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Austin Peay State University Track and Field has good showing at Georgia Invitational

APSU Sports Information

Austin Peay State University Lady Govs - APSUAthens, GA – Although only a few Austin Peay State University track and field athletes lowered their season-bests to put themselves in better position for an NCAA East Preliminary berth, the Lady Govs came away with a host of top finishes at the Georgia Invitational, Saturday, at Spec Towns Track.

Austin Peay Women's Track and Field. (APSU Sports Information)
Austin Peay Women’s Track and Field. (APSU Sports Information)

In a meet filled with athletes from Georgia, South Carolina, Georgia Tech and Lipscomb, among other strong regional schools, several Austin Peay athletes looked sharp in the week after their runner-up showing at the Ohio Valley Conference Outdoor Championships.

“We competed very well and just didn’t quite get some of the marks we needed,” said head coach Doug Molnar. “Overall, it was a pretty good day – there was a bit of a letdown from last week, but we got it out of the way and we have another chance next week.”

Senior Xiamar Hudson made the greatest strides on Saturday. After breaking the school record a week ago at the OVC Outdoor Championships, Hudson lowered the mark again with a 4:30.88 run, finishing second to Samford’s Lauren D’Alessio. She moved from 241st in the region to a mark that would be in the top-150, based on times entering Saturday.

“CiCi’s was the big effort today,” Molnar said. “She can make another jump next week. She was dead last out of the gate and really put the hammer down to catch up.”

Junior Maikea Davis also moved herself into better position in the Peach State. She placed third in the 200m with a 24.08 run, moving up nearly 40 spots in the rankings.

Although the mark was not her season-best, sophomore Breigh Jones remained unbeaten in the 400m dash this season with a 54.24 run. She outpaced two runners from SEC foe South Carolina, as well as teammate Terri Morris – the freshman finished fourth at 55.87.

Jones and Davis teamed with sophomore Kymmalett Ross and junior Erika Adams to post a 45.34 run in the 4x100m dash. They were runner-up to South Carolina’s quartet by less than a tenth of a second.

Also earning runner-up honors was Jessica Gray. The junior placed second in the 800m run with a 2:13.49 run.

A pair of hurdlers brought him sixth-place finishes. Freshman Myiah Johnson’s 14.24 mark was less than three-tenths off of her pace at last week’s OVC Championships, while junior Natalie Olberding equaled her finish in the 400m hurdle event with a 1:02.90 run.

In the field events, freshman Kaylnn Pitts was runner-up in the triple jump with a 12.47m (40’ 11”) leap, while classmate Chancis Jones set a personal-best with a 12.33m (40’ 5.5”) mark, moving her into the top-70 regionally based on marks entering the weekend.

Austin Peay athletes will have one more chance at earning qualifying marks at next week’s Georgia Tech Invitational in Atlanta.

“We held our own and had some good performances,” Molnar said. “Georgia Tech will be a great meet next week – it’s all about running fast.”

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