Three women set personal bests in the event
CINCINNATI - The first day of competition in the 2016 indoor season for the University of Cincinnati track and field program started off with quite a bang as Annette Echikunwoke broke the school record in the women’s 20-pound weight throw with a personal best of over five feet to open action at the Kentucky Invitational in Lexington, Ky., Friday night. Two other women in the event also posted personal bests.
Echikunwoke, who entered the season with a personal best of 18.31m (60-01.00), made quick work of improving on that PR as her first toss of the competition traveled 18.94m. She was certainly not done there as she overtook the record of 19.53m (64-01.00) set by Miriam Merrilll (2001) with a toss of 20.04m (65-09.00) on her second attempt before raising the standard one final time with her best mark of the competition at 20.05m (65-09.50). Echikunwoke’s mark not only cleared the previous record by nearly two feet, it also shattered her previous best by over five feet (5-08.50). In all, she claimed the two longest throws in program history while finishing fourth overall in the competition and second among collegiate athletes.
Joining Echikunwoke in the event were Monica Phillips, Nicole Breeden and Leah Heckaman. Phillips was 13th overall with a best of 17.51m (57-05.50) while Breeden was 26th and Heckaman 29th. Breeden and Heckaman both improved upon their previous personal bests as they recorded marks of 15.74m (51-07.75) and 15.44m (50-08.00), respectively.
On the men’s side of the competition, three Bearcats took part in the 35-pound weight throw and were led by Josh Province, who posted a mark of 16.86m (55-03.75) to finish 13th overall. Macklin Tudor was 15th overall at 15.92m (52-02.75) while John Zedella, in his first collegiate competition, was 19th at 15.06m (49-05.00).
Action concludes tomorrow with all remaining events of the meet with field events starting at 9am and running events at noon.
Kentucky Invitational - Day 1 (1/15/16)
Women’s Weight Throw
4. Annette Echikunwoke - 20.05m (65-09.50) - UC Record
13. Monica Phillips - 17.51m (57-05.50)
26. Nicole Breeden - 15.74m (51-07.75)
29. Leah Heckaman - 15.44m (50-08.00)
Men’s Weight Throw
13. Josh Province - 16.86m (55-03.75)
15. Macklin Tudor - 15.92m (52-02.75)
19. John Zedella - 15.06m (49-05.00)
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