- University of Tennessee at Chattanooga junior Emily Poole and the women’s 4x400 meter relay team each scored on the final day to pull the Mocs ahead of UNCG for eighth in the Southern Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships at the VMI Corps Training Facility.
Poole won her heat in the 5000 meter in a personal best time of 17:55.52. That time would place her eighth in the overall standings. Her final split was nearly eight seconds faster than her previous splits to pull her ahead of UNCG’s Taylor Delaney who finished eighth in the second heat and five hundredths of a second behind Poole.
“Emily had to time trail her race all by herself,” Chattanooga head coach Andy Meyer said.
“She had to hit or exceed all her splits. We knew she’d have to go sub 18 to give herself a chance and she did.”
Rebecca Wich placed sixth in the first heat with a time of 18:55.37 and was 21st overall and just shy of her personal best. Furman’s Savannah Carnahan took first in the race with a SoCon record 16:24.
The women’s 4x400 meter scored for the Mocs, placing eighth overall. Katie Coker led off the race, covering her 100m in a time of 1:01.86. Julia Henderson followed with the second leg.
“Ashlynd Broling accelerated into her leg,” Meyer said. “Abby Bateman closed out with a great anchor leg.”
Bateman posted the best leg for Chattanooga in a time of 1:00.78 in the final race of the championships.
Samford claimed the title for a third straight year with 161 points. Western Carolina placed second with 150 points followed by Furman who was third with 107 points.
“The meet went well overall for us,” Meyer said. “They competed well and raced to their abilities. They are well ahead of where they were last year and we are looking for even better improvement moving to the outdoor season.
The Mocs will open competition in the Outdoor Track and Field season on Saturday, March 10 at Jacksonville State.
Sunday Results
5000m
8. Emily Poole 17:55.52
21. Rebekah Wich 18:55.37
4x400m Relay
8. Chattanooga 4:11.43
Coker (1:01.87); Henderson (1:02.81); Broling (1:05.98); Bateman (1:00.78)