APSU Sports Information
Nashville, TN – Freshman Lennex Walker had a meet to remember for Austin Peay State University track and field at the Commodore Invitational, posting a number of top marks across multiple disciplines as one of several Govs to enjoy a productive trip to Nashville.
Walker got her weekend started on the right foot with an 11th-place finish in Friday’s 200m dash, winning Section Seven of the event with a 25.46 mark. Saturday, with the triple jump and 60m hurdles preliminaries occurring simultaneously, she qualified for the finals in the hurdles with an 8.91 mark, eventually finishing seventh overall with a personal-best 8.72, and also finished eighth in the triple at 10.54m (34-7.00).
“Lennex put up a personal-best in the prelims and then bettered it in the finals (of the 60m hurdles),” said head coach Doug Molnar. “We’ve got a young bunch but they’re progressing quickly—altogether, we had 20 personal-bests and three season-bests today.”
Elsewhere on the track, sophomore Emmaculate Kiplagat kept up her strong performance from a week ago with a third-place, 18:39.45 mark in the 5000m run. In shorter distances, freshman Keleah Shell placed 10th in the 800m with a 2:26.07 mark, while sophomore Amelia Thiesing was 11th in the 400m run (58.86) while also winning her heat in the 200m dash (26.05).
Over in the field events, freshman Denia Hill-Tate was tenth in the high jump (1.58m; 5-2.25), while senior Becca Wheeler was ninth in the weight throw (11.12m; 36-6.00). And as ever, junior Savannah Amato posted a strong showing in the pole vault, placing fourth at 3.83m (12-6.75).
“Our pole vaulters did well today,” Molnar said. “Savannah looked good, Gretchen (Rosch) keeps getting better and Morgan (Bradley) put up a personal-best. I’m excited by the direction we’re heading as a team.”
The Govs will take a hiatus from competition next week before returning to action January 26th, 2018 at Marshall’s Thundering Herd Invitational.
