Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Sunday, January 10
Nashville, Tenn.
Middle Tennessee
at
Ed Temple Classic
Raiders stride into 2016
1/10/2016 6:47:00 PM | Track & Field/Cross Country
Eight first-place finishes
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In their first meet of 2016, the Middle Tennessee track & field teams put on a show, taking back to Murfreesboro eight first-place finishes, while claiming 34 top-five finishes at the Ed Temple Classic.
"It was a pretty good day and it was good to get the athletes back into competition," said head coach Dean Hayes. "I was proud of what we did and the results that we got."
Ifiok Umoh made his presence felt quickly after capturing the top spot in the 55-meter dash preliminary round, finishing in 6.50 seconds in the eight-athlete race. Umoh then raced to first once more with his 6.39-second time in the finals, while teammate Chaz Simmons finished third in 6.66.
Umoh and Simmons were not done. The duo finished first and second in the 200 meter, with Umoh claiming the top spot once more with his time of 22.49 seconds. Simmons finished in 23.13 for second.
The duo also helped the 4x400-meter relay team place second in the four-team race. The team of Umoh, Simmons, Eliud Rutto and Greg Cantrell finished in 3:23.60 for second and were only 3.34 seconds behind Tennessee State.
Rutto, a 2014 NCAA All-American, continued his successful return to the track. The Eldoret, Kenya native won the 400 meter, finishing in 49.03 seconds, while Cantrell finished fourth in 53.59.
Jacob Patten also added a first-place finish for the Blue Raider men's squad, clearing 2.05 meters (6-8.75 feet). Alden Dixon raced against the clock in the mile and finished in 4:39.09.
For the Middle Tennessee women, Shaina Johnson earned her first individual title of the season, finishing the 800 meter in 2:18.76.
In the 5,000 meter, Josphine Kiptebeny placed first in 16:53.45, while Rachel Kigen finished third in 18:18.99. The 5K race is the first for the Blue Raider duo during the indoor season.
Barbara Vilson continued her excellent start to the indoor season. At the season-opening Vanderbilt Opener, Vilson cleared a personal-best 1.74 meters (5-8.5) in the high jump and again bested her previous mark, clearing 1.79 meters (5-10.5) at the Ed Temple Classic.
As of Sunday night, Vilson is tied for sixth in the NCAA with her 1.79-meter jump.
Pershawna Williams and Jessica Howell also competed in the high jump, with Williams placing second (1.69m/5-6.5) and Howell fifth (1.49m/4-10.5).
Williams also claimed second and a personal-best in the triple jump, bounding 12.74 meters (41-10). Her previous best distance came at the 2014 Christmas Invitational, where she leaped 12.34 meters (40-6).
"The next meet we go to is at Vanderbilt and it will be loaded with plenty of competition," Hayes said. "It will be a very good meet and high quality."
Middle Tennessee continues competition at the Commodore Invitational Jan. 15-16.
"It was a pretty good day and it was good to get the athletes back into competition," said head coach Dean Hayes. "I was proud of what we did and the results that we got."
Ifiok Umoh made his presence felt quickly after capturing the top spot in the 55-meter dash preliminary round, finishing in 6.50 seconds in the eight-athlete race. Umoh then raced to first once more with his 6.39-second time in the finals, while teammate Chaz Simmons finished third in 6.66.
Umoh and Simmons were not done. The duo finished first and second in the 200 meter, with Umoh claiming the top spot once more with his time of 22.49 seconds. Simmons finished in 23.13 for second.
The duo also helped the 4x400-meter relay team place second in the four-team race. The team of Umoh, Simmons, Eliud Rutto and Greg Cantrell finished in 3:23.60 for second and were only 3.34 seconds behind Tennessee State.
Rutto, a 2014 NCAA All-American, continued his successful return to the track. The Eldoret, Kenya native won the 400 meter, finishing in 49.03 seconds, while Cantrell finished fourth in 53.59.
Jacob Patten also added a first-place finish for the Blue Raider men's squad, clearing 2.05 meters (6-8.75 feet). Alden Dixon raced against the clock in the mile and finished in 4:39.09.
