McMillan Wows in 200 Meter Dash, While Five Event Titles by T&F Highlight South Alabama Invitational for Green Wave
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 Sophomore Lilla McMillan notched a 23.91 in the 200 meter dash at the South Alabama Invitational on Saturday |
April 12, 2014
MOBILE, Ala. - Four Tulane track and field athletes posted the top finishes in their respective events, while the women's 4 x 400 meter relay team also placed first, on Saturday in Mobile, Ala., at the South Alabama Invitational, held at the Jaguar Track on South Alabama's campus.
Senior Hilary Woods, freshman Sara Kebede, sophomore Jessica Adamson and redshirt freshmanDaliadiz Ortiz all came out on top in their respective events, while many other Green Wave athletes posted top-five finishes on the day. In addition to those event titles, sophomore Lilla McMillan notched a new high-mark on the season in the 200 meter dash.
"I can say that we have pushed the team pretty hard over the last few weeks," said Tulane track and field director Eric Peterson. "We felt that we were going to get some strong performances out of the team competing at home two weeks ago, and we did. We knew with the level of competition we were up against out in California, we would get some good performances, and we did. This was a different kind of meet. The weather conditions were almost ideal, and we had some of our kids capitalize on that, while others didn't."
"We have about three or four more opportunities before the Conference USA Championships, so we need for all of our athletes to perform up to their best ability and capitalize on all of their hard work," added Peterson. "We don't have a lot of competitors with marks that will qualify for a regional, but we do have a lot of athletes who are competing well enough to make an impact at the conference level. We want that to change in the next few weeks. We have a high level of confidence in these athletes, and I know many of them have high expectations in their personal development and growth."
Kebede finished first in the 800 meter run with a finish of 2:15.59, giving her just her second event title of her young career, and her first since her collegiate outdoor debut at the Southern Miss Invitational on March 15. Kebede led a trio of 800 meter runners who finished in the top ten, with junior Michelle Kreutzberg coming in at third with a time of 2:16.42 and senior Amanda Savage, who set a personal record with a time of 2:28.79, good for seventh place.
Adamson ran in the 1,500 meter race for just the second time this season, but one wouldn't know that with her first-place finish of 4:57.99. In the season opener at the Jaguar Opener - coincidentally held at Jaguar Track - the Toronto native posted a personal best in the event with a time of 4:52.06. Freshman Katharine Smiley came in fourth during the race, posting a time of 5:03.61.
Woods paced the 400 meter dash race with a finish of 57.20. Just two weeks ago at the Tulane Team Challenge, Woods won her first event title of the season in the same event, posting a season-high mark of 56.97, just three-tenths of a second off her personal record.
McMillan continued her hot streak in the 200 meter dash. The native of Mill Valley, Calif., placed second in the event with a time of 23.91, and that mark stands as the fourth-best in the league coming into the weekend.
"Lilla didn't win the event, but her performance marked the first time under 24 seconds since she has been here," said Peterson.
Four of the aforementioned runners in McMillan, Woods, Adamson and Kreutzberg joined forces in the 4 x 400 meter relay for the first time this outdoor season. The quartet placed first in the event, finishing in a time of 3:47.04.
Ortiz, who has two event titles to her name already this season while also posting three second-place finishes, topped out today at 47.97 meters (157-04). While the mark is not a new personal record, it is consistent with most of her throws on the year.
Two sophomore long jumpers in Tamika Brazzel and Devon Breaux didn't win event titles today, but posted top-notch results in their specialty event. Brazzel placed second with a season-high leap of 5.87 meters (19-3.25), while Breaux came in third, jumping just below of his season-best mark with a jump of 7.25 meters (23-9.5).
"Both Tamika and Devon made technical improvements in the long jump," mentioned Peterson. "The event is really coming together for them, even though it may not show in the rankings from this meet. I feel real strongly that it will all come together. They are both strong athletes."
