Women's Track Heads to Outdoor Championships

Thursday, May 10

Cullowhee, N.C.

All Day

Chattanooga

Southern Conference

5/9/2018 10:02:00 AM | Cross Country & Track & Field

Live Stats Heat Sheets Meet Notes Schedule of Events Meet Program Record Book

By: Anne Wehunt

WOMEN'S TRACK HEADS TO OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS THIS WEEK

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's outdoor track and field team will head to the 32^nd annual Southern Conference Championships this week in Cullowhee, N.C., The meet, hosted by Western Carolina, will run Thursday and Friday, May 10-11.

"We are looking for a solid week of competition," Chattanoga head coach Andy Meyer said. "Every girl on this roster has worked immensely hard over the last year. Most began training last summer for this very competition."

Emily Poole and Rebekah Wich will get the competition underway with the 10,000 meter run Thursday morning. Poole's time of 37:00.54 at the Emory Invitational is second best in the league this season while Wich's time of 38:39.24 ranks fifth.

Taylor Grayson's distance of 41.12 meters in the hammer throw ranks ninth in the SoCon standings. That even will commence at 12:30 p.m. for the women.

The women's 1500 meter run trials is slated for 1:15 with Julia Henderson and Brianna Nelson running for the Mocs. At 3:45, the women's 800 meter trials will take place. Abby Bateman holds the Mocs' best time in the race at 2:15.47, recorded at the Catamounts track earlier this season. She will be joined on the track by Ashlynd Broling, Nicole Buehrle, Katie Coker and Taylor Sawyer.

Rebekah Bryant and Rebekah Hampton will take part in the Long Jump final at 4:00 p.m., and Haley Morris will close out the day with the 3000 meter Steeplechase. She ranks 10^th in the SoCon standings with a time of 11:40.30 clocked at the Auburn War Eagle Invitational.

The women's 4x100 meter relay team will start off the competition for the Mocs at 1:10 p.m. followed by the 1500 meter finals. Bryant and Hampton will be in the triple jump at 3:15 p.m. and Grayson will finish out her meet competition in the shot put at 3:20 p.m.

Emily Poole will lead a field of four for Chattanooga in the 5000 meter run at 4:00 p.m. She ranks fifth in the league standings with a time of 17:25.19. Also in the field is Hannah Caldwell, Sophia Neglia and Wich.

The final event of the championships will be the women's 4x400 meter relay with Nicole Buehrle, Abby Bateman, Julia Henderson and Brianna Nelson.

Most of the girls have produced personal best marks in the weeks leading up to the meet," Meyer said. "Barring injury or illness, most also have fitness they've never had. Our prep to this meet has been great.

"The races tend to me to be a little more strategic at this time of year, especially for the distances. It's now combining fitness with savvy to produce overall results.

"The throws and jumps are still who is most explosive and powerful. In each and every event, we have at least one individual looking to at least place."

Samford, competing at its home track last year, dethroned two-time defending champion Western Carolina by 51 points.

This season's power rankings – determined by the top eight times or scores that are reported by the schools for each event that will be conducted at this week's championships – predict wins for Western Carolina on both sides.

The Western Carolina women hold a slim margin over Samford, accruing 180 points to the Bulldogs' 156.5. The Catamounts totaled 108.5 points in the field events.

This year's championship is free to the public. Live results, daily recaps, photos and video highlights can be found at SoConSports.com.

Thursday
9:15 a.m.    10,000m Run
Emily Poole
Rebekah Wich

12:30 p.m.    Hammer Throw
Taylor Grayson

1:15 p.m.    1500m Run Trials
Julia Henderson
Brianna Nelson

3:25 p.m.    100m Dash
Rebekah Bryant

4:00 p.m.    Long Jump
Rebekah Bryant
Rebekah Hampton

4:05 p.m.    800m Run
Abby Bateman
Ashlynd Broling
Nicole Buehrle
Katie Coker
Taylor Sawyer

5:55 p.m.    3000m Steeplechase
Haley Morris

Friday
1:10 p.m.    4x100m Relay
Bryant, Coker, Hampton, Bateman, Sawyer

1:30 p.m. 1500m Finals

2:30 p.m.    Triple Jump
Rebekah Bryant
Rebekah Hampton

2:50 p.m. 800m Run Final

3:20 p.m.    Shot Put
Taylor Grayson

4:00 p.m.    5000m Run
Hannah Caldwell
Sophia Neglia
Emily Poole
Rebekah Wich

4:40 p.m.    4x400m Relay
Buehrle, Bateman, Henderson, Nelson