February 16, 2013 - Mason-Dixon Conference Indoor Championships (from CNUsports.com)

Post date: Feb 21, 2013 7:42:25 PM

CNU Indoor Track & Field Sweeps Mason-Dixon Conference Championships

Daulton Teaford named Men's Track Athlete of the Meet, Tyler Wingard honored as Men's and Women's Coach of the Year

2/16/2013 8:45:00 PM

Final Results / AP Results / Videos from the Meet

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – During a dominant performance on Saturday afternoon, the Christopher Newport indoor track & field teams swept the Mason-Dixon Conference Championships for the second straight year and Daulton Teaford was named the Men's Track Athlete of the Meet after a sensational effort at the Freeman Center.

In addition to Teaford's honor, Tyler Wingard was selected as the men's and women's Coach of the Year after guiding both programs to the league crown. Led by a slew of top-flight performances, the Captains set 52 personal bests and came away with 14 individual titles during the daylong meet.

“The team had a great day today from the very first events,” said Wingard. “They competed very well and were as focused as we have been all year. Along with the 52 lifetime bests, we had several other outstanding races and really earned the dominant scores.”

Overall, the men posted a score of 207, which out-distanced Gwynedd-Mercy by 92. On the women's side, the Captains ran away with the meet after finishing with a score of 228. Once again, the Griffins finished second after piecing together 80 points.

Teaford headlined the show on the men's side after orchestrating a bevy of incredible performances. He captured the crown in the 200-meters after crossing the line in 22.45 and finished third in both the 400-meters and high jump. In addition to those showings, his top effort of the day came in the 60-meter dash. Although he finished second in the finals of the discipline, he recorded the top clocking of the day after blistering the field with a time of 6.95 in the semifinals. Currently, that ranks 20th in all of Division III this year.

In addition to Teaford, Dominique Torres also had an excellent day for the Captains. The first-year phenom won the league crown in both the long jump and triple jump. His distance of 14.25-meters in the triple currently ranks 16th in the nation.

As usual, Christopher Newport also received several impressive performances from its distance runners. Ray Gamache won the 5000-meters after clocking in at 15:13.60, which stands as the fifth-fastest time in CNU history. Brian Huffman also secured the crown in the 800-meters after separating from the field with a time of 1:59.87.

Brian Strickland rounded out the CNU champions on the men's side after notching a time of 8.86 in the 60-meter hurdles.

In addition to the winners, Anthony Melton placed second in the weight throw with a toss of 4.38 meters, which ranks sixth in program history. Kendrick McMinn also recorded a heave of 13.53 meters, which placed him third in the field and ninth in the CNU record books.

Joseph Taylor also came in second in the pole vault, while Samuel Martin was the runner-up in the mile after placing fourth in the 800-meters. Josh Showalter also came in second in the 5000-meters and Kwarteng Asare was just edged out by Torres in the triple jump after leaping 14.01 meters. Additionally, the distance medley relay team, led by Daniel Richard Matthew Combs, Wilson Bever, and Donovan Lewin, crossed the line in 11:06.99, which placed them second overall.

The women were just as dominant, posting eight titles during the championship meet. Melissa Rizor led the way after capturing the crown in the mile and 5000-meters. In the former, she clocked in at 5:19.73, which ranks fifth in program history. In the latter, she made her debut in the event and crossed the line in 19:05.14, which stands eighth all-time.

Enuma Ezenwa and Fredsal Walker also claimed a pair of titles during the meet. Ezenwa won the 400-meters with a time of 59.89, while Walker was the champion in the 60-meter hurdles after completing the event in 9.27. Later, the two teamed up with Taylor McCord and Jennifer Westerholm for a spectacular run in the 4x400-relay as the foursome came in first with a time of 4:06.28.

In addition to her performance on the relay, Westerholm also won the triple jump after leaping 10.69 meters, while Kalee Hammerton brought home the pole vault crown after clearing 3.21 meters. Jenna Elliott completed the CNU champions after winning the high jump with a height of 1.60 meters. Incredibly, the Captains swept the top-five spots in that event after Ezenwa, Stephanie Taylor, Westerholm, and Noel Bartley rounded out the rest of the top performers.

Along with her two titles, Walker also placed second in the 200-meters and fifth in the 60-meter dash. Jessica McClelland also had an exceptional day, collecting a pair of second-place efforts. She just missed setting a PR in the mile but more than made up for it later after finishing as the runner-up in the 5000-meters with a time of 19:22.72, which ranks 10th all-time at CNU.

In the field events, Rashidat Omotosho posted a second-place effort after launching a toss of 10.38-meters in the weight throw, while Lyzan Rashid and Catherine Buchanan finished third and fourth, respectively. Bartley also came in fourth in the shot put, while Rashid placed fifth in that discipline.

Olivia Green also came in second in the long jump with a distance of 4.91 meters, Ezenwa was the runner-up in the 60-meter hurdles, and McCord finished second in the 400-meters. Danielle Crowley had three top-five efforts as well, finishing third in the triple jump and long jump and fourth in the 60-meter hurdles.

The Christopher Newport indoor track & field teams will return to action next week when the squad heads to the George Mason Winter Open on February 24.

AGATE:

Men's Track Athlete of the Meet – Daulton Teaford (CNU)

Men's Field Athlete of the Meet – Joshua Harris (Methodist)

Men's Coach of the Year – Tyler Wingard (CNU)

Women's Track Athlete of the Meet – Zakiyyah Richardson (GMC)

Women's Field Athlete of the Meet – Amanda Theall (Shenandoah)

Women's Coach of the Year – Tyler Wingard (CNU)

--CNU--

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