FINAL RESULTS
MURRAY, Ky.—Morehead State track and field had a strong final day at the 2011 Ohio Valley Conference Track and Field Championships held at Murray State’s Stewart Stadium.
The men’s team added 19 points Saturday for a two-day total of 32 points good for a fifth-place finish. The women’s team finished with 16 total points, tallying eight on each day.
“We had a huge day,” MSU Coach Tommy Barksdale said. “We scored 10 more points than last year on the men’s side and 15 more on the women’s.”
Natalie Norman earned a sixth-place finish in the 800 meter finals, scoring three points after running a 2:17.95.
Holly Mandzak surpassed her personal record with a 19:07.13 time in the women’s 5,000 meter run.
Each of the MSU women’s relay teams also scored. The 4x100 meter team of
Hillary Jamison,
Lyndsay Norris,
Linda Dixon and
Bree Massie combined for a time of 52.66, finishing sixth for three points. The 4x400 team of Massie, Norris,
Parker Winters and Norman finished seventh at 4:20.54, colleting two points.
Miranda Nelson and
Alyssa Arnold each competed in the hammer throw, finishing 11th and 12th, respectively. Nelson threw 38.33 meters and Arnold 38.28 meters.
Both
Andy Bailey and
Alexx Bernard scored in the 800 meter finals on the men’s side. Bailey finished with six points, placing third with a 1:58.54 and Bernard scored two points with a 1:59.61 to place fifth. Bernard's fifth place finish was impressive in that he recovered from a fall.
James Bowens' fourth place finish in the 5,000 meters at 14:53.71 netted the Eagles four points. Bowens was just barely edged out of a medal and third place.
Michael Settles ran a 15:47.67 in the event, setting a personal best record.
Both men’s relay teams scored two points. The 4 x 100 team of
Chad Gibson,
Hunter Gibson,
Sean Blair and
Luke Bracken combined for a fifth-place finish at 45.43. Bailey, Bernard, Jeffery Covington and Hunter Gibson had a 3:33.83 pace in the 4x400 meter to finish fifth.
Blair’s triple jump of 13.23 meters earned him fifth place and two points.
Alex Koski threw the Javelin 41.98 meter for sixth place and a point.
“Nobody gave up today, they put everything on the line and we performed very well,” Barksdale said. “The team is headed in the direction we want it, it was a very successful year.”
Eastern Illinois won both the men’s and women’s championships, sweeping the tournament for the third straight year.
