Thomson Breaks Two Records; All-Conference

Sunday, February 24

Lexington, Va.

Chattanooga

Southern Conference Championships

So Con Complete Results

Photo by: SoConSports.com

2/24/2019 5:13:00 PM | Cross Country & Track & Field

So Con Complete Results Photos

By: Anne Wehunt

LEXINGTON, Va. --- Chattanooga runner Kennedy Thomson earned all-conference honors and set two schools records Sunday on the final day of the Southern Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Corps Physical Training Facility in Lexington, Va.

Thomson started her day off with the Mile, beating the school record by 0.3 seconds with a time of 4:47.76. That time broke the previous best time set by All-American Shannon Wommack at the 2006 Southern Conference Championships. Thomson just missed all-conference honors in the race finishing fourth.

"It was a strategic race," Chattanooga head coach Andy Meyer said. "Kennedy was ninth early but was able to negotiate the pack and move into position and finish fourth.'

It would be less than two hours later that Thomson would again toe the line, this time in the 800 meter run. She covered the distance in a time of 2:09.91, beating out the record she broke earlier this season at the Bulldog Open and was third in the event.

"Kennedy was very smart," Meyer said. "She went to the front and dictated the race instead of being dictated too. She strung out the race and finished on the podium."

The Mocs had two scoring finishers in the 5000 meter run. Emily Poole ran a PR 17:36.96, more than 20 seconds better than her previous time, placing sixth and bringing three points to the Mocs total. Makenzie Jones, who led the race for a time, finished behind Poole in seventh with a time of 17:57.05 and scoring two points. Sophia Neglia finished the race at 18:30.74, improving her time by more than nine seconds.

"In the 5000, Sophia ran a season-best and Emily ran a very patient and smart race," Meyer said. "She was 11^th at one point before moving up to finish sixth. Makenzie faded a bit at the end but hung on for seventh."

The women's 4x400 meter relay team won their heat in a time of 3:59.60, nearly seven seconds ahead of Furman who finished second in the heat. However, that time would not be enough for the overall finish as UTC placed sixth and earned one point for the Mocs.

"Our goal for the 4x4 was to break four minutes," Meyer said. "Katie [Coker] got us past Furman and Kennedy finished it strong and we broke four."

Chattanooga finished seventh overall at the SoCon Indoor Championships.

"We had a good weekend," Meyer summed it up. "Kennedy and Emily placed in multiple individual events. Kennedy broke two school records, our DMR team and Kennedy got to the podium and the 4x4 broke four minutes.

"Multiple kids had event or season PRs. [Assistant coach] Amanda Cotter and Coach Gadson continue to progress and develop our kids. I'm definitely proud of our effort this weekend."

FINAL RESULTS

Mile

Kennedy Thomson

4:47.76**

5 pts

800m

Kennedy Thomson

2:09.91**

6 pts

5000m

6	Emily Poole	17:36.96	3 pts
7	Makenzie Jones	17:47.05	2 pts
15	Sophia Neglia	18:30.74
18	Hannah Caldwell	18:44.82

4x400m Relay

PL	Name	Time
6	Nicole, Bateman, Coker, Thomson	3:59.60	1 pt

Triple Jump

18	Rebekah Hampton	10.11m
19	Rebekah Bryant	8.98m

** school record

Women's Most Outstanding Athlete
Selena Popp, Samford

Women's Pinnacle Award (highest GPA on championship-winning team)
Bekah Pfitzer, Samford

Women's results – Final
1. Samford – 172 points
2. Western Carolina – 140
3. ETSU – 104
4. Furman – 91
5. Wofford – 78
6. VMI – 46
7. Chattanooga – 27
8. The Citadel – 5
9. UNCG – 0

Day 2 champions
Women: Mile Karisa Nelson, Samford (4:38.23*); weight throw Victoria Solheim (18.52 meters); 60-meter hurdles Amber Lust, Wofford (8.54); 60-meter dash McLeod Dean, Wofford (7.52); 400-meter dash Kellsie Whitehead, Western Carolina (55.69); 800-meter run Karisa Nelson, Samford (2:06.10*); 200-meter dash McLeod Dean, Wofford (24.28); pole vault Tally Wilson, Samford (3.85 meters); triple jump Morayo Bhadmos, Samford (12.32 meters); 5,000-meter run Savannah Carnahan, Furman (16:22.61*); 4x400-meter relay Sarah Sanford, Hannah Lueders, Vada Samuels, Selena Popp, Samford (3:50.90).

* meet record

Women's All-Freshman – Day 2
Triple jump
Mekayla Brown, ETSU
Aliyah Hill, ETSU
Khiara White, ETSU

Women's mile
Lindsey Stallworth, ETSU
Genevieve Schwarz, ETSU
Chandler McCaslin, UNCG

Women's 60-meter hurdles
Destiny Shipp, Wofford
Charnessa Reid, Western Carolina
Lanaya Martin, ETSU

Women's 60-meter dash
Lanaya Martin, ETSU
Mekayla Brown, ETSU
Ingrid Joseph, VMI

Women's 400-meter dash
Eliza Brooks, VMI
Vada Samuels, Samford
Ahliyah Williams, VMI

Women's 800-meter run
Peyton Wood, Western Carolina
Sammy Trone, Furman

Women's 200-meter dash
Ingrid Joseph, VMI
Eliza Brooks, VMI
Vada Samuels, Samford

Women's weight throw
Victoria Solheim, Western Carolina
Stephanie Jones, VMI

Women's pole vault
McKenna Dunn, VMI
Carter Unger, Western Carolina
Mary Kellison Thorne, Samford

Women's 5,000-meter run
Shila Kapaya, ETSU
Kathryn Anderson, UNCG
Sara Belamarich, VMI

Day 1 champions
Women: Pentathlon Selena Popp, Samford (3,558 points); long jump Khiara White, ETSU (6.01 meters); shot put Lesleigh Tabor, Western Carolina (14.03 meters); high jump Selena Popp, Samford (1.70 meters); 3,000-meter run Savannah Carnahan, Furman (9:11.04); distance medley relay Krissy Gear, Carlen Baran, Emma Kuntz, Gabbi Jennings, Furman (11:39.35).

Women's All-Freshman – Day 1
Pentathlon
Ronje Williams, Western Carolina
Shakaiya Bradford, Wofford
Carolina Huff, Samford

Women's shot put
Victoria Solheim, Western Carolina
Shakaiya Bradford, Wofford
Annika Sleenhof, Furman

Women's high jump
Ronje Williams, Western Carolina
Megan Elliott, Samford
Mya Dollard, The Citadel

Women's long jump
Khiara White, ETSU
Mekayla Brown, ETSU
Charnessa Reid, Western Carolina

Women's 3,000-meter run
Lindsey Stallworth, ETSU
Shila Kapaya, ETSU
Mary Kellison Thorne, Samford