Potts, Adamson Shine for T&F at Black and Gold Invitational
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 Freshman shot putter Taylor Potts notched the second-best shot put throw in Tulane history on Saturday |
May 3, 2014
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Freshman Taylor Potts and sophomore Jessica Adamson recorded new personal bests in their respective events at the Southern Miss Black and Gold Invitational for the Tulane track and field team on Saturday in Hattiesburg, Miss., while also advancing their rankings in the Conference USA standings and increasing their chances of competing in the NCAA East Regionals in just a few weeks.
With no competition on the schedule last weekend, and with finals on many of the athletes' minds, the Green Wave got stellar performances just an hour and a half up the road from New Orleans. Seven Tulane track and field athletes recorded new personal-best marks on the day.
"In a meet that wasn't a high-powered level of competition, I was happy with how several of our athletes stepped up and won races, won events, set lifetime-best performances or set some seasonal-best marks," said Tulane track and field director Eric Peterson. "Two weeks away from the Conference USA Championships, those are the kinds of results we are looking for out of our team."
Potts won the event title in the shot put, tossing 14.88 meters (48-10) to record a new career-high. The Fishers, Ind., native's toss is good for the second-best throw in school history. Coming into the weekend, the throw would rank second on the season in Conference USA, and more importantly, the throw ranks in the top-30 in the NCAA East Regional, inching her closer to competing past the C-USA Outdoor Championships.
Adamson set a new personal best in the 800 meters with a first-place finish of 2:09.80. Her previous high of 2:11.30 was one one-hundredth of a second outside of the Tulane top-ten, but Saturday's mark moves her all the way to sixth place in school history. The time also gives her the second-best finish in the conference standings on the season.
A trio of Green Wave pole vaulters notched solid results, with two recording new personal bests on the day. Senior Joanna Lapucha placed third in the event on Saturday with a leap of 3.87 meters (12-8.25). Lapucha's teammate, junior Jessica Knierim, posted an identical result, which was five centimeters higher than her previous best. Freshman Emma Staisloff came in at fifth on the day while also notching a new personal best, clearing 3.77 meters (12-4.5).
"We thought that Taylor Potts, Jessica Adamson, Jessica Knierim, Emma Staisloff and Joanna Lapucha were on the verge of a breakthrough," stated Peterson. "We feel like they've all competed well while consistently improving. We had some breakthroughs today."
Senior Hilary Woods also had a big day, as the New Orlenian took part in both the 200 meter dash and the 400 meter dash. Woods won the 200 meter dash event, finishing with a time of 24.76, despite battling through a nasty headwind. In the 400 meter dash, Woods placed second, but set a new personal best in the event, finishing with a time of 56.18.
On the men's side, junior Justyn Shackleford recorded a new season-best mark in the 400 meter hurdles, finishing with a time of 55.30. Sophomore John Mouton had a solid outing in the 400 meters, as well, placing eighth with a time of 49.80.
In addition to the aforementioned marks, two others set new personal bests on the day. Freshman shot putter Eldrick Washington placed second on Saturday with a new personal-best throw of 14.50 meters (47-7). Junior Taylor Caulk won the triple jump event title with a new personal-best leap of 11.29 meters (37-0.5).
Next weekend, part of the Green Wave track and field squad will head out to Tallahassee, Fla., for the Seminole Twilight, one week before the Conference USA Outdoor Championships in Houston from May 15-18.
"We are going to take a close look at the entire team as a staff and only have the athletes who need another competition before the conference meet to compete at Florida State," added Peterson.
Tulane Results for the Black and Gold Invitational
Women
Women's 200m Dash
1. Hilary Woods, 24.76 (-2.5 wind)
Women's 400m Dash
2. Hilary Woods, 56.18 *
Women's 800m Run
1. Jessica Adamson, 2:09.80 *
3. Michelle Kreutzberg, 2:17.52
6. Amanda Savage, 2:29.39
8. Allison Wegner, 2:33.52
Women's 100m High Hurdles
2. Dominique Hever, 15.19 (-1.5 wind)
Women's 400m Intermediate Hurdles
3. Madison Smith, 1:09.87
4. Dominique Hever, 1:09.94
Women's High Jump
4. Melanie Mainor, 1.52m (4-11.75)
--Azarri Badawi, NH
Women's Pole Vault
3. Joanna Lapucha, 3.87m (12-8.25)
4. Jessica Knierim, 3.87m (12-8.25) *
5. Emma Staisloff, 3.77m (12-4.5) *
6. Mary Carson Pitts, 3.47m (11-4.5)
Women's Long Jump
1. Tamika Brazzel, 5.60m (18-4.5)
7. Tiffany Kenney, 4.84m (15-10.5)
Women's Triple Jump
1. Taylor Caulk, 11.29m (37-0.5) *
--Tamika Brazzel, Foul
Women's Shot Put
1. Taylor Potts, 14.88m (48-10) *
4. Tiffany Kenney, 9.62m (31-6.75)
Women's Discus Throw
2. Cheyenne Swanson, 36.84 (120-10)
Women's Hammer Throw
2. Cheyenne Swanson, 36.42m (119-6)
Men
Men's 400m Dash
8. John Mouton, 49.80
Men's 1,500m Run
3. Jack White, 4:03.15
11. Nicholas Meloro, 4:17.42
Men's 400m Intermediate Hurdles
2. Justyn Shackleford, 55.30
Men's Pole Vault
1. Caleb Bertrand, 4.87m (15-11.75)
Men's Long Jump
2. Devon Breaux, 6.88m (22-7)
Men's Shot Put
2. Eldrick Washington, 14.50m (47-7) *
Men's Discus Throw
4. Thomas Lynch, 46.49m (153-2)
*= Personal Best