For the Middle Tennessee women, Shaina Johnson earned her first individual title of the season, finishing the 800 meter in 2:18.76.
In the 5,000 meter, Josphine Kiptebeny placed first in 16:53.45, while Rachel Kigen finished third in 18:18.99. The 5K race is the first for the Blue Raider duo during the indoor season.
Barbara Vilson continued her excellent start to the indoor season. At the season-opening Vanderbilt Opener, Vilson cleared a personal-best 1.74 meters (5-8.5) in the high jump and again bested her previous mark, clearing 1.79 meters (5-10.5) at the Ed Temple Classic.
As of Sunday night, Vilson is tied for sixth in the NCAA with her 1.79-meter jump.
Pershawna Williams and Jessica Howell also competed in the high jump, with Williams placing second (1.69m/5-6.5) and Howell fifth (1.49m/4-10.5).
Williams also claimed second and a personal-best in the triple jump, bounding 12.74 meters (41-10). Her previous best distance came at the 2014 Christmas Invitational, where she leaped 12.34 meters (40-6).
"The next meet we go to is at Vanderbilt and it will be loaded with plenty of competition," Hayes said. "It will be a very good meet and high quality."
Middle Tennessee continues competition at the Commodore Invitational Jan. 15-16.
| Men's Results | Women's Results |
| 55-Meter Dash Prelims 1. Ifiok Umoh (6.50) 3. Chaz Simmons (6.66) 55-Meter Dash Finals 1. Ifiok Umoh (6.39) 4. Chaz Simmons (6.68) 200 Meter 1. Ifiok Umoh (22.49) 2. Chaz Simmons (23.13) 400 Meter 1. Eliud Rutto (49.03) 4. Greg Cantrell (53.59) 800 Meter 2. Geoffry Cheruiyot (1:56.68) Mile 1. Alden Dixon (4:39.09) 55-Meter Hurdles Prelims 3. Greg Cantrell (8.44) 5. Atsu Nyamadi (9.21) 55-Meter Hurdles Final 3. Atsu Nyamadi (7.96) 6. Greg Cantrell (8.64) 4x400-Meter Relay 2. Umoh, Rutto, Simmons, Cantrell (3:23.60) High Jump 1. Jacob Patten (2.05m) Pole Vault 2. Nicholas Vandewalker (3.99m) Shot Put 2. Atsu Nyamadi (13.50m) 3. Vincent Okot (12.54m) 4. John Ampomah (12.38m) | 55-Meter Dash Prelims 11. Doreen Agyei (7.33) 200 Meter 3. Elizabeth Dadzie (25.75) 6. Doreen Agyei (25.89) 11. Jessica Howell (26.95) 400 Meter 2. Taylor Day (57.36) 4. Agnes Abu (58.48) 800 Meter 1. Shaina Johnson (2:18.76) 4. Gladys David (2:20.79) Mile 2. Rhema Cheruiyot (5:16.89) 5,000 Meter 1. Josphine Kiptebeny (16:53.45) 3. Rachel Kigen (18:18.99) 55-Meter Hurdles Prelims 4. India Hammond (8.16) 8. Elizabeth Dadzie (8:45) 12. Qetuwrah Abdullah-Muhammad (9.20) 55-Meter Hurdles Finals 3. Elizabeth Dadzie (8.02) 5. India Hammond (8.24) 4x400-Meter Relay 6. Abu, Agyei, Dadzie, David (4:21.09) High Jump 1. Barbara Vilson (1.79m) 2. Pershawna Williams (1.69m) 5. Jessica Howell (1.49m) Long Jump 2. India Hammond (5.78m) 4. Atarah Abdullah-Muhammad (5.59m) 11. Pershawna Williams (5.27m) Triple Jump 2. Pershawna Williams (12.74m) 3. India Hammond (12.71m) 8. Atarah Abdullah-Muhammad (11.22m) Shot Put 4. Elizabeth Dadzie (10.45m) 8. Jessica Howell (8.90m) |
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