By: KSU Sports Information
KENNESAW, Ga. – Heading into their last meet before the 2012 Atlantic Sun Outdoor Conference Championship, the Kennesaw State men’s and women’s track and field teams will travel to Auburn, Ala., for the Auburn Tiger Track Classic, April 6-7 for a final tune up at the Hutsell-Rosen Track.
“We are essentially unloading everyone since this is our last meet before the Atlantic Sun Championship,” head coach Andy Eggerth said. “I am looking forward to big performances and a lot of personal records being broken.”
Both the men and women are looking to build on their successes from this past weekend’s meet at the Yellow Jacket Invitational. Leading the attack for the women was junior Suzee Mills, setting a new team record in the hammer throw and winning the event with a mark of 52.76. For her efforts she was awarded the Atlantic Sun Conference Athlete of the Week for the second time this season.
Adding to the momentum is redshirt freshman Kentrell White who broke two school records, 11.93 seconds in the 100 meter dash and 24.21 in the 200m. The 4 x 400 meter relay record was also reclaimed, as White, Cynthia Davis, De’Coshia Boswell, and Brittany Robinson bolstered a 3:47.94 finish. The women continue to improve each and every week as they set the sights on the Atlantic Sun Outdoor Championship. After a couple of runner-up performances and a tight finish at the Indoor Championship, the women have emerged as a top contender for this year’s championship.
On the men’s side, senior Kendall Parks continues to advance, as his 53.82 second finish in the 400m hurdles surpassed his time at the Georgia Relays by almost two seconds. Now ranked as the top hurdler in the 110m and the 400m for the conference. Following close behind is teammate Brian Graham who placed 7th overall in the 400 meter hurdles and led the Owls in the 110m hurdles with a third place finish and a new personal record of 14.50 seconds.
At his last showing in 2011, Parks raced to a second place finish at Hutsell-Rosen Track with a blazing time of 14.10 seconds. Looking to qualify for this year’s NCAA Regionals in both the 110m and 400m hurdles, the senior is more than anxious to have an exceptional showing in Auburn.
Competition begins Friday at 4:30 p.m. with the hammer throw, which is the only event Friday. Action picks up again at 11 a.m., on Saturday. The meet will be the final tune-up before the Owls travel to Jacksonville, Fla., to compete in the A-Sun Outdoor Track and Field Championship on Apr. 20 – 21.
In 2011 the men ousted ETSU by 66 points to claim the title. The women finished third behind the two Jacksonville schools, but with the addition of some talented freshman, which join a solid core group of athletes, the women are bound to make a title run. For updates throughout the Tiger Classic, you can follow the team on Twitter @KSUTrackFieldXC.
