ACU leads Track & Field Championships
Abilene Christian has the early lead in both the men's and women's divisions at the Lone Star Conference Track & Field Championships in Abilene, Texas.
ACU leads runner-up Angelo State, 114-76, in the women's team race
after eight of 22 events. Tarleton State is third with 25 followed
by Texas A&M-Commerce (16), Eastern New Mexico (10) and Texas
A&M-Kingsville (6).
Jessica Withrow paced the Wildcats with her third consecutive
victory in the heptathlon (4,971 points) to automatically qualify
for the NCAA Division II national meet May 22-24 in Walnut, Calif.
She will be defending champion at the NCAA competition after
winning last year in Charlotte, N.C., as a sophomore. She
also won the high jump (5-5.25) and finished second in the long
jump (18-0.25) to score 28 points.
Also winning events on Saturday were ACU's Winrose Karunde, 3,000-meter steeplechase (10:50.17), Loice Cheboi, 10,000 meters (37:11.39) and Callie Young, pole vault (12-10.25). ASU's Adree Lakey was a double winner setting a meet record in the hammer (172-1), while also winning the discus (160-9). The Rambelles Kris Crockett was the long jump (18-6.50) champion.
In the men's competition, Abilene Christian leads with 96 points after seven of 21 events. Angelo State is second with 41 points followed by Tarleton State (37), Texas A&M-Kingsville (27), Texas A&M-Commerce (13) and Eastern New Mexico (3).
The Wildcats picked up victories from Ramon Sparks in the long jump (23-8.75), Tyler Fleet in the hammer throw (167-5), Nick Jones in the discus throw (174-10), and Serge Gasore in the 10,000 (31:54.87). ASU's Chase Moore won the decathlon (6,669 points), A&M-C's Leslie White took the high jump (6-8.75) and TSU's Jared McNeil had the fastest time in the 3000-meter steeple chase (9:53.11).
The final day of competition Sunday will begin with field events at 1 p.m. and running events at 5 p.m.
ACU will be looking for its 14th straight men's title and second consecutive women's crown.
