slaughter, Hudson and Grey to a 3:59.10 mark.

“Overall, I’m proud of our team,” Molnar said. “Chantelle really brought back the 4×400-meter team at the end and Molly had a real good mark in the pole vault in tough conditions.”