APSU Track and Field
Nashville, TN – Sophomore Cenitra Hudson’s school-record triple jump highlighted Austin Peay State University women’s track and field team at the Ed Temple/Tennessee State Invitational, Saturday, at the Gentry Center in Nashville.
While Hudson improved her personal best in the 200-meter dash to 26.08, her greatest performance came in the triple jump. The Memphis native bested the school record – previously held by APSU Hall of Famer Ayesha Maycock – with a 12.45m (40-10.25) jump.
A team typically carried by the field events, Austin Peay recorded seven top-10 finishes on the track, including a pair notched by the relay teams.
“They worked hard over the break and it’s showing,” head coach Doug Molnar said. “They came back and ran times that were either similar or better than what they had done at the end of last semester. Their work is paying off and I can see it in their times and their effort. That’s a testimony to this team; that they want to be good.”
Senior Chiamaka Obi had the Lady Govs highest finish, taking home second place in the 400-meter dash (57:56). Junior Janelle Avery finished fourth in the mile run (5:34.41), freshman Xiamer Richards finished seventh in the 3000-meter (11:16.48) and sophomore Leigha Tolliver finished ninth in the 55-meter hurdles (8:94).
“Cenitra had a huge day,” Molnar said. “I knew her jump was going to be close. She’s put a lot of work in and I’m glad to see her effort pay off. A school record is always a big deal.
“She also led our group in the 200-meter dash with a personal best there as well. Obi was two-an-half seconds faster than where she was a year ago at this time.”
The 4×400 relay team finished fourth (4:01.98) which was just two-tenths of a second off its finish at the MT Christmas Invite. The distance medley team, meanwhile, finished seventh.
Also in the field events, Molnar was impressed by freshman Destiny Wilks, a Clarksville Northeast High School product, in the weight throw. Wilks, who is new to the event, finished 10th in the weight throw at 13.41m (44-00.00).
“Destiny is going to be very good for us down the road,” Molnar said. “She’s just learning the event and once she gets it down, she’s going to be dynamite. I’m very pleased with where we’re at right now. We practiced really hard this past week and I’m very pleased with the overall effort.”
