BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – WKU Track & Field concluded the first day of the 2020 Conference USA Indoor Championships on Saturday and has positioned itself to make some noise in Sunday's action from the Birmingham Crossplex. With day one in the books, the men's squad sits in 10th while the women sit in 12th. WKU has plenty of opportunities to climb the rankings with 15 entries across Sunday's events. Seven WKU student-athletes posted personal bests on the opening day from Birmingham.
"Overall, we had some good efforts and bad breaks – there were too many ninth-place finishes that kept us from scoring," opened WKU Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Brent Chumbley. "I thought the team brought great energy and support today so hopefully tomorrow we finish strong."
Junior transfer Dartez Hamlin highlighted a solid Saturday for the Red and White, earning the top seed in Sunday's men's 200-meter dash finals. He ran a personal-best of 21.30. Hamlin finished ninth in the 60 meter, posting a 6.89 reading to narrowly miss a trip to the event finals.
On the women's side, Alexis Williams recorded a 24.46 in the 200 meter – a personal best – to qualify for Sunday's final with the field's fifth-best time on the day. The freshman also notched a 57.15 in the 400 meter for 14th place in the preliminaries.
Savannah Heckman delivered a personal best of her own, registering a 17:53.31 in the 5,000 meter to take 14th.
"Dartez had a great day for us, running an indoor PR and qualifying with the top time for the 200-meter finals tomorrow," Chumbley continued. "In the men's long jump, Sheldon stepped up with a big collegiate best as well. On the women's side, we saw Savannah run a solid PR in the 5K while Alexis Williams earned personal bests in both the 200 meter – to qualify for the finals – and the 400 meter."
Annastacia Forrester picked up two points for the Lady Toppers in the long jump, clearing 5.68 meters (18'7.75") on her first bound of the day. The senior would finish seventh.
Sheldon Noble earned points in the men's long jump, registering a mark of 7.03 meters (23'0.75") to secure sixth place and three points for the Red and White.
Back on the men's track side, Marlowe Mosley (48.77) and Kevin Johnson (50.77) would finish 12th and 18th, respectively, in the 400 meter. Dedrick Troxell turned in a 1:56.20 in the men's 800 meter to take 11th. The sophomore would turn around and post a top-10 finish in the men's mile with a reading of 4:17.78 to qualifying for Sunday's finals. Clint Sherman narrowly missed a trip to the event finals after running a personal-best 4:18.72.
Will Perrone and Jacob Skillman represented WKU in the men's 5,000 meter, running marks of 15:56.59 and 16:07.69, respectively in their first C-USA Track & Field Championships.
"We had to be cautious with our injuries and opted not to run the men's distance medley relay as we look to place in tomorrow's event finals," added Chumbley.
Devon Montgomery tied for ninth in the men's pole vault with a mark off 4.38 meters (14'4.50").
Brett Brannon (15.45m) and Joel Dittoe (13.67m) both represented WKU in the men's weight throw, earning 12th and 17th place finishes, respectively.
Aairiona Hayden-Ransom finished 25th in the women's 800 meter, posting a reading of 2:23.56.
After day one, Rice leads the women's team field with 38 points while Charlotte is in the lead on the men's side with 52 points.
MEN'S RESULTS
60m
Prelims – 9th – Dartez Hamlin – 6.89 (PR)
200m
Prelims – 1st – Dartez Hamlin – 21.30 (PR)
400m
12th – Marlowe Mosley – 48.77
18th – Kevin Johnson – 50.77
800m
11th – Dedrick Troxell – 1:56.20
1 Mile
Prelims – 10th – Dedrick Troxell – 4:17.78
Prelims – 12th – Clint Sherman – 4:18.72 (PR)
5000m
21st – Will Perrone – 15:56.59 (PR)
22nd – Jacob Skillman – 16:07.69
Pole Vault
9th – Devon Montgomery – 4.38m (14'4.50")
Long Jump
6th – Sheldon Noble – 7.03m (23'0.75") (PR) – 3 points
Weight Throw
12th – Brett Brannon – 15.45m (50'8.25")
17th – Joel Dittoe – 13.67m (44'10.25")
WOMEN'S RESULTS
200m
Prelims – 5th – Alexis Williams – 24.46 (PR)
400m
14th – Alexis Williams – 57.15
800m
25th – Aairiona Hayden-Ransom – 2:23.56
5000m
14th – Savannah Heckman – 17:53.31 (PR)
Long Jump
7th – Annastacia Forrester – 5.68m (18'7.75") – 2 points
How to follow WKU Track & Field: For complete information on WKU Track & Field, follow the team on Twitter at @WKUTrackField.
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