May 16, 2009
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Owls earned numerous gold medals, while setting several school records over the weekend, as they took second in the Atlantic Sun Conference Championships hosted by the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, on May 15-16.
Aymerick Kolokilagi, got the Owls off to a good start with a first place finish in the shot put (15.92m). His teammate and fellow senior, Casey Strickland added a second place finish in the event (15.05m) as well.
The Owls returned strong on Saturday with sophomore mid-distance runner, Gianni Catalano continuing his string of consecutive first place finishes in the 800m at the conference championships, winning the event again this season after taking the Indoor title earlier this year, along with both the Indoor and Outdoor titles last year. He completed the race with a time of 1:52.18, followed closely by teammate Daniel Grass who took second (1:52.28).
Sprinter James Verdi also successfully defended his title in the 400m dash, placing first with a time of 47.29, a new Kennesaw State record. Joshua James followed in second place (48.59), while David Tansey took fourth (48.97).
Verdi also came back strong in the 200m dash, earning a second place finish for the Owls, crossing the line with a time of 21.76, another new Owls' record, while Antonio Logan added four points with a fourth place finish.
In the 100m dash the Owls got an impressive showing from Jemir Martinez, who took second in the event (10.66), a new school record.
The Owls also got strong performances from their relay teams on Saturday. In the 4 X 100m, the team of Martinez, Logan, Verdi, and Kendall Parks earned a first place finish with a time of 41.36, a new school record, while the 4 X 400m team of James, Tansey, Grass, and Verdi took first as well (3:14.67).
"From a sprinters stand point, we probably ran the best meet we could have," Assistant Coach Devin West said. "We did even better than I expected."
The Owls' hurdlers also experienced some success on Saturday, with James (54.06) and Brian Graham earning second and third in the 400m hurdles, respectively, while Jeremy Easley took sixth (57.28), followed by Parks in seventh (58.31).
Parks earned the Owls points in the 110m hurdles with a fourth place finish (14.35), with Easley right behind him in fifth (15.33).
Off the track, the Owls came back strong again on day two. Strickland took the gold in both the javelin (52.23m), and the discus (44.78m). For his efforts at the Championships, Strickland was awarded both Most Valuable Performer, and Most Valuable Field Performer by the Atlantic Sun.
Kolokilagi added a third place finish in the discus (44.56m), as well as taking fourth in the hammer (46.23m).
Erik Ingle added six points to the Owls in the high jump, taking third with a height of 1.90.
At the end of the day, the defending champion Owls trailed this season's Indoor Champion East Tennessee State Buccaneers 198-180.
"We are very proud of the team," West said. "They did excellent. We fell a little short, but we are already reloading. We won't be losing many and we are bringing in some big time recruits.
"But this year's team should really be commended on their effort. They had a lot of hurdles to overcome and they did it."
Results
Shot Put
1. Aymerick Kolokilagi -15.92m
2. Casey Strickland -15.05m
Long Jump
7. Casey Strickland -6.39m
10. David Tansey -5.62m
Hammer Throw
4. Aymerick Kolokilagi -46.23m
11. Casey Strickland -38.59m
High Jump
3. Erik Ingle -1.90m
6. Casey Strickland -1.85m
3,000m Steeplechase
4. Travis Holmes -9:44.40
5. Scott Burley -9:49.13
7. Alex Hay -10:07.96
Javelin
1. Casey Strickland -52.23m
7. Aymerick Kolokilagi -45.83m
9. Blake Lenane -42.24m
4 X 100m Relay
1. Kennesaw State -41.36
1500m Run
3. Piotr Witczak -3:59.04
4. Jaakko Nieminen -3:59.23
Triple Jump
6. Kendall Parks -13.54m
Discus
1. Casey Strickland -44.78m
3. Aymerick Kolokilagi -44.56m
110m Hurdles
4. Kendall Parks -14.35
5. Jeremy Easley -15.33
400m Dash
1. James Verdi -47.29
2. Joshua James -48.59
4. David Tansey -48.97
100m Dash
2. Jemir Martinez -10.66
5. Antonio Logan -10.85
6. Kendall Parks -10.90
800m Run
1. Gianni Catalano -1:52.18
2. Daniel Grass -1:52.28
5. Michael Guntner -1:55.41
11. Piotr Witczak -2:00.38
400m Hurdles
2. Joshua James -54.06
3. Brian Graham -54.36
6. Jeremy Easley -57.28
7. Kendall Parks -58.31
200m Dash
2. James Verdi -21.76
4. Antonio Logan -21.86
5. Jemir Martinez -21.97
10. Khalfani Lawson -22.79
5000m Run
17. Maxwell Ndungu -16:19.26
18. Michael Johnson -16:28.33
4 X 400m Relay
1. Kennesaw State -3:14.67