April 30, 2005

Cullowhee, N.C. - After a three hour rain delay Saturday morning, the 2005 Southern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships finally began at the new Track and Field complex on the campus of Western Carolina University with Appalachian State leading both the men's and women's competition at the conclusion of the first day.

Western Carolina currently stands in second place in the team standings in the men's competition, fourth overall on the women's side.

The Mountaineers, who entered the meet leading both regular season power rankings leads the men's competition with 125.5 points. ASU is followed by host Western Carolina in second (49 pts.) and Chattanooga in third. On the women's side, Appalachian leads Georgia Southern by 43.5 points after the first day of competition, followed by Chattanooga (34), Western Carolina (28), and the College of Charleston rounding out the top five.

Appalachian State's Bob Smith and Nikole Simmons both recorded regional qualifications on the day with their mark in the hammer throw. Simmons' throw of 55.27 meters (181'4") in the finals set a SoCon record in the event previously held Chakosha Lance, who finished third in the event to earn All-SoCon honors. Smith's toss of 57.81 meters (189' 8") bettered his seasonal regional qualifying mark of 187' 6" by more than two feet. Western Carolina teammates Jason Stepp and Matt Decker earned all-conference in the men's event finishing second and third, respectively.

Smith also placed second in the men's discus throw, an event the Mountaineers swept the top three scoring positions. Anthony Greer claimed the individual title, with teammate Dan Utley placing third.

Having already qualified for the NCAA East Regional, the Catamount's Laura Tieszen again hit the mark in winning this year's individual championship in the women's pole vault competition. Tieszen soared over the regional qualifier 3.80 meters (12' 5.50) to successfully defend her 2004 championship. Elon's Jessica Clendenning and Appalachian State's Bridget Robertson finished second and third to also earn All-Southern Conference honors.

The women's 400-meter hurdle preliminaries saw Elon's Alice Turner earn a regional qualifying berth and Western Carolina's Asia Davis solidify her regular season regional berth as the two paced their respective heats. In heat one, Turner crossed the stripe in 1:00.61 while Davis leads tomorrow's finals with a time of 1:00.56. Davis first hit the qualifying mark back at the Charlotte Invitational (Mar. 18-19) and again when she set a WCU record in the hurdles at the Sea Ray Relays with a time of 59.28.

The decathlon and pentathlon marked the start of the championships with the competitors participating in day's first events. In the men's decathlon, Appalachian State's Dustin Wright currently leads with 3,289 points, followed by Western Carolina teammates Alex Patton (3,179) and Matt Harlfinger (3,167). In the women's pentathlon, Appalachian State's Kristie Boggan gained an advantage by winning the shot put and taking the lead with 2,704 points. In a battle for second place is Georgia Southern's Tonya Grimes (2,573) and Western Carolina's Laura Tieszen (2,571).

Despite early morning downpours and threatening skies most of the afternoon, Western Carolina hosted the first day of the 2005 Southern Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships, finishing under the lights on Saturday night in Cullowhee.

Appalachian State's Carolyn Kitchens took first in the women's javelin with a throw of 39.30 meters (128'11") followed by Tieszen and Crystal Belcher of Wofford who also earned all-conference. In the men's pole vault Western Carolina's Wes Willoughby took first with a height of 4.75 meters (15'7") followed by Dan Queen and Tyler Varnadore of Appalachian State.

In the women's 400-meter trials, East Tennessee State's Nichola Cornish lead the field in qualification for the finals, followed closely by Rashedah Arnold of Georgia Southern and freshman Raquel Ramseur of Western Carolina. In the men's 400-meter trials, Western Carolina teammates James Barr, Zeb Johnson, and Charleton Grant all pace the field heading into the finals. Appalachian State's Bryan Burney and Adam VanNortwick top the field for tomorrow in the men's 800-meter finals, while Appalachian State's Katie Sujkowski and Furman's McKenzie Sharpe do the same for the women.

The men's 100-meter dash finals were set with Western Carolina's Mike Malone pacing the field. Catamount teammates Lawrence Briscoe and Mike Malone paced the 110-meter hurdle trials as Western took four of the top five finishing positions entering Sunday's final. Andre Brown finished fourth with Ashten Bennett quailfying fifth for the finals.

The Southern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships will culminate on Sunday, May 1 at 9:00 a.m. Competition will begin with the completion of the decathlon and pentathlon, followed by finals in the 400, 800, 1,500, and 5,000 meters. Field event finals will be held in the shot put, high jump, and triple jump. The final day will conclude with the 4x400 meter men's and women's relay, followed by presentation of the men's and women's championship trophies.

Statistics will be updated throughout the day online at www.CatamountSports.com, as well as www.SoConSports.com.

Men's Standings After Day One (6 events scored):
1.	Appalachian State - 125.50
2.	Western Carolina - 49
3.	Chattanooga - 16
4.	Furman - 14
5.	Wofford - 12
6.	UNC Greensboro - 5
7.	East Tennessee State - 4.50
8.	Davidson - 4
The Citadel - 4
Women's Standings After Day One (6 events scored):
1.	Appalachian State - 84.5
2.	Georgia Southern - 41
3.	Chattanooga - 34
4.	Western Carolina - 28
5.	College of Charleston - 10.5
6.	The Citadel - 10
7.	Furman - 9
8.	Elon - 9
9.	Wofford - 8