ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (2/8/20) – More Arkansas State track and field athletes posted strong results on Day 2 of the New Mexico Collegiate Classic on Saturday at the Albuquerque Convention Center, as the Red Wolves inched closer to the conference championship meet at the end of the month.
Saturday saw seven more personal bests, in addition to four season bests. On the weekend, the Red Wolves combined for 24 total personal-best marks set, along with 16 top-three finishes. In New Mexico alone, A-State athletes tallied 14 total collegiate-best marks set by 10 different individuals on the weekend.
Between New Mexico and Missouri, A-State amassed 31 top-five finishes, including 17 top-three finishes.
Camryn Newton-Smith capped off her best weekend of the season so far, running a personal-best 8.59 in women's 60m hurdles qualifying to advance to the prelims, where she matched that mark, which ranks fifth all-time in A-State indoor history. Imani Udoumana also notched a top-10 all-time mark in the event, running a personal-best 8.72 that was good enough to tie her for ninth all-time in program history. Newton-Smith's effort came a day after posting the No. 4 long jump mark in school indoor history.
A day after posting a collegiate-best mark in the 200m, Jermie Walker clocked a season-best in the 400m, running 47.85 to place sixth overall. Jaela Hollie also ran a PR in 60m qualifying, running 7.70 that edged her previous mark, which was already 10th in program history.
A-State distance athletes posted solid marks in the 800m and the mile, with Pauline Meyer and Bennett Pascoe placing second and third, respectively, in the mile. Meyer's run of 4:58.73 beat her previous best by just under a second. In the 800m, every runner recorded either a personal best or season best, with McKenzie Cornell and Gregoire Saury shaving nearly two seconds off their times. Seth Waters ran a season-best 1:54.70 which leads the team.
In the shot put, Grace Flowers posted another top-five finish, throwing 14.51m (47-7.25) while Eron Carter placed 10th to be A-State's top male thrower on the day with a mark of 14.96m (49-1.0).
Arkansas State's Ke'Von Holder and Amari James reached the finals in the men's 60m hurdles, with James nearly matching his career-best in the prelims, running 8.191.
A-State is back in action next weekend, traveling to Pittsburg, Kansas, for the Indoor Gorilla Classic hosted by Pittsburg State on Feb. 14-15. That meet will serve as the final tune-up before the Red Wolves head to Birmingham, Alabama, for the Sun Belt Conference Indoor Championships.
For the latest on the A-State track and field program, follow @AStateTrack on Twitter and @Arkansas_State_Track on Instagram, while also liking the team's Facebook page at Facebook.com/AStateTrackAndField.
A-STATE AT THE NEW MEXICO COLLEGIATE CLASSIC (SATURDAY)
WOMEN'S RESULTS (*denotes collegiate best; ^ denotes season best)
60m (Qualifying): Celera Barnes (Kentucky), 7.31
A-State: 14. Jaela Hollie, 7.70*
60m Hurdles (Qualifying): Masai Russell (Kentucky), 8.20
A-State: 5. Camryn Newton-Smith, 8.59q* [#5 in school history]; 7. Imani Udoumana, 8.72q* [T9 in school history]
60m Hurdles (Prelims): Courtney Jones (Arizona State), 8.27Q
A-State: 13. Camryn Newton-Smith, 8.59; 20. Imani Udoumana, 8.84
800m: Bianca Tinoco (Arizona State), 2:10.15
A-State: 13. McKenzie Cornell, 2:18.84*
Mile: Semira Mebrahtu, 4:57.62
A-State: 2. Pauline Meyer, 4:58.73*
Triple Jump: Chantoba Bright (UTEP), 12.98m (42-7.0)
A-State: 18. Imani Udoumana, 11.65m (38-2.75); 23. Johnaya Givens, 11.48m (37-8.0); 24. Megan Knowling, 11.45m (37-6.75)^; Arabriaun Mack, FOUL
Shot Put: Alyssa Wilson (UCLA), 17.16m (56-3.75)
A-State: 5. Grace Flowers, 14.51m (47-7.25); 11. Babette Vandeput, 13.04m (42-9.5); 22. Chastery Fuamatu, 12.12m (39-9.25); 30. Camryn Newton-Smith, 11.33m (37-2.25); Evangelynn Harris, FOUL
MEN'S RESULTS (*denotes collegiate best; ^ denotes season best)
60m (Qualifying): Langston Jackson (Kentucky), 6.61
A-State: 15. Courtney Thomas, 6.99
60m (Prelims): Langston Jackson (Kentucky), 6.58Q
A-State: 20. Chris Hill, 6.94
400m: Sean Bailey (UTEP), 46.37
A-State: 6. Jermie Walker, 47.85^; 11. Kobey Hill, 49.16
800m: Sean Bailey (UTEP), 46.37
A-State: 8. Seth Waters, 1:54.70^; 9. Handre Jonker, 1:54.93*; 12. Gregoire Saury, 1:56.38*; 20. Darrian Lockett, 2:00.0^
Mile: Carson Bix (Adams State), 4:08.17
A-State: 3. Bennett Pascoe, 4:13.31
60m Hurdles (Prelims): Robert Dunning (Alabama), 7.73Q
A-State: 7. Amari James, 8.191q; 8. Ke'Von Holder, 8.193q; 12. Hayden Hampton, 8.47
60m Hurdles (Final): Robert Dunning (Alabama), 7.76
A-State: 7. Ke'Von Holder, 8.07; 8. Amari James, 8.23
Triple Jump: Christian Edwards (Alabama), 16.04m (52-7.0)
A-State: 13. Courtney Thomas, 13.92m (45-8.0)
Shot Put: Isaac Odugbesan (Alabama), 18.95m (62-2.25)
A-State: 10. Eron Carter, 14.96m (49-1.0); 19. Hayden Hampton, 12.97m (42-6.75)
