30 F
Clarksville
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
HomeSportsAustin Peay State University Track and Field Freshmen strong at Vanderbilt Black...

Austin Peay State University Track and Field Freshmen strong at Vanderbilt Black and Gold Invitational

APSU Sports Information

Austin Peay State University Lady Govs - APSUNashville, TN – On a wet, dreary day in Nashville’s West End, Austin Peay State University women’s track and field team didn’t let the conditions get them down. The Lady Govs battled the wind, the rain, the cold and the opponents, adding a handful of top-five finishes and another win to what’s already been a successful season.

APSU Lady Govs Track and Field. (Brittney Sparn/APSU Sports Information)
APSU Lady Govs Track and Field. (Brittney Sparn/APSU Sports Information)

“We had another solid week in some pretty tough conditions,” said head coach Doug Molnar. “Very pleased with how well we performed, I think we really responded to the conditions.”

Freshman Myiah Johnson was Saturday’s big winner on the track, holding off Missouri State’s Oarabile Babolayi by one-hundredth of a second to win the 100m hurdles with a personal-best 14.25 mark. Freshman Amia Butler was close behind Johnson and Oarabile, finishing third at 14.29.

Butler and freshman Chancis Jones were the top two finishers in the long jump, with Butler coming away with the victory thanks to a personal-best 5.77m (18’ 11.25”) leap. Jones’ 5.72m (18’ 9.25”) leap was also a personal best for her. Another of the talented freshman jump group, Brianna Kelly, was third in the high jump with a 1.61m (5’ 3.25”) leap.

In other hurdles action, junior Natalie Olberding was third overall in a quick 400m hurdles event, posting a 1:02.35 mark that’s third-fastest in her Austin Peay career.

Senior Erika Adams’ sixth-place finish in the 100m dash was the top outcome for the sprinters Saturday; the Weston, FL native was fourth in a very strong first heat with a 12.32 run.

Possibly the biggest milestone passed on the day was from Molly Basch. The senior blew past her previous best 3.25m mark, finishing fourth in blustery conditions with a 3.40m (11’ 1.75”) mark that Molnar credited to her recent switch to a bigger pole. Based on marks entering the day, Basch may have assumed the OVC lead in the pole vault.

“I thought our jumps group picked up where they left off last week,” Molnar said. “Molly shined where a lot of people struggled and that says a lot for the work she’s been doing in practice lately.”

Austin Peay travels to Murray State Friday, April 4th for the Margaret Simmons Invitational.

RELATED ARTICLES

Latest Articles