WKU Track & Field Collects 17 Top-10 Finishes in Season-Opener

Friday, December 6

Lexington, Ky.

Western Kentucky University

Jingle Bells Open

WKU Track & Field Collects 17 Top-10 Finishes in Season-Opener

12/6/2019 11:45:00 PM | Track & Field

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LEXINGTON, Ky. – WKU Track & Field racked up 17 top-10 finishes Friday afternoon in the Jingle Bells Open for its indoor season-opener at Nutter Field House in Lexington, Ky.

Of the 28 WKU student-athletes who competed in a total of 16 different events, the squad saw a combined 25 personal-records set in the team's first meet of the season.

"I think we did a really good job today," said Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Brent Chumbley. "We had some aches and pains to deal with, but that's okay. Everybody came out and competed hard. I think we had some really nice performances. The 300's went well, and a lot of our field events went well. I know Brett Brannon in the weight throw, every throw he had today would've been a lifetime PR. So, we had some really good things. Our distance runners came out and really supported us. They're not trained for competition right now, they just came out to help us out.

"They all came out and put out a great effort today. It's not about times right now, it's about using it as training, and everybody did a fantastic job with that so we're really happy. I think we got what we needed out of today. We know where we are and the kids know where they are. It's really exciting getting into break, and we should have something to keep us hungry coming into January."

The men's squad saw three of its student-athletes record top-five finishes on the day, with Dartez Hamlin [4^th Place – 34.44] and Kevin Johnson [5^th Place – 35.73] earning solid marks in the 300m and Dedrick Troxell picking up a fifth-place finish in the 1000m with a time of 2:39.53.

WKU Men's Results
Weight Throw
8^th – Brett Brannon – 15.18m (PR)
Long Jump
9^th – Sheldon Noble – 6.40m
Pole Vault
8^th – Devon Montgomery – 4.15m (PR)
60m Dash
14^th – Sheldon Noble – 7.23 (PR)
400m Dash
9^th – Dylan Duckworth – 55.26
1000m Run
5^th – Dedrick Troxell – 2:39.53 (PR)
6^th – Clint Sherman – 2:39.95 (PR)
7^th – Jacob Steppe – 2:41.91 (PR)
11^th – Jacob Skillman – 2:47.68 (PR)
14^th – Luke Hoover – 2:48.99 (PR)
15^th – Carson Sharber – 2:49.22 (PR)
17^th – Will Perrone – 2:49.88 (PR)
19^th – Donnie Fry – 2:57.22 (PR)
300m Dash
4^th – Dartez Hamlin – 34.44 (PR)
5^th – Kevin Johnson – 35.73 (PR)

On the women's side, two WKU student-athletes collected a total of three top-five placements. Paityn House finished third in the triple jump with a mark of 11.27m, while Grace Turner placed fifth in both the high jump [1.59m] and pole vault [3.47m].

WKU Women's Results
High Jump
5^th – Grace Turner – 1.59m (PR)
Weight Throw
14^th – Mary Claire Redden – 10.92m
Pole Vault
5^th – Grace Turner – 3.47m (PR)
6^th – Nicole Ogorek – 3.37m
8^th – Alexis Thacker – 3.07m
Shot Put
20^th – Jessica Smith – 8.69m (PR)
Triple Jump
3^rd – Paityn House – 11.27m (PR)
60m Dash
11^th – Samyzia Sears – 7.93 (PR)
400m Dash
7^th – Aairiona Hayden-Ransom – 1:00.85
1000m Run
6^th – Savannah Heckman – 3:15.73 (PR)
10^th – Kaia Enevoldsen – 3:32.23 (PR)
11^th – Carley Maskos – 3:32.94 (PR)
12^th – Heather Whitlow – 3:39.12 (PR)
300m Dash
7^th – Alexis Williams – 39:75 (PR)
13^th – Kyleeyah Whitehead – 43:82 (PR)
15^th – Paityn House – 43.98 (PR)

WKU will be back in action Jan. 10 when they head back to Lexington, Ky., for the Jim Green Invitational.