By: Hunter McKay
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Kennesaw State track and field won a pair of gold medals Friday on the opening day of the CUSA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Dean A. Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium.
Kali Terza recorded a throw of 69.12m (226-9) on her second attempt to win the women's hammer throw. The mark set a school record and ranks second in the NCAA East Region and sixth nationally this season. It also was the second-farthest winning throw in the event in CUSA Outdoor Championships history and KSU's first women's field-event gold medal in program history at the conference outdoor championships.
Jase Hunter claimed the gold medal in the men's hammer throw with a toss of 63.68m (203-11).
The KSU men are second with 40 points. Liberty leads the men's standings with 54 points after the opening day. KSU and Liberty are tied atop the women's standings with 20 points each after Thursday's action.
Men's Recap
Brian Limo (29:50.52) and
Collins Kipkemboi (29:57.35) finished second and third in the 10K final to score 16 points for KSU and close the night. It marked the second consecutive year Limo and Kipkemboi reached the podium in the meet's longest-distance event.
Harrison Pawsat (59.97m | 196-9) and
Joao Dalandrea (47.91m | 157-2) placed fourth and eighth in the hammer throw to earn six points for KSU.
Simon Seid and
Gavin Horton each cleared 4.95m (16-2.75) to finish fourth and sixth in the pole vault on attempts.
Freshman
Cameron Dean posted a leap of 7.19m (23-7.25) to finish seventh and score two points in the long jump final.
Thursday evening featured four men's preliminary races.
Edwin Kiprono qualified for the 1500m final with a time of 3:47.66.
Cameron Guadiano (14.00 seconds) and
Josh Jones (14.10 seconds) advanced to Saturday's final in the 110m hurdles.
Justin Warner (47.30 seconds) and
Eric Young II (47.40 seconds) moved on to the 400 meter final.
Chance Cross ran 10.33 seconds to finish fifth and advanced to Saturday's 100m final.
Kaelen Garrity is sixth in the decathlon with 3,191 points.
Women's Recap
Jermiya Winston (6.05m | 19-10.25),
Myesha Hall (6.04m | 19-9.75) and
Natalie Harris (6.02m | 19-9) finished fourth, fifth and eighth, respectively, in the long jump.
In the 1500m prelims,
Emma Sullivan earned a spot in the final with a time of 4:29.74.
KSU will have four women in Saturday's 100m hurdles final after
Tickia Sutton (13.73 seconds),
Madison Maxey (14.04 seconds),
Akerah Jones (14.05 seconds) and
Hannah Cheek (14.05 seconds) advanced.
Elaina Mbadinga's time of 55.30 seconds in the 400 meters secured the final spot in Saturday's final.
The KSU duo of
Ebony Whyte (11.67 seconds) and
Kenadie Singleton (11.72 seconds) earned spots in the 100-meter final.
Next Up
The Owls will compete on the second day of the CUSA Outdoor Championships beginning at 10 a.m. Friday, May 17.
