Blue Raider Men and Women Claim Second at C-USA Championship

Thursday, May 12

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Middle Tennessee

Conference USA Championships

5/15/2016 9:41:00 PM | Track & Field/Cross Country

Four Champions Crowned

By: @MTAthletics

RESULTS

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – On the final day of the Conference USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at the Dean A. Hayes Stadium, the Blue Raider men's and women's teams fought valiantly and captured second place to conclude the championship, while four Blue Raiders were crowned champions.

In the women's team race, the Blue Raiders battled with Rice for the team title that came down to the final three events, where the Owls captured the team title with 122 points. The Blue Raiders notched 119.5 points for the second-place trophy.

For the men's team race, Western Kentucky used the sprint events to control a commanding lead over the rest of the field. Middle Tennessee used the 5,000 meter distance to eat into WKU's lead and tallied 123 points to Western's 148.

Winning individual titles for the Blue Raiders on the men's team was Eliud Rutto, John Ampomah and Sampson Laari.

Laari finished in 14:22.34 to capture the 5,000 on the final lap, overcoming UTEP's Cosmas Boit and Daniel Cheruiyot. The Blue Raiders finished five through eight, adding 10 more team points. Geoffry Cheruiyot (14:34.88) placed fifth, Shadrack Matelong sixth (14:37.97), Alden Dixon seventh (14:39.09) and Amos Cheruiyot eighth (14:41.39).

Ampomah, the 2015 NCAA Runner-Up in the javelin, conquered the field on his home turf, only needing one throw to earn the C-USA individual title. On Ampomah's second attempt, the Ghana native launched a throw well over the 240 feet mark, setting the distance to beat at 77.53 meters (254-4.75).

Ampomah continued to push the limits but fouled on his final four attempts. The senior's distance broke his own Conference USA Championship meet record, which he set last season.

Rutto, who continues to control the 800 meter in Conference USA, won the 800 in 1:49.44, outkicking UTEP's Jonah Koech to the finish. Laari finished third in the event, racing to the finish in 1:51.16.

Rutto and Laari also placed in the 1,500 meter, where Koech captured the individual title. Laari finished second in 3:43.88, while Rutto was third in 3:44.90. Hillary Rono was the third Blue Raider to reach the finals and finished fourth in 3:46.07.

For the MT women's squad, Agnes Abu captured first in the 800 meter and the 1,500 meter, contributing 20 points for the Blue Raiders.

In the 800 meter, Abu controlled the race from the beginning and finished in 2:06.93, while Susan Aneno, the 2016 C-USA Indoor Championship Freshman of the Meet, placed second in 2:07.58.

Abu also controlled the 1,500 meter and finishing in 4:22.90 over Rice's Elsa Racasan (4:24.48) and Abigall Cartwright (4:39.52).

India Hammond and Gladys David also reached the podium.

Hammond, a senior from Georgia, notched a season-best 12.90 meters (112-4) in the triple jump for third. David, who was one of six in the 5,000 meter, finished third in 16:33.84.

Middle Tennessee continues competition at the NCAA East Regional in Jacksonville, Florida May 26-28.

Women's Results
Javelin
12. Elizabeth Dadzie (34.23m/112-4)

Triple Jump
3. India Hammond (12.90m/42-4)
7. Pershawna Williams (12.35m/40-6.25)
19. Atarah Abdullah-Muhammad (11.02m/36-2)

4x100-Meter Relay
7. Taylor Day, India Hammond, Shaina Johnson, Elizabeth Dadzie (46.60)

1,500 Meter
1. Agnes Abu (4:22.90)

110-Meter Hurdles
8. Elizabeth Dadzie (13.94)

400 Meter
4. Loveth Odia (54.96)

High Jump
4. Barbara Vilson (1.70m/5-7)
6. Pershawna Williams (1.70m/5-7)

800 Meter
1. Agnes Abu (2:06.93)
2. Susan Aneno (2:07.58)

400-Meter Hurdles
4. Barbara Vilson (1:00.13)

5,000 Meter
3. Gladys David (16:33.84)
7. Hannah Maina (16:52.68)
10. Josphine Kiptebeny (17:14.78)
16. Rhema Cheruiyot (17:50.79)
19. Rachel Kigen (17:57.84)
28. Sharon Kibiwott (18:39.68)

4x400-Meter Relay
4. Taylor Day, Susan Aneno, Loveth Odia, Agnes Abu (3:42.91)

Men's Results
Javelin
1. John Ampomah (77.53m/254-4.75)
6. Atsu Nyamadi (62.02m/203-6)

1,500 Meter
2. Sampson Laari (3:43.88)
3. Eliud Rutto (3:44.90)
4. Hillary Rono (3:46.07)

Triple Jump
4. Phillip Smith (15.41m/50-6.75)
7. Vincent Okot (15.20m/49-10.5)

800 Meter
1. Eliud Rutto (1:49.44)
3. Sampson Laari (1:51.16)

400-Meter Hurdles
6. Bryson Lillard (53.98)

5,000 Meter
1. Sampson Laari (14:22.34)
5. Geoffry Cheruiyot (14:34.88)
6. Shadrack Matelong (14:37.97)
7. Alden Dixon (14:39.09)
8. Amos Cheruiyot (14:41.39)
15. Hillary Rono (14:57.86)

4x100-Meter Relay
8. Umoh, Adedamola, Simmons, Okeze (42.09)

4x400-Meter Relay
4. Adedamola, Rutto, Umoh, Lillard (3:13.15)