Mocs Track and Field Finish Ninth Overall

Sunday, May 2, 2021

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women’s outdoor track and field team finished ninth overall and set a pair of personal bests on the final day of the Southern Conference Championships on the Western Carolina campus.

“Today was a day of good and bad,” Chattanooga head coach Andy Meyer said.

In the women’s 1500 meter, senior Nicole Buehrle just missed all-conference honors with a fourth place finish and a PR 4:28.36, more than four seconds faster than her previous best time set two weeks ago at Georgia Tech.

“Nicole rans the race of her life!” Meyer said.

“She passed five girls in the last 400 meters at 68 seconds and finished less than half a second out of third.

Buehrle came on strong at the end of the 800 meter final to snag fifth place despite a short rest. She ran the distance in a time of 2:13.63, beating out ETSU’s Jessica Lord by 0.13 seconds at the finish line.

“She only had one hour to recover,” Meyer said. “She caught four, this time in the last 150 meters. It was an impressive double.”

Kimbra Dunning recorded a PR in the triple jump. On her first attempt of the day, she recorded a 10.38 meter.

“She jumped off a 32-foot board for the first time ever and set a PR,” Meyer said.

The 5000 meter crew was led by Lesley Green who finished under 18 minutes with a time of 17:56.16. Makenzie Jones was two spot behind her at 18:12.10 and Emma Russum finished with a time of 18:21.41 on an overcast day.

“Our 5k girls all were running after the 10k last night and showed great grit all coming within seconds of their 5k best times,” Meyer said. “We knew the 5k was loaded with talent the girls did wonderful running so hard for two straight days.“

4x100 meter team got the day started. Kimbra Dunning led off and handed the baton to Imani Bryant. Faith Brown ran the third leg and McKenzie Williamson anchored the team with a time of 50.15. The day concluded with the 4x400 meter. Bryant led of the relay, but an injury slowed her down. Emmy Davis ran the second and handed off to Buehrle while Brown anchored the team.

“The bad was we will miss all our seniors as they competed for the last time today,” Meyer said.

“Ashlynd, Sophia and Nicole are true student athletes. I have definitely been blessed to coach each one of these fine young ladies. They all three have had incredible influences on our athletic and academic team successes. They will be greatly missed.

“It will be hard pressed to replace these three due to their kindness, integrity and willingness to think of their teammates and others first. Yes, I can’t think of three better ladies to represent our team, our department and this university.”

Samford claimed the overall men’s and women’s titles. The women’s posted a 109-point margin over second place and repeated as league champs and claimed its fourth overall. The men won its third title and first since winning back-to-back in 2014 and 2015.

Day Two Results

800 meter
5	Nicole Buehrle	2:13.63

1500 meter
4	Nicole Buehrle	4:28.36*
12	Ashlynd Broling Miller	4:58.74
14	Ashtyn Hagood	5:00.02

5000 meter
10	Lesley Green	17:56.16
12	Makenzie Jones	18:12.10
14	Emma Russum	18:21.41
19	Sophia Neglia	18:50.93

4x100 meter Relay
8	Chattanooga	50.15
	Dunning, Bryant, Brown, Williamson

4x400 meter Relay
8	Chattanooga	4:13.29
	Bryant, Davis, Buehrle, Brown

Triple Jump
14	Kimbra Dunning	10.38m*

^ Personal Record

Women’s results – Final

1. Samford – 229.5 points

2. Wofford – 120.5

3. Western Carolina – 114

4. ETSU – 93

5. Furman – 88

6. Mercer – 59

7. The Citadel – 50

8. VMI – 34

9. Chattanooga – 30

10. UNCG – 0

Women’s Most Outstanding Athlete

Cherrish Wright, Mercer

Women’s Pinnacle Award (highest GPA on championship-winning team)

Aiya Finch, Samford

Day 2 champions

Women: Heptathlon Megan Dunn, Wofford (5,013 points); discus Maggie Johnston, Samford (50.79 meters); 4x100-meter relay Destiny Shippy, Kerrington Johnson, Rylee Jorgensen, Georgia McDevitt, Wofford (46.27); 1,500-meter run Gabbi Jennings, Furman (4:22.51); high jump Charlotte Krause, Samford (1.74 meters); 100-meter hurdles Kerrington Johnson, Wofford (13.27); 400-meter dash Carlandra Jones, Mercer (54.74); 100-meter dash Cherrish Wright, Mercer (11.63); 800-meter run Megan Marvin, Furman (2:04.18)*; 400-meter hurdles Kerrington Johnson, Wofford (1:01.42); 200-meter dash Cherrish Wright, Mercer (23.88); 5,000-meter run Bethany Graham, Furman (17:04.60); shot put Maggie Johnston, Samford (14.30 meters); triple jump Mekayla Brown, ETSU (11.95 meters); 4x400-meter relay Marissa Blakely, Dominiq Delisser, Mekyll Robinson, Kellsie Whitehead, Western Carolina (3:44.01).