University of Memphis Athletics

Photo by: Michael Wade
Track And Field Has 14 Top-Three Finishes Saturday
Mar 18, 2017 | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
Gunnarsson set Icelandic national record in 200 meters.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – University of Memphis' Kolbeinn Gunnarsson had three top-three finishes and also set also set a record for his native country in second-day action at the 2017 Rhodes Invitational Saturday.
Gunnarsson finished second in the men's 200 meters (20.96) and third in the men's 100 meters (10.51) and also ran a leg on the Tigers' third-place 4x400 meter relay (3:14.35). Gunnarsson's 20.96 in the 200 meters is an Icelandic national record. Gunnarsson, an Akureyri, Iceland, native, is the first man in Icelandic track and field history to run a sub 21-second 200 meters.
In a look-back to Friday, Ashley Pryke won the women's javelin with a school-record throw of 175-3 (53.41m). Her javelin throw Friday shattered her program record by nearly 15 feet. Pryke's javelin mark also qualified her for the 2017 World University Games in Taiwan this August.
2017 Rhodes Invitational/Day Two Highlights
- The Rhodes Invitational is the 2017 outdoor season opener for Memphis.
- Jada Parker claimed the women's squad's lone title Saturday, winning the women's pole vault (13-1.5; 4.00m). Her 13-1.5 mark is an outdoor personal-best, surpassing her previous mark of 13-1 (3.99m) set at the 2016 Memphis Invitational.
- Naaman Norment placed second in the men's 400m (49.08). His time was a personal-best by nearly a second.
- Freshmen Nina de Poorter, DeeNia McMiller and Cera Chavez posted second-place finishes in the women's discus, women's shot put and women's 400m, respectively.
- Julian Sanchez-Pinto (9:10.20) and Matthew Kamph (9:22.38) placed first and second, respectively, in the men's 3000m steeplechase. Both times were personal-bests.
- Aaron Persinger was third in the men's 110m hurdles in a personal-best time of 14.53. His previous best was 14.73 set his freshman season.
Memphis Men's Results
100m – 3. Kolbeinn Gunnarsson, 10.51
200m – 2. Kolbeinn Gunnarsson, 20.96; 9. Christopher Walker, 22.26
400m – 2. Naaman Norment, 49.08
Mile – 6. Brock Ballard, 4:24.71
3000m steeplechase – 1. Julian Sanchez-Pinto, 9:10.20; 2. Matthew Kamph, 9:22.38
110m hurdles – 3. Aaron Persinger, 14.53
4x400m relay – 3. Memphis, 3:14.35 (Davon DeMoss, Kolbeinn Gunnarsson, Aaron Persinger, Christopher Walker)
Long jump – 2. Lennard Biere, 22-11 (6.98m)
Discus – 4. Yannik Schaly, 167-9 (51.13m); 5. Adam Neelly, 158-11 (48.43m); 8. Wade Wells, 153-1 (46.66m); 11. Lennard Biere, 140-8 (42.87m); 12. Rafel Vallery, 139-5 (42.49m); 20. Simon Hosten, 121-11 (37.17m)
Shot put – 4. Wade Wells, 51-11.25 (15.83m); 10. Simon Hosten, 41-5.75 (12.64m)
Memphis Women's Results
400m – 2. Cera Chavez, 56.56; 15. De'Vonni Farrar, 1:02.10
Mile – 14. Savannah Smith, 5:30.58
400m hurdles – 4. Jasmine Taylor, 1:05.51; 8. Di'Anna Wright, 1:07.77
4x400m relay – 3. Memphis, 4:02.41 (Melinda Murdock, Cera Chavez, De'Vonni Farrar, Jasmine Taylor)
Pole vault – 1. Jada Parker, 13-1.5 (4.00m); 2. Dorina Baiker, 11-11.75 (3.65m); 6. Allie Hughes, 10-6 (3.20m); 8. Lilly Moore, 10-0 (3.05m)
Discus – 2. Nina de Poorter, 154-8 (47.15m); 4. DeeNia McMiller, 143-2 (43.65m)
Shot put – 2. DeeNia McMiller, 44-1.25 (13.44m); 4. Ashley Pryke, 42-7 (12.98m); 8. Nina de Poorter, 41-1.75 (12.54m)
Players Mentioned
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