COLUMBIA, S.C. --- The Tusculum University men's and women's track & field teams opened their 2024 outdoor season Friday with competition at the John-Hunter Classic, hosted by Columbia International University.
Through five events, the Tusculum men are in second place with 50 points, one point behind Milligan, while the Pioneer women are in third place with 32 points, trailing the host Rams (73 points) and Milligan (42).
The meet will conclude Saturday starting at 10 a.m.
MEN'S RECAP
Freshman Sam Shipp finished second in the 5000 meters and set a school record with a time of 14:43.92, breaking the mark of 15:13.81 set by Will Cronin at the 2019 SAC Championship. Freshman Pau Valdepenas was fourth in 14:50.36.
Freshman Noah Girard won the javelin with a best mark of 46.38 meters (152 feet, 2 inches), which ranks him second in program history in the event.
In the 200 meters, the Pioneers had four of the top five finishers as freshman Lansford Cunningham took second in 21.93 seconds, senior Marquel Pittman was third in 21.94 seconds, sophomore Isaiah Olson took fourth in 21.97 seconds and senior Dorian Craven was fifth in 22.95 seconds.
Sophomore Adrian Gumm placed sixth in the hammer throw with a mark of 37.89 meters (124 feet, 3 inches), ranking him second in program history in the event.
WOMEN'S RECAP
Freshman Caley Sosnowski won the javelin throw in her collegiate debut with a mark of 38.86 meters (127 feet, 6 inches). In the hammer throw, junior Amber Hogan placed fourth with a toss of 40.99 meters (134 feet, 5 inches), the second-best throw of her career behind her 45.05 meters (147 feet, 9 inches) at last year's SAC Championship.
Freshman Alonda Shelton took second place in the 200 meters at 25.12 seconds, tying her for third on the program performance list in the event. Sophomore Kiera Taylor placed third at 25.31 seconds, and junior Jada Martin finished seventh at 26.46 seconds. Freshman Kieley Smith placed ninth at 26.78 seconds.
Sophomore Inmaculada Delgado took ninth place in the 5000 meters at 19:10.83, the 10th-best time in program history, while sophomore Victoria Caliendo was 14th at 23:02.10 and moved into ninth place on the program performance list in the event.
John-Hunter Classic - at Columbia, S.C.
Tusculum results (Day 1 of 2)
MEN
200: 2. Lansford Cunningham, 21.93; 3. Marquel Pittman, 21.94; 4. Isaiah Olson, 21.97; 5. Dorian Craven, 22.05; 9. Zack Nelson, 22.43.
5000: 2. Sam Shipp, 14:43.92 (school record); 4. Pau Valdepenas, 14:50.36; 15. Ryan Drysch, 16:36.78; 18. Simon Ray, 17:16.53.
Hammer throw: 6. Adrian Gumm, 37.89m (124-3).
Javelin: 1. Noah Girard, 46.38m (152-2).
Team standings: 1. Milligan 51; 2. Tusculum 50; 3. Columbia International 30; 4. Bob Jones 21; 5. Pikeville 19; 6. Paine 12; 7. Southern Wesleyan 11; 8. Lander 10.
WOMEN
200: 2. Alonda Shelton, 25.12; 3. Kiera Taylor, 25.31; 7. Jada Martin, 26.46; 9. Kieley Smith, 26.78.
5000: 9. Inmaculada Delgado, 19.10.83; 14. Victoria Caliendo, 23:02.10.
Hammer throw: 4. Amber Hogan, 40.99m (134-5).
Javelin: 1. Caley Sosnowski, 38.86m (127-6).
Team standings: 1. Columbia International 73; 2. Milligan 42; 3. Tusculum 31; 4. Southern Wesleyan 22; 5. Bob Jones 11; 6. Lander 1.
