ANDERSON, S.C. - After wrapping up their indoor season nearly four weeks ago, the Anderson University men's and women's track and field teams are slated to open their respective outdoor seasons at the 49er Classic, hosted by Charlotte at the Irwin Belk Track & Field facility this week.
Junior Jill Baxter will open the events for the Trojans, as the Denver, N.C. native is scheduled to compete in the heptathlon, beginning at 11 a.m. on Thursday and continuing through Friday, while the other events will begin at 11 a.m. on Friday and wrap up late Saturday afternoon.
Last year's 49er Classic attracted nearly 50 programs from
across the nation, with Baxter claiming 11th in the heptathlon.
With four events on the opening day a year ago, Baxter used a
personal-best distance of 8.87 meters in the shot put to finish
sixth in the event. She placed seventh in the high jump at 1.48
meters and 14th in the 200 meters in a time of 28.15 seconds. Her
time of 18.89 seconds in the 100 meter hurdles was good enough for
17th.
On the final day, Baxter tied for 17th in the long jump with a
distance of 4.57 meters and brought home fifth in the javelin throw
with a toss of 26.69 meters. She closed the event with a 12th-place
finish in the 800 meter run.
The Trojan women's team wrapped up its indoor season at the
one-day Gamecock Invitational on Feb. 22, with 16 top-10 finishes,
including two first-place efforts. Junior Sydney Hazel won the mile
run, while freshman Olivia Gardner claimed first place in the 3000
meter run.
Freshman Bari Robinson captured fourth in the 800, with junior
Madison Guest finishing ninth. Sophomore Devan Fisher captured
third in the mile run, with freshman Grace Gerlock bringing home
seventh in the 3000 meter. Mia Swierzs and Amber Worthy finished
ninth and 10th, respectively, in the 3000 meter.
Freshman Sherin Malone crossed the line in third in the 55 meter
hurdles, with freshman Megan Shahoud, and Baxter finishing third
and fourth, respectively, in the high jump. Shahoud also placed
third in the long jump. In the throwing events, junior Brooklyn
Watt placed fifth in the shot put and fifth in the weight throw.
Fellow junior Savanna Keese earned fourth in the weight throw,
while sophomore D'Yandra Morris was ninth in the shot put.
The men's squad grabbed 13 top-10 efforts, with freshman Caleb
Knight earning 10th in the 400 meter dash, while junior Joshua
Visi-Clark placed fourth in the 800 meter run. Freshmen Thomas
Garrigan and Jesse Patrick finished fourth and eighth, respectively
in the mile run.
Freshman Ben Boerma placed third in the 3000 meter run, with senior
Parks Edwards finishing just behind in fourth. Freshman Ned
Kennedy, senior Westley Wilson and freshman Michael Burch finished
sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively, in the 3000 meter.
Malik Brown captured second in the 55 meter hurdles, with
freshman Jonathan Shorter finishing third. Freshman Philip DeGraaf
was seventh in the pole vault and freshman Eric Hoover was ninth in
the long jump.
