 Photo by Holt Menzies | The Appalachian Friday afternoon, the sound of the starting gun consumed the west side of campus as the Appalachian State men’s and women’s track and field teams hosted the Appalachian Invite at Kidd Brewer Stadium.
The meet gave head coach John Weaver and staff one final look at their runners, jumpers and throwers before the Mountaineers host the Southern Conference Outdoor Championships Saturday and Sunday.
Over the course of the meet, nine Mountaineers from the men’s team and 14 from the women’s squad finished first in their respective events.
Senior John Svoboda had a good outing, finishing first in both the 100m and 200m dashes, and set a new personal-record in each. Svoboda posted a time of 10.57 in the 100m, moving him to seventh place in school history.
“We had a lot of guys run well today, which bodes well for conference,” senior distance runner Phil Mitchell said. “We’ve missed the Triple Crown by half of a point two years in a row, and we have a great shot at it again this year.”
The ASU men however, were not the only ones to have a good outing Friday. The women’s team flexed their muscles and showed why they too will be tough to beat at this weekend’s outdoor championships.
The Appalachian women claimed the top four spots in the 400m dash, with all four runners posting season-best times.
Sophomore Asia Dunlap finished first with a time of 57.76, followed by Lynda Hiller (58.11), D’Shawrna McLucas (58.41) and Linnea Howie (61.45).
ASU freshman Trinity Foreman led a trio of Mountaineers in the 800m with a season-best time of 2:19.17. Junior Dani Reese finished second in 2:21.73, just ahead of freshman Bridget Burke who took third with a time of 2:24.61.
The women’s team will look to athletes like Danielle Thorpe to lead them during the upcoming conference competition. Thorpe was named SoCon Field Athlete of the Week April 8. It was the thrower’s second consecutive week holding that honor, and the third time she garnered that recognition this season.
“No doubt the guys will blow it out. For the girls, everyone has to come ready, with their game faces on,” Thorpe said.
For the first time since 2007, the SoCon Outdoor Championships will be held in Boone at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Coaches and athletes hope the home-field advantage will help them bring home two more conference crowns.
“I think it gives us an advantage,” Thorpe said. “We run this track everyday, we know all the ins and outs, so for us it’s like another practice.”
Story: JOHN LASSITER, Intern Sports Reporter
Photo: HOLT MENZIES, Chief Photographer |
