Track And Field Turns In Strong Performance At OVC Championships

Feb. 25, 2006

NASHVILLE, Tenn. ---- The Samford University track and field teams ended the 2006 Ohio Valley Conference Championships on a high note on Saturday. The Bulldog women improved two spots to finish fourth overall, while the men finished fifth.

The women tallied a total of 77 points, to finish behind Southeast Missouri State, host Tennessee State and Eastern Kentucky. The men totaled 44 points to finish behind Eastern Illinois, Southeast Missouri State, Tennessee State and Eastern Kentucky.

"I was pleased with our overall performance," said Samford head coach Glenn McWaters. "It bodes well for us as we head in to the outdoor season. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone get better throughout the year."

The Bulldogs had a total of 11 All-OVC performances and scored in 16 events over the weekend. On Saturday, April Howell and Robyn DeBenedet led the way for the women and Cortland Finnegan led the way for the men.

Howell won the 55-meter hurdles, with a time of 8.03, and took third in the triple jump, with a leap of 38'09.00'', earning all-conference honors in both events and scoring 16 points for Samford. Finnegan won the 55-meter dash with a time of 6.43, also earning all-conference honors and scoring 10 points.

DeBenedet also had a strong weekend for the Bulldogs earning all-conference honors in two events. After contributing to the distance medley relay team's third place finish on Friday, DeBenedet finished second for the Bulldogs in the women's mile run, with a school record time of 5:06.78, earning eight points. DeBenedet also added another six points to the Samford effort when she finished fourth in the 3000 meters with a time of 10:24.22.

The women's 4x400-meter relay team set a school record as well, and was named All-OVC following a second-place finish. The Bulldog foursome of Kady Decker, Mary Nunnally, Daphne Anderson and Ashley Flowers ran a 3:55.28, and scored eight points for the Bulldogs.

Decker also finished fourth overall in the 400-meter dash, turning in a time of 58.58, and earning Samford an additional five points. Flowers finished sixth in the 400-meter event, with a time of 58.91, scoring three points, and Anderson also scored in the 55-meter hurdles, finishing eighth with a time of 8.69, just behind fellow Bulldog, Ciara Floyd, who finished seventh with a time of 8.61.

Cameron Cardwell was named All-OVC for her second place performance in the women's pole vault. Cardwell reached a height of 10'11 ¾'' and scored eight points for the Bulldogs. Additionally, Michelle Brewer finished sixth in the women's 3000 meters, scoring three points for Samford.

On the men's side Michael Smith earned all-conference honors following a third-place finish in the 55-meter hurdles. Smith ran a 7.72 and scored six points for the Bulldogs. Mark Holmes was also named All-OVC following a third place performance in the men's pole vault. Holmes reached a height of 15' 00'' and added another six points to Samford's effort.

Cameron Bean, who was named All-OVC on Friday night after finishing third in the men's 5000-meter run, finished eighth overall in the men's 3000-meters, turning in a time of 8:47.07 and scoring one point for the Bulldogs.

The Samford University track and field team returns to action on Saturday, March 4, when the team heads to Tallahassee, Fla., to kick off the outdoor season at the FSU Snowbird Invitational.