COLUMBIA, SC-. – The Augusta University Track and Field Program competed in the CIU Rams Invitational this weekend and had a dominant showing on both days of the meet. AU Men's Track & Field carded 11 top 10 finishes for the day. For the women, new school records were set in both the 1500 meter race and in the 4x800m event.
MEN'S TRACK & FIELD
Chris Shelp carded a new personal best in the 10,000m event, finishing 1st overall in 31:21.94. His time marks the fastest time in the event in the Peach Belt Conference this season. Shelps margin of victory was so large that he lapped the entire field with the exception of the second place runner. Carlos Rodriguez finished the 10,000m in 32:36.61, Brian Ricks finished in 32:39.29, Hunter Kimball finished in 33:11.70, and Hans Troyer finished in 33:11.71 These times capture the top 5 places in the Peach Belt Conference in the event.
The AU men's track team also took the 1st and 3rd places in the steeplechase event.
Xavier Allen finished 10th in the 400m hurdles in 1:00.43. This time places him 5th in the current PBC standings in the event. Allen also competed in the 4x400m relay that finished 10th in the Invitational. Xavier Allen, Derrian Wright, Josh Hewing, and Nathaniel Depeaza finished in 3:37.87.
Calvin Richards finished 10th overall in the pole vault for AU's men's field event.
WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD
Mackenzie Taylor continues to top records. Taylor ran her 1500m race in 4:46.15, placing 5th overall and garnering a new school record in the process. Her pace currently places her second overall in the Peach Belt Conference. Mackenzie Taylor was also a member of the 4x800m event, which also broke a school record. Mackenzie Taylor, Jaelen Alexander, Skylar Ackerman, and Haley Gilbert competed in the 4x800m event, running a 10:03.24 time while setting a new AU record for the event.
Sophomore Priscilla Ajala had two top ten finishes during the CIU meet. Ajala placed 8th in both the 100m (16.76) and 200m (25.99). Both marks place her currently in the top 3 in the events in the PBC.
Jayla Ferris placed 9th in the 400m, running a time of 1:01.13 and placing her 7th overall in the conference. Miranda Taylor ran her 5000m event in 19:10. This time qualifies her for the conference championships and places her at 7th in the PBC in the event.
The AU 4x400m team also placed in the top 10. Skylar Ackerman, Priscilla Ajala, Jaelen Alexander, and Jayla Ferris finished in 4:21.43 which puts them at 5th in the PBC in the event.
In the field events, Kaitlyn Lancaster finished 10th in both the shot put and javelin.
Augusta returns to action April 9th-10th at the Lee Invitational in Cleveland, Tennessee.
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