Pioneers compete on day one of Flames Invitational

Joshua Stephens finished third in the triple jump on day one of the Flames Invitational (photo by Reily Rogers)
Joshua Stephens finished third in the triple jump on day one of the Flames Invitational (photo by Reily Rogers)

CLEVELAND, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University men's and women's track and field teams began competition Friday at the two-day Flames Invitational, hosted by Lee University.

Competing in cool, breezy and rainy conditions, the Pioneer men are sixth out of 22 teams through 10 events, while the Tusculum women have yet to score a team point through nine events.

Action will resume Saturday morning, with field events beginning at 10 a.m. and track events at 10:30 a.m.

MEN'S RECAP
Senior Jordan Taylor finished second in the 200 meters and had the eighth-best time in program history with a career-best mark of 21.42 seconds. Senior Marquel Pittman also had a career-best time and was fourth in 21.56 seconds, with senior Jarvis Barber Jr. in 12th at 21.93 seconds.

Junior Jamal Cash ran 56.89 seconds in the 400 hurdles and took 10th place, followed by freshman Daryl Smith Jr. who had a season-best time of 57.28 seconds and was 11th overall. Freshman Jerry Ricker completed in the 1500 meters and was clocked in 4:32.62.

In the triple jump, sophomore Joshua Stephens placed third with a best mark of 13.66 meters (44 feet, 9 3/4 inches). Freshman Gavin Rowell was the Pioneers' top finisher in the discus at 19th with a throw of 35.43 meters (116 feet, 3 inches), while freshman Adrian Gumm took 21st in the hammer throw at 33.76 meters (110 feet, 9 inches).

Lee has the lead in the team standings through 10 events with 62.5 points, followed by Wingate (54.5 points) and Alabama Huntsville (45 points).

WOMEN'S RECAP
Freshman Kiera Taylor was ninth overall in the 200 meters at 25.37 seconds, with senior Aliyah Adderley placing 22nd at 25.96 seconds. Freshman Theresa Green-White ran 1:11.26 in the 400 hurdles to move into second place on the program performance list in the event, while finishing 19th overall.

In the 1500 meters, junior Emily Coddington was 43rd place at 4:58.23 while freshman Inmaculada Delgado had a season-best time of 5:15.81.

Sophomore Amber Hogan was 15th in the hammer throw at 38.79 meters (127 feet, 3 inches) and took 22nd in the discus at 29.40 meters (96 feet, 5 inches).

Lee holds the lead in the team standings with nine of 20 events completed at 65 points, with Belmont in second at 43 points and Cedarville in third place at 40 points.

Flames Invitational - at Cleveland, Tenn. (Day 1 of 2)
Tusculum results
MEN
200: 2. Jordan Taylor, 21.42; 4. Marquel Pittman, 21.56; 12. Jarvis Barber Jr., 21.93.
400 hurdles: 10. Jamal Cash, 56.89; 11. Daryl Smith Jr., 57.28.
1500: 88. Jerry Ricker, 4:32.62.
Triple jump: 3. Joshua Stephens, 13.66m (44-9 3/4).
Discus: 19. Gavin Rowell, 35.43m (116-3); 20. Adrian Gumm, 35.05m (115-0).
Hammer: 21. Adrian Gumm, 33.76m (110-9).

Team scores (Top 10): 1. Lee, 62.5; 2. Wingate, 54.5; 3. Alabama Huntsville, 45; 4. Belmont, 39; 5. Wheeling, 22; 6. Tusculum, 19; 7. Cedarville, 16; 8. Emory, 14; 9. Illinois-Springfield, 12; 10. King, 11.

WOMEN
200: 9. Kiera Taylor, 25.37; 22. Aliyah Adderley, 25.96.
400 hurdles: 19. Theresa Green-White, 1:11.26.
1500: 43. Emily Coddington, 4:58.23; 61. Inmaculada Delgado, 5:15.81.
Discus: 22. Amber Hogan, 29.40m (96-5).
Hammer: 15. Amber Hogan, 38.79m (127-3).

Team scores (Top 10): 1. Lee, 65; 2. Belmont, 43; 3. Cedarville, 40; 4. Wingate, 35; 5. Georgia Tech, 26; 6. IUPUI, 21.5; 7. Emory, 155; 8. Loyola (N.O.), 11; 8. Alabama Huntsville, 11; 10. Chattanooga, 10.