WCU Track Rewrites Record Books in Florida Relays

The Western Carolina track and field team turned in an outstanding performance this weekend at the University of Florida Relays.

The men’s 4×100, 4×800 and Sprint Medley relay teams each set a WCU record, while the women’s sprint medley team established a school record as well. In addition, Michelle Velez cleared an NCAA provisional height of 3.82 meters (12′ 6.25″) in the pole vault.

The women’s record-setting sprint medley relay team consisted of Cedea Bowden, Ashelyn Little, Ronetta Burgess and Leslie Martin. The event is made up of two 200-meter sprints, followed by a 400-meter sprint and an 800-meter run.

Bowden and Little ran the 200 in 24.56 and 24.34, respectively, while Burgess ran the 400 in 56.68 and Martin ran the 800 in 2:15. The old school record was 4:04.06 set by Kamilah Gabriel, Rahma Mateen, Wykesha Bailey and Kristin Savery in the 1996 Florida Relays.

The men’s sprint medley relay team set a school record with a time of 3:19.98. Milton Bolton and Tebysus Alford ran the 200 in 21.00 and 22.16, respectively. Darus Cofield ran the third leg (400 meters) in 45.78 and Caleb Bailey ran the 800 in 1:50.80. The previous WCU mark in the event was 3:23.18 by Derrick High, Akaba Galaspie, Tim Vaught and Bailey at the 2001 Penn Relays.

The men’s 4×100 team set a school record with their time of 40.77 and was made up of James Rainer, Cofield, Bolton and Alford. The foursome’s time bettered the mark of 40.80 set by Earl Bates, James Ford, Eric Rasheed and Ricky Schell in the 1984 Southern Conference Championships.

The 4×800 meter relay team’s time of 7:41.18 was a WCU record. The quartet included Michael Simmons, Bailey, James Irwin and Eddie Vick. The group’s time was over eight seconds better than the previous mark (7:49.53), set by Simmons, Bailey, Irwin and Oyegunwa earlier this season at Clemson.

Among the 31 personal records set by Catamount student-athletes were 15 top ten finishes in what was a very deep and talented field at the prestigious annual event. Individuals placing among the top 10 included Virginia Lacombe in the open triple jump (second) and invitational high jump (sixth), Bailey in the 1,500-meters (third), Alford in the 100-meters (ninth), Velez in the pole vault (third) and Hood in the invitational triple jump (seventh).

For complete results, please visit Florida’s Track and Field page at www.gatorzone.com.