March 28, 2005

Cullowhee, N.C. - The Western Carolina women's sprint medley team broke the school record to headline the Catamounts' performance at the rain-shortened Florida Relays in Gainesville, Fla., over the weekend.

The team of freshman Raquel Ramseur, Tangelia Johnson, Jennifer Spivey, and Leslie Martin finished sixth overall in the medley while setting a WCU record time of 3:56.83. The mark was just under a second quicker than the previous record, set at the same event one year ago. Martin and Spivey were on the old record-setting team, as well.

In other women's action that was able to be completed, Rachel Glasgow placed fifth, followed by teammate Jessica Wilkerson, in the Heptathlon. Glasgow finished with 3,944 points, while Wilkerson totaled 3,110.

Freshman Kerrie Savery posted a personal best in the 1,500-meter run, crossing the stripe in 4:53.83, while Elizabeth Prevette circled the course in 5:12.42. Rounding out the competed events, Miranda Long recorded a distance of 136-0.0 in the women's hammer throw.

On the men's side, Matt Harlfinger placed third in the decathlon with a personal record 5,767 points, followed closely by teammate Bobby Robinson in fourth with 5,416. Both freshman Fred Cameron and Chris Lynch recorded personal bests in the men's 5,000-meter run, tallying top 20 finishes in the field of 45. Cameron tripped the tape in 15:34.05, followed by Lynch in 15:51.32.

Defending SoCon men's track & field athlete of the week, junior Adam Puett, recorded Western men's top finish of the few events that were contested placing fourth in the 1,500-meter run. He finished with a time of 3:50.42, his quickest of the outdoor season thus far.

In men's field events, Matt Decker and Jason Stepp finished seventh and eighth, respectively, in the hammer throw, each with personal bests. Decker hurled the hammer 165-3.0, while Stepp was less than a foot behind at 164-6.0.

Western Carolina, who will host the 2005 Southern Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships at the end of April, will host its first-ever event this weekend. On Saturday, April 2, WCU will host the Catamount Classic at the new track complex on campus with the first event scheduled to begin at 10:00 am.