Feb. 11, 2012
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - A pair of career-best performances highlighted the second day of competition for the Tulane track and field program at the Tyson Invitational. Estefany Cruz and Candice St. Etienne each posted top-ten finishes in their respective events at the Randal Tyson Track Complex on the campus of the University of Arkansas.
The triple jump has been a highlight for the Green Wave during the indoor campaign and it stole the show again on Saturday. Freshman Estefany Cruz wasn't having her best day in the prelims of the championship triple jump, sitting in sixth place with a jump of 12.22-meters after three attempts. In the finals, however, Cruz posted back to back jumps of better than 12.60-meters, including a personal best leap of 12.68-meters, to move into third overall. That jump was the second best among collegiate competitors in the field, as well.
On the oval, it was junior Candice St. Etienne that gave the Green Wave contingent their best performance, finishing tenth overall in the 800-meter run. St. Etienne competed in the second heat of the event and was the leader at the midway point, crossing the 400-meter mark in 1:06.48. She broke the tape in a career-best 2:14.96, but was edged by Purdue's Megan Pleanus by just one, one-hundredth of a second.
On the 200-meter track, Jamie Riles continued to put together a solid indoor campaign by posting the team's fastest 200 meter time in 2012. The junior placed 21st overall - winning her heat - with a time of 24.22, marking her second fastest career mark in the event. Hilary Woods continued to show consistency in the sprinting event, finishing third in her heat with a 25.35 showing.
The Green Wave will return to action on Friday, February 17 at the LSU Twilight in Baton Rouge, La. Events will begin at 12:30 p.m. inside the Maddox Field House.
You can follow the Tulane track and field and cross country programs on Twitter (@GreenWaveTkFld) or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TulaneXCTF.
Day Two Results for 2012 Tyson Invitational
200 meter
21. Jamie Riles, 24.22
50. Hilary Woods, 25.35
56. Tiffanie Smith, 25.56
68. Jerica Banks, 26.18
800 meter
10. Candice St. Etienne, 2:14.96 *
4x400m Relay
14. Tulane, 3:46.49 (Woods, Riles, T. Smith, St. Etienne)
Triple Jump
3. Estefany Cruz, 12.68 *
Briana Santiago, NM