Track, field ready for championship

    A week after breaking four school records and capturing 11 first place finishes, things faded back to normal Saturday for Murray State’s track and field team.
    The women traveled to Bowling Green over the weekend for the Western Kentucky University Invitational and did not leave disappointed. The team collected two top finishes in the last tune up before the OVC Outdoor Championships.
    The championship is today at Eastern Kentucky University and matches the Racers against the top teams in the OVC.
    Head Coach Dereck Chavis said he was pleased with his team’s performance at WKU, even though the weather left a lot to be desired.
    “It was the hottest meet of the year and also it was very windy,” Chavis said. “Those presented their own challenges, but even with those conditions I think we still had some really good performances. (It was) just another good benchmark for us to be able to utilize for this upcoming weekend’s conference meet.”
    The event, which was not scored, presented some obstacles, Chavis said, and winning took a backseat to preparation.
    “We wanted to see our athletes compete in particular events, but they didn’t run their normal gambit of events,” Chavis said.  “We had two different reasons for running the last two meets. Winning wasn’t an objective because it wasn’t a scored meet, and also stretching our athletes the weekend prior to our conference meet wasn’t something that we were wanting to do either.”
    Sophomore Katelyn Jones and junior Taylor Crawford led the way for the Racers, as each notched a win.
    Jones did her damage in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, recording a time of 10:59.36 to claim the top finish. Crawford continued her string of success in the 800-meter run, finishing with a time of 2:18.82.
    Chavis said the event provided valuable experience for both women.
    “They were good wins,” Chavis said.  “It just gave Katelyn an opportunity to be able to compete in the steeplechase before the conference meet and also Taylor to be able to run one fast 800. They were able to get out of their races what we were hoping they would get out of it.”
    Several other Racers had admirable showings. Sophomore Brandy Williams set a season best in the 400-meter dash (57.91) for a No. 3 finish while freshman Lexie Barr and  senior Alicia Tempel tied for the No. 2 spot in the pole vault with  vaults of 10’11.75” (3.35m).
    With a toss of 47’07.00” (14.50m), senior Shameka Dial placed No. 2 in the shot put and No. 5 in discus with a throw of 129’11.00” (39.59m).
    Competing in the triple, freshman Bernith Charlestain rounded out the field for Murray State, finishing No. 2 with a distance of 36’05.75” (11.04m).   
    “I think this is probably the most focused that I’ve seen our team,” Chavis said.  “I think with us having a taste of what it’s like to be in the top echelon of our conference that we’re, as a group, looking to go out and compete even better for our outdoor season.  I think we’re a stronger outdoor team than we are an indoor team and I’m really excited to see our ladies get out there and compete.”
    Greg Waddell can be reached at
gregory.waddell@murraystate.edu.