Temple University Athletics
TRACK TEAMS TO COMPETE AT ATLANTIC 10 CHAMPIONSHIPS ON SATURDAY
2.16.06 | Men's Track and Field
PHILADELPHIA -- The Temple men's and women's track & field teams will look to make a run at the team title on Saturday at the 2006 Atlantic 10 Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field Championships at the University of Rhode Island's Mackal Field House.
On the women's side, junior Tynisha Gardner is looking to defend her 500m title from last year's indoor conference championship. The Philadelphia native has the third fastest time in the conference this season (1:16.27) and needs to drop just 0.27 seconds to qualify for the ECAC Championships. Gardner also has the fourth fastest time in the A-10 in the 400m (57.13) and already met ECAC standards.
Junior Erin Davis is in the mix for the high jump title, as her 5-7 mark is the second best in the conference this winter. The 4x400 relay, already an ECAC qualifier, has the second fastest time (3:52.62) in the A-10 and will look to upend Charlotte on Saturday.
For the men, Bryce Buffaloe will look to score in the shot put and weight throw. The freshman set the school record in the weight throw earlier this season and ranks fourth in the conference (52-2). Seniors Steven Johnson (long Jump) and Andrew Schultz (high jump) are ranked sixth in their respective events.
Rhode Island's men's squad tied an Atlantic 10 record with its fourth Championship last season as it amassed 200 points, 57 more than runner-up La Salle. URI is led by junior Ashhad Agyapong, who was named the Most Outstanding Track Performer at the 2005 Championship after winning the 200m and 400m dashes. The Rams are vying to join Virginia Tech (1997-00) as the only program to win three straight A-10 crowns.
The high jump begins the men's portion of the Championship at 2:25pm with Charlotte, Fordham, La Salle, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Richmond, Saint Joseph's, Temple and Xavier contending for the title. Rhode Island senior Evan Lima seeks to tie a Championship record with his third gold medal in the high jump, while sophomore Sean Quigley of La Salle vies for his second individual title in as many years after winning the 5,000m in a Championship-record time of 14:32.75. Quigley earned Most Outstanding Rookie honors at the 2005 Championship for his efforts.
One the women's side, Rhode Island's women's team seized its fifth A-10 crown after edging La Salle at the 2005 Championship, 132.83-127.00. URI senior Emily Anderson looks to defend her title in the 1,000m run, while senior Kelly Pohlman of Dayton looks to tie a Championship record with her third gold medal in the shot put. Charlotte junior Shareese Woods enters the Championship boasting the top times in the Conference in both the 200m (23.88) and 400m (54.46) dashes and has provisionally qualified for the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in both events.
The high jump kicks off the women's Championship at 9:15 am with Charlotte, Dayton, Duquesne, Fordham, La Salle, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Richmond, Saint Joseph's, Temple and Xavier vying for the title. The 2006 Championship marks the first year of competition for A-10 newcomer Charlotte in men's and women's indoor track & field.