Freshman pole vaulter Caleb Bertrand continued to build on his stellar rookie season, as the native of Elton, La., notched a new personal best in the pole vault with a jump of 4.95 meters (16-2.75). He placed second on the day in the event, and his mark remains as the second-best leap in school history, while also adding onto his freshman record in the event.
"Caleb is working on a lot of technical changes, and those are now beginning to come together for the first time," added Peterson. "It's good to see that come together for a good result. I really believe he is capable of qualifying for the regional meet, although this mark won't do it. The timing of his technique coming together is right on pace in what we were hoping for him. He's a good, young pole vaulter with a lot of ability, and we are excited that he is starting to improve."
Next up, the Green Wave will stay in state for a few meets over the upcoming weekend. On Friday, April 18, the track and field team will travel to Hammond, La., for the Southeastern Louisiana Invitational. The following day, the team will travel west to Baton Rouge, La., for the LSU Alumni Gold.
Fans can follow the Tulane track and field programs on Twitter (@GreenWaveXCTF) or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TulaneXCTF.
Tulane Results for South Alabama Invitational
Women
Women's 200m Dash
2. Lilla McMillan, 23.91 (4.3 wind)
Women's 400m Dash
1. Hilary Woods, 57.20
Women's 800m Run
1. Sara Kebede, 2:15.59
3. Michelle Kreutzberg, 2:16.42
7. Amanda Savage, 2:28.79 *
Women's 1,500m Run
1. Jessica Adamson, 4:57.99
4. Katharine Smiley, 5:03.61
Women's 100m High Hurdles
8. Tamika Brazzel, 14.56
12. Dominique Hever, 15.82
Women's 400m Intermediate Hurdles
5. Madison Smith, 1:11.93
Women's 4 x 400m Relay
1. Tulane (McMillan, Woods, Adamson, Kreutzberg), 3:47.04
Women's High Jump
8. Melanie Mainor, 1.54m (5-0.5)
--Tiffany Kenney, NH
Women's Pole Vault
3. Jessica Knierim, 3.70m (12-1.5)
4. Joanna Lapucha, 3.70m (12-1.5)
7. Mary Carson Pitts, 3.55m (11-7.75)
t-14. Jill Doyle, 3.25m (10-8)
t-14. Haley Miller, 3.25m (10-8)
Women's Long Jump
2. Tamika Brazzel, 5.87m (19-3.25) (3.3 wind)
6. Tiffany Kenney, 5.37m (17-7.5) (4.2 wind)
Women's Triple Jump
7. Taylor Caulk, 11.19m (36-8.5) *
Women's Discus Throw
8. Cheyenne Swanson, 36.68m (120-04)
Women's Hammer Throw
8. Cheyenne Swanson, 37.30m (122-4) *
Women's Javelin
1. Daliadiz Ortiz, 47.97m (157-04)
14. Tiffany Kenney, 21.55m (70-8)
Men
Men's 100m Dash
5. Taurean Nixon, 10.74
6. Richard Allen, 10.83
Men's 200m Dash
8. Richard Allen, 22.19 (4.2 wind)
Men's 400m Dash
t-4. John Mouton, 49.50
6. Christopher Arechiga, 49.89
Men's 800m Run
2. Jack White, 1:54.50
6. Jonathan Heil, 1:58.65
Men's 1,500m Run
6. Kade Kistner, 4:03.32
Men's 3,000m Run
4. Nicholas Meloro, 9:12.51 *
16. Geoff Zelek, 9:41.54
Men's 400m Intermediate Hurdles
4. Justyn Shackleford, 56.26
Men's 4 x 400m Relay
2. Tulane (Arechiga, Mouton, Heil, Shackleford), 3:23.08
Men's Pole Vault
2. Caleb Bertrand, 4.95m (16-2.75) *
Men's Long Jump
3. Devon Breaux, 7.25m (23-9.5) (4.2 wind)
Men's Shot Put
9. Eldrick Washington, 13.49m (44-3.25)
Men's Discus Throw
3. Thomas Lynch, 46.06m (151-01)