RESULTS
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Lee University Track & Field teams concluded a successful two days at the Samford Open in the Birmingham Crossplex. The Flames and Lady Flames combined for four new provisional qualifying marks, seven Lee records and a meet record.
On Friday night, Lee posted a meet record, three Lee records and two NCAA Division II provisional qualifying times in the 200 meter dash and 5000 meter run.
Audrey Smith crossed the finish line of the 5000 meter at 18:02.14 to finish first and claim a new Samford Open record. The previous mark was 18:14.91 set last year by Tru Powell of Emory. The performance was also a Lee record.
Christian Noble was second in the men's 5000 meter. His time of 14:30.63 is the 10
th-fastest in the nation, a provisional mark and a new Lee record. Three-time NAIA National Champion Geoffrey Kipchumba of William Carey University won with a new meet record of 14:28.51. Noble also surpassed the old record of 14:53.30.
"Christian ran a very impressive race with splits of 4:42, 4:40 and closed in 4:34 in the mile," said Morgan. "I am very proud of the patience he showed early in the race. He ran a very controlled and competitive race."
"I stayed relaxed the first mile," stated Noble. "The last two miles I wanted to make a statement."
Josiah Brooks was seventh in the 200 meter dash with a provisional qualifying time and Lee record of 21.78. Justin Brooks was 10
th (21.91).
Adrian Martin placed 11
th in the 200 meter with a time of 25.23.
Saturday saw the squads add two more provisional performances in the men's 60 meter dash and the men's 4x400 meter relay. Josiah Brooks exceeded the provisional time of 6.90 with a mark of 6.88 (Lee record) in the 60 meter dash prelims. Brooks would finish eighth (6.93) in the final. He would join Justin Brooks, Harold Smith and Derek Flatford in meeting the standard with a 3:17.21 in the 4x400 meter relay. The time was good for fifth and also a new Lee record.
The women's 4x400 meter relay team of Adrian Martin, Cayce Bryan, Jordan Allison and Jessica Childers stopped the timer at 3:59.65 to finish 10
th with a new Lee record.
The final record-breaking performance was by Noble in the mile. Noble placed first with a Lee record time of 4:13.89. Smith was right behind in second (4:13.92). Tucker Hindle was ninth (4:22.50) and Thomas Kelton finished 28
th (4:34.72).
"Christian and Harold ran a perfectly excectued race," said Morgan. "They pulled away from the field easily the last 200 meters."
Smith led a contingent of six Flames in the 800 meter run. He recorded a time of 1:54.73 for third. Brandon Raleigh was 17
th (1:59.61) and Alex Carter was 18
th (1:59.74). Jared Herzog finished 28
th (2:02.25), Hindle was 36
th (2:05.37) and Moises Ponce was 37
th (2:05.97).
Flatford finished 19
th in the 60 meter hurdles with a time of 8.82 and was sixth with a long jump of 6.68 meters. Josiah Brooks' distance of 14.84 meters placed him fourth in the triple jump. Justin Brooks was third-fastest (48.22) in the 400 meter dash.
Jordan Allison placed 46
th in the 400 meter dash with a time of 1:01.28. Martin placed 16
th (7.82) in the 60 meter dash and Elizabeth Sillcocks was 34
th (12:11.91) in the 3000 meter run.
Seven Lady Flames competed in the 800 meter run. Bryan was the leader at 12
th (2:20.03). Lacey Duvall crossed the line at 2:23.15 (22
nd), Charlee Boxall was 27
th (2:24.69) and Amy Carpenter finished 32
nd (2:27.02). The final three Lee runners were Blakely Moore (41
st/2:29.90), Madison Hodges (50
th/2:35.40) and Logan Hernandez (53
rd/2:38.15).
Moore, Carpenter, Hodges and Hernandez also ran the women's mile. Moore finished 25
th (5:19.65), Carpenter was 27
th (5:20.71), Hodges placed 36
th (5:31.86) and Hernandez was 39
th (5:36.02). Joining them was Becca Umbarger, who finished 48
th (6:01.16).
Camilla Sims recorded a throw of 12.00 meters to place 20
th in the weight throw. Hannah Buttolph tied for 11
th with a high jump of 1.50 meters.
The Flames and Lady Flames head back to Winston-Salem, N.C., on Saturday for the UCS Invitational. It is the final scheduled meet of the indoor regular season.
