LYNCHBURG, Va. --- The Tusculum University men's and women's indoor track and field teams competed on the first day of the Liberty Open on Friday, held at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex.
The Pioneers advances two runners to finals in both the men's and women's 60 meters, and had a total of 12 top-10 performances among 10 events on the opening day of the meet.
Action will resume Saturday morning at 9 a.m.
MEN'S RECAP
Junior Isaiah Olson is the top qualifier in the 60 meters after running a career-best 6.77 seconds in preliminaries. Freshman Mica Ruffin is seeded second with a time of 6.80 seconds in Friday's prelims.
Olson finished fourth in the 200 meters and set another career best at 21.47 seconds, which is the sixth-fastest time in program history. Ruffin was 12th and moved into fifth on the Tusculum performance list in the 200 at 21.85 seconds.
Senior Joshua Stephens finished fifth in the long jump at 6.90 meters (22 feet, 7 1/2 inches) which is the sixth-best mark in program history.
WOMEN'S RECAP
Juniors Jahzara Hart and Kiera Taylor both advanced to the finals in the 60 meters, with Hart running 7.57 seconds to place seventh in prelims and Taylor at 7.67 seconds for eighth. Junior Shanice Cox was just behind Taylor at 7.67 seconds.
In the 200 meters, Hart was fifth at 24.62 seconds (fourth-fastest in school history) with Cox in sixth at 24.81 (seventh-fastest) and Taylor eighth in 25.01 (eighth-fastest). Freshman Qitarah Castlin placed 14th at 25.13 seconds.
Junior Theresa Green-White qualified for the finals in the 60 hurdles by taking third place at 8.66 seconds. Green-White has posted seven of the 10 fastest times in program history in the 60 hurdles this season.
Junior Jesica Mbhamali made her Pioneer debut on Friday and finished 10th in the 1000 meters at 3:17.36, the third-best time in school history. Senior Amber Hogan took 16th in the weight throw and had the fifth-best mark by a Pioneer at 13.18 meters (43 feet, 2 3/4 inches).
Liberty Open - Day 1 of 2
Tusculum results
MEN
60 prelims: 1. Isaiah Olson, 6.77 (advances); 2. Mica Ruffin, 6.80 (advances); 46. Kayvon Pickett, 7.19; 73. Jonathan Harris, 7.40.
200: 4. Isaiah Olson, 21.47; 12. Mica Ruffin, 21.85.
1000: 33. Jerry Ricker, 2:52.02.
Long jump: 5. Joshua Stephens, 6.90m (22-7 1/2).
WOMEN
60 prelims: 7. Jahzara Hart, 7.57 (advances); 8. Kiera Taylor, 7.67 (advances); 9. Shanice Cox, 7.67; 29. Alonda Shelton, 7.95.
60 hurdles prelims: 3. Theresa Green-White, 8.66 (advances); 36. Kieley Smith, 10.28; 40. Eva Tolliver, 10.45.
200: 5. Jahzara Hart, 24.62; 6. Shanice Cox, 24.81; 8. Kiera Taylor, 25.01; 14. Qitarah Castlin, 25.13.
1000: 10. Jesica Mbhamali, 3:17.36.
Long jump: 23. Qitarah Castlin, 5.10m (16-8 3/4); 29. Kieley Smith, 4.93m (16-2).
Weight throw: 16. Amber Hogan, 13.18m (43-2 3/4).
