April 12, 2008

OXFORD, Miss. ---Samantha Hamilton regionally qualified and set a freshman record in the triple jump Saturday at Ole Miss Invitational.

Hamilton leap to a 41-03 feet (12.57 meters) jump and finished first in the event. She broke Vonetta Jeffrey's 16-year old freshman record of 40-feet.

Penny Shields also competed in the triple jump placing fourth with a jump of 12.12 meters.

The Blazers had two additional first-place performances at the meet.

Stephanie Gammon ran a 17:42.24 to win the 5,000-meter title and Jacinta Scruggs put down a time of 1:01.12 to capture first in the 400-meter hurdles.

Erika Russ finished strong in the 100-meter hurdles posting a finals time of 14.15 to place fourth. Janelle Gaines finished ninth with a time of 15.05 seconds.

Katrina Harrell performed well in multiple events Saturday finishing seventh in the 200-meter dash (24.65) and also qualifying for the finals of the 100-meter dash. She did not start, however, in the race.

Tara Colvin ran to a fourth-place finishing time of 55.22 in the 400-meter dash.

Other top performances on the day included Bianca LeBlanc finishing fifth in the 800-meter dash (2:16.04) and Erica Whitby clearing 1.60 meters in the high jump to tie for seventh. Penny Shields tied for eighth in the high jump with a 1.55-meter height cleared.

The Blazers' 4x400-meter relay team placed ninth overall with a time of 4:04.53.

Amber Walker (25.48, 22nd), Veronica Johnson (26.05, 32nd) and Timara McMillan (26.07, 33rd) participated in the 200-meter dash. Walker and Johnson also ran in the 400 posting respective finishes of 27th and 33rd. McMillan placed 12th in the long jump, 14th in the 100-meter hurdles, 17th in the high jump and 23rd in the shot put.

Katie Horton placed 15th in the 800-meter run with a 2:23.57 time and Kendel Hood crossed the finish line 23rd in the mile race at 5:11.61.

Katryce Sykes(1:04.50, 11th), Christina Chambers (1:06.51, 18th) and Tracy Rowan (1:07.82, 23rd) also competed in the 400-meter hurdles.

Up next for the Blazers in the Kansas Relays that begin on Thursday at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kan.