Women's Track Places 8th at Montreat

BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. - The Columbia College women's track and field team competed in the muontains at AAC foe Montreat College over the weekend and came away placing 8th overall out of 22 schools in the open with 38 points. Columbia was fourth among NAIA schools.

AAC Indoor Freshman of the Year Mackenzie Pringle led the Lady Koalas as she placed third in the 100 meter Hurdles in 15.1 seconds (#11 in NAIA) while she won her field event finishing 1st in the Triple Jump with a mark of 11.8 meters, which ranks #2 in the NAIA.

The women's 4x100 meter relay also had a good finish as they placed 2nd out of 6 schools in 49 seconds (#9 in NAIA) led by the team of: 1) Kwamecia Marks; 2) Ashante Shaw; 3) Myikayla Howard; and 4) Latrice Brown.

Sophomore Mina Shull also had a 5th place showing in the 5000 meter Race Walk in a time of 28:42 while Victoria Whatley came in 4th in a time of 28:41. Jessica Whatley also competed and had a time of 28:43 to place seventh.

freshman Mykayla Howard finished 24th in the 400 meters in 1:06.9. In the 100 meters, the freshman Marks led the way placing 24th out of 43 in 13.17 seconds. She was 7th among NAIA sprinters as well. Then, in the 800 mters freshman Addison Martin came in 31st out of 60 in a time of 2:33.8. 

In the distance events on Friday, freshman Carly Fuel placed 47th in the 1500 meters in 5:28 while Martin came in 15th place in the 5K race in 20:14. Fuel also competed in the 10K race and placed 7th in 45 minutes.

On Friday in the first day of field events, junior Darci Dawson finished 2nd overall in the Shot Put with a mark of 12.3 meters to rank as the third best throw in the NAIA. Also competing was Azia Holmes, who came in 15th with a mark of 10.2 meters as well as freshmen Autumn Buzzard and Qusondra Wideman coming in 19th and 20th with marks of 9.8 meters.

On day two of field events on Saurday, Holmes came in 11th place in the Javelin Throw with a mark of 26.8 meters while freshman Justina Renke finished 15th at 26.1 meters. Freshman Jada Robinson also competed in the Javelin placing 21st in 23.3 meters. In the Hammer Throw, Dawson again led the Koalas placing 13th out of 30 with a throw of 40 meters. Freshman Doreshia McAllister also comepted and came in 19th in 37.1 meters.

The women's team will next be competing on Frdiay and Saturday in the V12 Invitational in Jacksonville, FL.