KEVIN JENISON

GoSycamores.com

GREENCASTLE, IND. ? Sycamore sophomore Felisha Johnson established a school record in the women's weight throw for the second time this season as she led the Indiana State women to the team title of the 2011 DePauw Tiger Invitational on Saturday.

“This was a strong meet on both sides, men and women,” Jeff Martin, Indiana State assistant coach, said. “The women won the meet with some of the top guns at Notre Dame. The men were a lot more short-handed and still finished in second.”

Indiana State won the women's invitational with 192 points. The Sycamores were followed by Bethel (152), Vincennes (91), Campbellsville (65.5), Franklin (28), Rose-Hulman (28), Wittenberg (22), DePauw (21), Marian (18.5), Centre (11), and Brescia (10).

Vincennes held off Indiana State to take the men's invitational title 144-138.5. The two were followed by Rose-Hulman (85), Wabash (69), Bethel (48), Marian (44), Campbellsville (36.5), Franklin (32), Centre (16), Brescia (13), Wittenberg (8), and DePauw (7).

“Johnson was the highlight of the meet for the women,” Martin said. “She was a double winner, establishing a school and facility record in the weight throw. She was also very consistent again in the shot put and we expect her to improve more next week against a little better competition.”

Sophomore Felisha Johnson was a double winner for the Indiana State women, establishing a school record in the weight throw for the second time this season with a winning throw of 74'-2.5” (22.62 meters) and also winning the shot put with a heave of 50'-7.5” (15.43 meters). Johnson surpassed the automatic qualifying mark for the weight throw for the fourth time in five meets this season and currently ranks second in the nation. She is also 30th nationally in the shot put.

Senior Kelsey Hanley was second in the weight throw at 66'-8.5” (20.33 meters) which ranks eighth in the nation.

“Kelsey looks very relaxed and is consistently improving in the weight throw,” Martin said.

Junior Tara Perigo was third in the shot put with a heave of 44'-7” (13.59 meters) and fifth in the weight throw with a personal best 49'-11” (15.21 meters) while sophomore Kasey Kahle was fifth in the shot put at 40'-4.75” (12.21 meters).

Junior Nicole Hope, a transfer from Ohio Northern University, continues to soar to greater heights in the pole vault as she cleared 12'-11.5” (3.95 meters) in finishing second. The height puts Hope third on the all-time list at Indiana State.

“She has several good attempts at 4.10 meters (13'-5.25”) but just nicked the bar,” Martin said. “She will look to clear that mark in the next several weeks.”

Sophomore Richelle Kimble was third at 12'-5.5” (3.80 meters) and sophomore Richelle Kimble was fourth at 11'-5.75” (3.50 meters).

Hope also tied for second in the high jump along with teammate Nikki Snearley, both clearing 5'-1” (1.55 meters). Freshman Kelly Steffen placed third in the long jump with a leap of 17'-4.75' (5.30 meters).

Junior Sarah Snapp, Steffen, and freshman Rachael Johnson made the finals of the 55 meter hurdles with Snapp sprinting to the win (8.26 seconds), Steffen sixth (8.91), and Johnson eighth (9.47).

Freshman Brittany Housel was a winner for the Sycamores, taking the 400 meters with a personal best time of 59.37 while senior Kelsie Slater won the 800 meters with a time of 2:19.84. Slater was also a part of the winning 4000 meter distance medley relay team that also included Housel, junior Kristy Twitchell, and sophomore Kacie Klem. The team ran a season best 12:46.81.

“Sarah has been steadily improving in the hurdles this season,” Martin said. “Brittany got out in front early in the 400 meters and finished strong with a personal best effort.”

Also recording top five finishes for Indiana State were: sophomore Shalesa Smith was fourth in the 55 meters (7.64), freshman Jordan Lump finished third (27.18) and freshman Hannah McKnight fourth (27.71) in the 200 meters, freshman Amy Fanella fifth (1:00.83) in the 400 meters, Klem was second (2:24.10) and freshman Ashley Name fifth (2:27.71) in the 800 meters, sophomore Hanna Mercer second (5:39.68) and sophomore Kate Tarr third (5:40.88) in the mile, and sophomore Kylee Thacker second (1:50.34) in the 3,000 meters.

The 4x400 meter relay team of Fanella, Lump, Twitchell, and freshman Toni Tillett finished third with a time of 4:10.70.

Freshman Shaun Smith was a double winner for the Sycamore men, winning the 55 meters in 6.48 seconds and coming back to win the 200 meters with a personal best 22.62. Freshman Leo Cordova also made the 55 meter finals, finishing third in 6.56 seconds, and came back with a third place finish in the 200 meters with a personal best 22.85.

“Shaun looked very smooth and relaxed in both events,” Martin said. “Cordova is getting stronger in both as our sprint group is improving steadily.”

Sophomores Robert Webb and Dexter Childress made the finals of the 55 meter hurdles with Childress placing sixth in 8.04 and Webb seventh in 8.05. The Indiana State 4x400 meter relay team of Cordova, Childress, Cordova, sophomore Maurice Lyke, and sophomore Brian Martin finished fourth in 3:27.70.

Junior Steven Swinford led a sweep of the top four spots in the pole vault competition by Indiana State as he tied his personal best by clearing 15'-9” (4.80 meters) to win the event. Junior Drew LaMaster was second at 15'-3” (4.65 meters), with Childress third and sophomore Tucker Field fourth as each cleared 14'-9” (4.50 meters).

Sophomore Gregory McDaniel was also a winner in the field events, establishing a personal best in winning the weight throw with a toss of 57'-10.5” (17.64). Freshman Chris Fields was third in the weight throw at 52'-4.75” (15.97 meters) and placed second in the shot put with a personal best 51'-1.5” (15.58 meters).

“Gregory established a new personal best by over two feet,” Martin said. “(Adam) Judge is doing a great job with him as he is with all of our throwers.”

Webb was second in the high jump by clearing 6'-6” (1.98 meters) with sophomore Jamal Hampton third as he also cleared 6'-6” (1.98) meters which is a personal best for the sophomore. Freshman Marcel Hamilton was second in the triple jump with a leap of 46'-2.5” (14.08 meters) with freshman Nigel Jolly third at 44'-0” (13.51 meters). Jolly was also third in the long jump at 21'-2.5” (6.46 meters) with junior Ernest Rollins tying for fifth at 20'-11.75” (6.39 meters).