FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The Tulane track and field program got a very good test during the opening day of the Tyson Invitational, with six different student-athletes competing inside the Randal Tyson Track Complex. The meet features six of the top-ten squads in the country and nine of the top 25 teams.
Hilary Woods finished fourth in the second heat of the 60 meter in a time of 7.78, which ended up as the 37th best time of the day in the prelims. The sophomore posted her third fastest time of the season in one of the stoutest sprinting fields she has faced in her young career.
Four student-athletes competed in the 400 meter event, with junior Jamie Riles posting the best finish in the group. Riles was in great position after a first lap of 26.16, siting second in the event, but a second lap time of 30.78 dropped her to fourth in heat. Her overall clip of 56.94 is her fourth fastest time this season and placed her 46th overall among the field of 72. The other three Green Wave runners competed in the same heat, withTiffanie Smith leading the way with a personal best 58.62.
Smith may want to get her photo take while at the Randal Tyson Track Complex, because she has set her PR in the 400 meter event twice at the site. Her previous best of 59.19 at the 400-meter distance was set last season at the Tyson Invitational. Jerica Banks ran 59.20 and Zandria Debowles clocked a 59.35, as well, in the event.
DeBowles also competed in the high jump and nabbed a top-ten finish with a clearance of 1.63-meters. The senior cleared the opening bar of 1.58 meters on her opening attempt and took just two jumps to get past the 1.63-meter plateau. Her three misses at 1.68-meters ended the competition for her, but marks the fourth time this season and tenth time in her career that she has posted a height of better than 1.60-meters.
The Green Wave will begin competition at 11:00 a.m. on day two of the event, with the triple jumpers taking to the runway in the first women's event of the day. You can follow the live results by clicking here.
You can follow the Tulane track and field programs on Twitter (@GreenWaveTkFld) or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TulaneXCTF.
Day One Results for 2012 Tyson Invitational
60 meter Prelims
37. Jamie Riles, 7.78
400 meter
46. Jamie Riles, 56.94
61. Tiffanie Smith, 58.62 *
63. Jerica Banks, 59.20
64. Zandria Debowles, 59.35
High Jump
9. Zandria Debowles, 1.63m
T-16. Melanie Mainor, 1.58m
Long Jump
25. Raquelle Collins, 5.44m