Landover, MD—The SC State women's indoor track placed seventh in the 2009 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Indoor Track Championships this past weekend. The championships were contested at the Prince Georges County Sports and Learning Center in Landover, MD.
The seventh place finish at this year's championships is a three place jump from 2008 when the Lady Bulldogs finished in 10th place.
Redshirt junior Tempest Vance was the SC State's top finisher as she placed first in the Pentathlon with a record setting 3,630 points. The previous record of 3,616 was set by Coppin State University's Natoya Baird in 2007. Vance, who went into the championships with the fourth fastest time in the individual 400 meter run failed to make the finals in that event; however, she felt that setting the record in the pentathlon was a form of redemption. “First I would like to thank God for giving me the talent to accomplish such a task. After my performance on Friday I knew I had to redeem myself, not only for me but for my team.” Vance also credits sprint/hurdle coach Donald Cooper, Associate Head Coach to Bulldog Head Track Coach Tyree E. Price, for being instrumental in her success. “I would also like to thank Coach Cooper who continued to believe in me and push me even after I did not fare well on Friday.”
SC State had a team effort in achieving their best finish in three seasons. Jasmine Smith and Shamire Rothmiller each finished second in their respective events. Smith jumped 12.24 meters (40-02.00) in the triple jump while Rothmiller threw 14.48 meters (47-06.25) in the shot put. Other individual top eight finishers for the women were Brittney Stewart (5th-3000 meters) and Renee McWilliams (6th-60 meter hurdles). The women's 4x400 meter relay team consisting of Vance, Elizabeth Govrik, Natalee Allen and Monique Gracia finished in seventh place and the Distance Medley relay team of Lauren Lawson, Govrik, Patrecia Daniely and Stewart finished in 8th place to for the Lady Bulldogs.
While the women's team did finish exactly where Coach Price had hoped, he was still pleased nonetheless. “I am pleased with the team's overall improvement,” said Coach Price. “I felt coming in we would finish around sixth so to finish seventh wasn't a disappointment for me at all.”
The Lady Bulldogs will be back in action Saturday, Feb. 21 at the Tiger Invitational hosted by Clemson University.
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