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 Aja Jackson, Charlotte |
Feb. 16, 2008
KINGSTON, R.I. - Juniors Aja Jackson and Lamarra Currie each won two events en route to leading Charlotte to the team title on Saturday at the 2008 Atlantic 10 Indoor Track & Field Championships, held at Mackal Fieldhouse on the campus of the University of Rhode Island. On the men's side, Charlotte overcame an early Rhode Island lead to claim the title and complete the 49ers' sweep. Charlotte amassed 181 points, edging out defending champion Rhode Island (156).
Charlotte's Jackson won both the mile run (4:51.62) and the 800-meter run (2:15.14) and earned Most Outstanding Track Performer honors. She shared the honor with La Salle's Rachel Papin, who shattered the A-10 and Mackal Fieldhouse record in the 5000-meter run, clocking an NCAA-provisional qualifying time of 16:32.14.
Charlotte freshman Ebony Cunningham was tabbed Most Outstanding Rookie after winning the 400-meter dash (56.99) and placing third in the 200-meter dash (25.28), which helped guide the 49ers to their third straight Conference title. The team's 180 points marks the second-highest point total in Conference history (URI - 186 pts/2004), as well as the most the team has scored in its three-year run as champions.
"It's great to see our vision for the program coming to fruition," said Charlotte head coach Robert Olesen, the 2008 Men's and Women's A-10 Coach of the Year. "We have a real balanced approach in terms being true to all events of track and field and thankfully we accomplished what we've been working for today."
Rhode Island senior thrower Sara Thornton was named Most Outstanding Field Performer after taking gold in the weight throw with a Mackal record-breaking toss of 18.87 meters (61-11).
Other notable performances on Saturday included Currie's victories in the 55-meter dash (6.92) and the 200-meter dash (24.88), as well as Massachusetts senior Kristen Bakanowski clearing a height of 3.81 meters (12-6) in the pole vault, which broke the Conference record.
Dayton finished in second place with 91 points, its highest-ever finish in A-10 Championship history. Placing third was Rhode Island (85), followed by Richmond (77), La Salle (73), Temple (65.5), Massachusetts (55), Saint Joseph's (29), Fordham (27.5), Xavier (22), Duquesne (20) and Saint Louis (16).
With the point-lead frequently trading hands throughout the day, Charlotte held onto small advantage over Rhode Island late in the men's Championship to secure its second title in three years.
"It was a real nail-biter and very exiting competing with Rhode Island," said Olesen of the dramatic finish. "Of all the five Championships, this men's title was definitely the most exciting. We had some adversity but in the end it was a real gratifying victory on the men's side."
Leading the 49ers was senior sprinter Jason Moore, who claimed gold in two events by winning the 55-meter dash (6.33) and the 200-meter dash (22.06). Also notching two first-place finishes was junior Chase Eckard, who won the mile (4:12.09) and the 800-meter run (1:55.18).
La Salle graduate student Sean Quigley was named the Most Outstanding Track Performer after his blazing time of 13:52.66 in the 5000-meter run broke the A-10 and Mackal Fieldhouse records by nearly 40 seconds (14:32.75). Quigley also ran the final leg of La Salle's distance medley relay, which placed first with a time 10:12.42. Rhode Islands senior Yudehwheh Gbaa was named the Most Outstanding Field Performer after winning the triple jump with the Conference's top distance of 15.45 meters (50'8 1/4").
Charlotte freshman Darius Law's time of 48.55 won the 400-meter run and his time of 22.18 in the 200-meter dash was good for second as he garnered the Most Outstanding Rookie award.
Rhode Island placed second with 156 points, followed by La Salle (112), Temple (87), Massachusetts (58), Fordham (53), Saint Joseph's (40), Richmond (31), Saint Louis (15) and Xavier (eight).
For complete coverage of the Championship, log on to www.atlantic10.org.
WOMEN'S FIRST-TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
Kristen Bakanowski, UM (pole vault); Kathleen Boland, LAS (DMR); Danielle Brown, CHA (triple jump); Olivier Brown, CHA (4x400-meter relay); Kortnie Coleman, CHA (4x400-meter relay); Lamarra Currie, CHA (55-meter dash, 200-meter dash); Ebonie Cunningham, CHA (400-meter dash); Kellilyn Fierras, LAS (DMR); Diana Filtz, UR (4x800-meter relay); TyLynn Graham, URI (high jump); Yvonna Hines, CHA (4x400-meter relay); Meaghan Hobson, LAS (DMR); Aja Jackson, CHA (1 mile-run, 800-meter run); Shanice Jones, CHA (4x400-meter relay); Carolyn Lipovsky, LAS (1000-meter run); Tara Markey, UR (4x800-meter relay); Tacara Morrisey, CHA (55-meter hurdles); Rachel Papin, LAS (5000-meter run, DMR); Christa Plummer, LAS (3000-meter run); Pat Springs, CHA (long jump); Sarah Thornton, URI (weight throw); Nicol Traynor, UR (4x800-meter relay); Amy Van Alstine, UR (4x800-meter relay); Paris Williams, TU (500-meter run); Johnna Zaccari , UD (shot put)
MEN'S FIRST-TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
Tyler Adams, URI (shot put); Joseph Dare, LAS (3000-meter run); Jared Davis, LAS (4x400-meter relay); Michael DiBuono, URI (weight throw); Chase Eckard, CHA (1-mile run, 800-meter run); Korey Edwards, LAS (DMR); Joe Fedorowicz, LAS (1000-meter run, DMR); Thomas Finnerty, FOR (4x800-meter relay); Yudehwheh Gbaa, URI (triple jump); Clifton Hilario, FOR (4x800-meter relay); David Kennedy, URI (500-meter run); Darius Law, CHA (400-meter dash); Shawn Leonard, URI (high jump); Matthew Lowenthal, FOR (4x800-meter relay); Andrew Maxwell, LAS (4x400-meter relay); Jason Moore, CHA (55-meter dash, 200-meter dash); Stephen O'Donnell, LAS (DMR); Lemarcus Outing, CHA (long jump); Sean Quigley, LAS (5000-meter run, DMR); Steve Rendall, LAS (55-meter hurdles, 4x400-meter relay; Ryan Serkes, FOR (4x800-meter relay); Sean Strizzi, URI (pole vault); Sean Strizzi, URI (pole vault); James Tchabo, LAS (4x400-meter relay)
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