 Freshman Nicolette Taku finished just 11 points out of the top eight spots in her first collegiate attempt at the indoor pentathlon. |
Asumnu, Taku Pace Track and Field on First Day of C-USA Championship
Feb. 23, 2007
HOUSTON, Texas - The Tulane track and field team got strong performances from both new and experienced runners Friday night on the first day of the Conference USA indoor track championship, held at the University of Houston's Bill Yeoman Fieldhouse.
Senior Gloria Asumnu turned in another strong performance for the Wave, posting the fastest time in the preliminary heats for the 60-meter dash. Her time of 7.33 seconds, a provisionally qualifying mark for the NCAA Indoor Championships, was just off the school record she set two weeks ago at Iowa State, but was enough to edge out Houston's Ebonie Floyd for the top time among the event's 24 entrants. Floyd, however, posted a better time in the 200-meter dash as the two again took first and second overall in the preliminaries. The two will square off in the finals tomorrow in both events.
Freshman Nicolette Taku also performed well in her first conference meet. Competing in the pentathlon for the first time at the collegiate level, Taku took home ninth with a score of 3,096 points. The performance was just 11 points shy of UCF's Tia Harewood in eighth place, which would have put team points on the board for Tulane.
Nevertheless, Taku's performance was still impressive, as the freshman set personal-best marks in the 60-meter hurdles and shot put, where she topped her previous mark by over a meter. In addition, Taku's performances in the high jump and 800-meter run marked her first collegiate attempts at these events.
Beyond the performances of Asumnu and Taku, five Green Wave athletes turned in personal bests on the first day of the meet. Freshman Christina Tegbe set a personal best in the long jump with a jump of 5.26 meters. Sophomore distance runner Cecelia Clarke improved her personal best in the 5,000-meter run, finishing the event in 19:08.87. In the 400-meter dash, freshman Olivia Kizzee and junior Kyra Lobbins both set top times, finishing in 10th and 11th, respectively. Junior sprinter Taneekwa Ross also improved her career best in the 60-meter dash, running the event in 7.74 seconds.
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After the first day, the SMU Mustangs hold a one-point lead with 32 points after six scored events. The UAB Blazers and host Houston Cougars are tied for second with 31 points. The meet continues tomorrow as 10 more Green Wave athletes will try to bring home conference accolades.
Here are the results from the first day of competition:
PENTATHLON
9. Nicolette Taku, 3096
HIGH JUMP
12. Arielle Minor, 1.54m (5-00.50)
LONG JUMP
19. Christina Tegbe, 5.26m (17-03.25) (Personal Best)
5,000-METER RUN
11. Aubrey Phillips, 18:08.48
16. Cecelia Clarke, 19:08.87 (Personal Best)
800-METER RUN
PRELIMINARIES
23. Whitney Hampton, 2:24.63
60-METER DASH
PRELIMINARIES
1. Gloria Asumnu, 7.33
14. Taneekwa Ross, 7.74 (Personal Best)
15. Shaina Pelham, 7.74
400-METER DASH
PRELIMINARIES
10. Olivia Kizzee, 57.58 (Personal Best)
11. Kyra Lobbins, 57.97 (Personal Best)
200-METER DASH
PRELIMINARIES
2. Gloria Asumnu, 24.21
12. Shaina Pelham, 25.33
16. Kyra Lobbins, 25.50
17. Olivia Kizzee, 25.58
26. Taneekwa Ross, 26.44
DISTANCE MEDLEY RELAY
10. Tulane (Whitney Hampton - Jasmine Momoh - Vanessa Kienast - Aubrey Phillips), 12:41.41
--Roll Wave--