By Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—The Tennessee Tech track and field team continued preparation for the OVC Championships on Saturday at the Samford Open. Sharnique Leonce, who topped her Tech school record in the 60-meter hurdles in the preliminary rounds with a time of 8.65 had a stellar showing for the Golden Eagles this weekend. Leonce established two school records over the meet, with her second coming in the long jump with a 5.33-meter leap.
The Golden Eagle's Micayla Rennick claimed a first place finish in the mile with a time of 4:52.22, clocking in three seconds faster than the next runner from Appalachian State. Rennick's time beat out 51 other participants and topped the Tech school record, which she previously set this season at the Vanderbilt Opener. Rennick's first place time was also a Samford Open meet record, which beat out runners from schools such as Chattanooga, Georgia State, Wofford, and Alabama A&M.
"I thought that we accomplished a lot today," head coach Wayne Angel remarked. "We had great momentum coming in from last week. Sharnique had a very good meet with a title in the 60-meter hurdles and two school records as well in the 60-meter hurdles (prelims) and the long jump (5.33m)."
Lisa Wickham claimed a fourth place finish in the prelims of 60-meter dash with a time of 7.66, establishing a new Golden Eagle school record in the process. The former school record was held by Bethany Burney with a time of 7.70, which she established in the 2004 season. Wickham then finished eighth in the finals of the 60-meter dash with a 7.70 mark.
"Lisa continues to improve in the 60 meter," Angel continued. "Her time of 7.66 is a new school record. Micayla did a really nice job as well winning the mile with a conference leading time of 4:52.22, which is a school record and meet record too. We still have some kinks to work out with the 800 group, however, we should be okay come conference time."
D'Airrien Jackson had a solid showing for the Golden Eagles in the 800-meter run. Jackson placed eighth in a field of 62 runners with a time of 2:17.40, while teammate Sarah Brandt finished 13th respectfully with a 2:20.13 mark.
Other Finishers
Mile: Jenna Storms, 5:21.44 (29)
Long Jump: Sharnique Leonce, 5.33m (42)
High Jump: NaScottisha Drummond, 1.62m (3)
60-meter dash: Na'Asha Robinson, 7.80 (15); Brittany McGee, 8.23 (50); Raven Smith, 8.41 (64); Eshe' Robinson, 8.63 (72)
60-meter hurdles (Prelims): Eshe' Robinson, 9.27 (17)
400-meter dash: Crystal Liebenburg, 1:02.06 (51); Andrea Retano, 1:04.96 (64)
3,000-meter: Purity Murray, 10:35.53 (13)
800-meter: Madison Stremler, 2:20.97 (18); Anna Cooper, 2:26.66 (31)
Photo by Thomas Corhern
