Track & Field Shines in the Lone Star State
/ March 28, 2014
AUSTIN, Texas – Northern Arizona University's track & field team completed its second day of competition at the 87th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays. The Lumberjacks found a great deal of success in a variety of events.
Associate head coach Oscar Duncan's group has been outstanding thus far here in the Lone Star State. Kylene Knutsen opened up the day for the Lumberjacks with a huge personal best in the javelin throw. Knutsen finished seventh in the event throwing a best of 160-5 (48.9m), two meters better than her previous personal-best.
Shawn Collins also came up big for the Lumberjack's throws unit. Collins had a career day in the men's shot put throwing a best of 56-2.75 (17.14m) on his final attempt. The sophomore's effort was good for a fourth place finish in the event.
"I did alright, I'm still falling away a little bit but I had a good performance," said Collins. "It's been a great experience, the facilities here are awesome and this is my first time in Texas."
Micael Ljunberg had a solid day in the men's discus throw. Ljunberg finished 11th after throwing a distance of 165-3 (50.38m) on his final attempt in order to get on the board. Julia Viberg competed in the women's discus throw for NAU. Viberg threw a best of 167-0 (50.9m) on the way to a fourth place finish.
Rounding out the NAU throwers was Jessica Weise in the women's shot put. Weise finished 11th in the event posting a best of 45-6.25 (13.87m).
NAU's sprinters also had a productive day in Austin as they competed against some elite athletes from across the country. The men's 4x100 team opened up the day for the Lumberjacks as Cameron Coleman, Taylor Schneider, Michael Lyles and Vernon Jamison came away with a fifth place finish in their heat. The group was clocked at a time of 42.06.
"The race didn't go as well as we planned," said Schneider. "We had a little trouble getting the stick around but we did the best we could in such a high intensity meet."
Jamison also competed in the men's 110m hurdles. The junior finished third in his heat after a 14.21 effort in the event. His time was tied for 16th-best overall and is a personal-best. Jamison in addition to DeShon Norris, Lyles and Schneider finished sixth in their heat of the men's 4x400 after running a season-best time of 3:13.15.
On the women's side Shamelle Pless led the way. The Canada-native posted a time of 11.93 in the women's 100m dash, good for a third place finish in her heat.
"I'm actually really happy with my race," said Pless. "This was my best opener ever, so hopefully it only goes up from here."
Also competing in the women's 100m dash was Darriel Banks who ran a time of 12.12, also good for third place in her heat.
Jade Childs represented NAU in the women's 100m hurdles. Childs finished sixth in her heat after putting forth a 14.78 effort in the event.
The Lumberjack women's 4x400 relay group was strong today against some of the top relay groups the nation has to offer. Ashley Taylor, Banks, Amanda Stricker and Pless teamed up to represent NAU in the event. The quartet was clocked at a time of 3:48.18.
