By: by Emily Diekelmann
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - After a weekend that saw 13 personal records set, the Kennesaw State women’s track and field team head over to Tennessee for the Niswonger Invitational Friday and Saturday. Hosted by ETSU, the facility not only hosts this weekend’s contest but in two weeks will be home of the Atlantic Sun Indoor Conference Championship.
“ Being two weeks before the A-Sun championship and hosted at the same facility gives us the opportunity to preview the facility so our athletes know the warm up procedures and what to expect from the facility so they feel confident going in to the championship,” head track and field coach Andy Eggerth said. “This also gives us the opportunity to try some things that we might do at the conference meet, like doubling or tripling people, or trying some different events than they’ve done this season to see how they might stack up against the A-Sun competition. “
Just a few days removed from a stellar performance at the JRF Invitational, the ladies prepare for another test when they face off against other schools in the A-Sun. Fellow conference foes Lipscomb, Campbell, USC Upstate and host ETSU will be on hand to get the upper hand on the rest of the conference before the championship Feb 18-19.
Fresh off her third A-Sun Track Athlete of the Week award, Mackenzie Howe gets another shot at breaking the current 5,000 meter school record. At Clemson last weekend, Howe came within three seconds of the record while breaking her own personal best in the process. Her time of 17:15.82 was 38 seconds better than the second place finisher. Not only is Howe competing in the 5,000 meters but the 3,000 meters as well.
The trio of Tai Dorsett, Hannah Mule and Naquia Williams once again will compete in the 60 meters hurdles on Friday. Last week, all three achieved new personal records in the event. Just a hundredth of a second off a two way tie for the school record, Victoria Jackson gets a second chance to break it in the 60 meter dash. Breaking her personal record at Clemson, Jackson crossed the line in 7.77 seconds just shy of the 7.76 second school record.
In pole vault, Lauren Hutchinson and Teresa Smith look to improve on their personal records they set at Clemson. Hutchinson set her new mark when she cleared a height of three meters. Smith was able to sail over the bar set at 3.3 meters, good enough for sixth place.
To follow all the Owls action at the Niswonger Invitational this weekend, click
here.