By Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information
CHAMPAIGN, Ill.—The Tennessee Tech track and field team continued to put their skills to test on Saturday when the Golden Eagles competed in the Illini Classic at the University of Illinois. Highlighting the day's meet was a Sarah Brandt first place finish in the mile in a field of 46 runners. Brandt clocked in with a time of 4:59.12.
"We were solid as a team today," head coach Wayne Angel said. "Everyone competed with a high level of intensity. We accomplished what we set out to do. We must continue to trust in the process, out work the competition, and then success will be assured down the road."
Na'Asha Robinson also had a phenomenal showing for the Golden Eagles as she finished first in a field of 27 runners in the 400-meter dash with a time of 55.22, just a little over a second shy of her current Golden Eagle school record. Robinson clocked in over two seconds faster than the next runner from Northern Illinois, winning the race clean out.
D'Airrien Jackson placed second in the 600-meter run with a time of 1:34.09, while teammates Molly Griffin came in 14th (1:49.60) and Andrea Retano finished 15th (1:52.66).
Eshe Robinson placed 18th in the long jump with a 4.75 meter mark, while Drummond placed fifth in the high jump with a mark of 1.66 meter. Leonce finished sixth with a 1.61 meter jump and E. Robinson placed 17th with a 1.46 meter lunge. Sharnique Leonce led the Golden Eagles in the 200-meter dash coming in fifth in a field of 38 competitors with a time of 25.16. Jaydean Joseph placed ninth in the race clocking in at 25.72, while teammates Lisa Wickham came in 32nd (27.69) and Brittany McGee placed 35th (28.25).
Micayla Rennick placed second in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:13.88. Teammates Madison Stremler finished the race 10th with a time of 2:22.99, while Anna Cooper came in 18th with a time of 2:30.47. Purity Murray was the only Tech representative in the 3,000-meter run where she placed 21st in a field of 32 runners with a time of 10:54.28.
The Golden Eagles 4x400 meter relay team of N. Robinson, Brandt, Jackson, and Leonce placed third in a field of 15 teams with a time of 3:52.03, while the collection of Rennick, Stremler, E. Robinson, and Retano placed 12th with a time of 4:17.28.
The Golden Eagles will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 27-28, when Tech travels to Bloomington, Ind., to compete at the Indiana Relays.
Photo by Thomas Corhern
