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
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800 meter
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5
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Nicole Buehrle
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2:13.63
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1500 meter
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4
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Nicole Buehrle
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4:28.36*
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12
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Ashlynd Broling Miller
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4:58.74
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14
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Ashtyn Hagood
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5:00.02
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5000 meter
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10
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Lesley Green
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17:56.16
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12
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Makenzie Jones
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18:12.10
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14
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Emma Russum
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18:21.41
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19
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Sophia Neglia
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18:50.93
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4x100 meter Relay
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8
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Chattanooga
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50.15
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Dunning, Bryant, Brown, Williamson
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4x400 meter Relay
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8
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Chattanooga
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4:13.29
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Bryant, Davis, Buehrle, Brown
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Triple Jump
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14
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Kimbra Dunning
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10.38m*
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^ 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).
* meet record
Women’s all-freshman – Day 2
Heptathlon
Netanya Linares, Wofford
Mia Milasinovic, Samford
Discus
Emma Nolte, Samford
Jenna Kirkland, VMI
Judith Gonzalez, VMI
1,500-meter run
Bethany Graham, Furman
Beth Donnelly, Furman
Kiera Snyder, ETSU
High jump
Makenzie Hooton, Samford
Mia Milasinovic, Samford
Imani Boyd, Western Carolina
100-meter hurdles
Kerrington Johnson, Wofford
Netanya Linares, Wofford
Imani Boyd, Western Carolina
400-meter dash
Jasmine Jefferson, Wofford
Kaitlyn Cole, Samford
Tara Davis, Mercer
100-meter dash
Mecca Jackson, The Citadel
Madeline McNinch, Wofford
Rylee Jorgensen, Wofford
800-meter run
Megan Marvin, Furman
Katie Strozier, Samford
Julia Karsten, ETSU
400-meter hurdles
Kerrington Johnson, Wofford
Imani Boyd, Western Carolina
Mallory Lowe, Western Carolina
200-meter dash
Mecca Jackson, The Citadel
Kaitlin Cole, Samford
Mekyll Robinson, Western Carolina
5,000-meter run
Bethany Graham, Furman
Emily Little, Furman
Kylie Wittman, Furman
Shot put
Emma Nolte, Samford
Jenna Reid, Wofford
Triple jump
Omare McBride, Western Carolina
Amaya English, Western Carolina
Rylee Joegensen, Wofford