University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
Rhodes Invite
Tiger Track and Field Starts Season Strong at Rhodes Open
Mar 19, 2011 | Men's Track and Field
March 19, 2011
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Memphis track and field squad started the outdoor season strong at the Rhodes Open Meet, with several season-opening marks from athletes returning from injury and redshirt, as well as several athletes picking up from where they left off in indoor season.
The men were led by junior Robert Jackson, last season's C-USA champion in the hurdles, was runner-up with a 14.88 mark. Senior Darius Anderson was fifth with a 15.55 mark.
In 400m hurdles, seniors Richard Lowe (52.24) and Nick Harold (53.19) were second and third, respectively.
In the short sprints, freshman Jaz Davis was third in the 100m dash with a 10.97 mark. Davis also earned his stripes in his first outdoor meet with a 22.08 mark in the 200m dash, finishing seventh.
Distance runners had a strong day for Memphis, with freshmen James Maglasang (4:17.68) and Nick Lingley (4:20.36) finished first and second, respectively, in the mile run. In the middle distances, sophomore Trent Scott was fourth with a 1:56.25 mark.
Even without senior Knut Syversen, who rested this week after his second-team All-American showing at last week's NCAA Indoor Championships, the men's throwers were exemplary. Sophomore Savvas Arestis won the discus with a 54.46m (178' 8") throw, while sophomore Andrew Miller (45.88m; 150' 6") and freshman Eli Mahaley (45.82m; 150' 4") were fourth and fifth, respectively.
Miller didn't stop there, winning the hammer throw with a 49.43m (162' 2") toss. Sophomore Casey Carl made his Memphis debut in the javelin, winning the event with a 58.77m (192' 10") mark in his first competition since transferring from Bethel University.
On the women's side, senior Tayanna Simpson returned from her redshirt during indoor season strong, placing second in the 100m hurdles with a 14.28 mark and second in the 400m hurdles with a 1:00.95 showing.
In another 2011 track debut, senior LaShundra Kershaw was third in the 100m dash with a 24.68 mark.
Freshman Jenny Johnston was fourth in her first outdoor meet, with a 2:21.69 mark in the 800m run.
Senior Marina Vojinovic made her return after redshirting during indoor season, with a 14.63m (48' 0") shot put distance.
In the field, sophomore Kirsten Berding was second in the high jump with a 1.67m (5' 5.75") mark, while classmate Alyssa Northcutt was runner-up in the pole vault with a 3.20m (10' 6.00") height.
The 4x400m relay teams for both the men and the women were solid, with the women's team of Johnston, Nandia Taylor, Jasmine Darden and Holly Joiner finished fifth with a 4:06.57 mark. The men's squad of Scott, Lingley, Maglasang and Abdi Guleed were sixth with a 3:28.63 showing.
Memphis track and field will be back in action, next week, at the LSU Purple and Gold Invite in Baton Rouge, La.
Players Mentioned
