Track and Field Set for Seahawk Shootout Friday

Friday, December 7

Staten Island, N.Y.

Temple University

Seahawk Shootout

Track and Field Set for Seahawk Shootout Friday

12.5.18 | Women's Track and Field

PHILADELPHIA – The Temple University track & field team continues its indoor season on Friday, Dec. 7 at the Wagner College Seahawk Shootout. The Owls will take a trip to Staten Island, N.Y. to compete at the Ocean Breeze Park Track and Field Complex for their second time out this season. The meet will serve as the finale for squad's 2018 portion of the season, as they get their final marks in before a five week hiatus from competition over the holiday break.

Scouting the Owls
> Track and field kicked off their fifth season under the direction of head coach Elvis Forde. This year, the squad returned 17 student-athletes and added eight talented newcomers to help bring the program to new heights.
> The Owls had a record-breaking 2017-18 indoor season, earning their highest-ever team finish of sixth at the American Athletic Conference Championships. The conference meet was highlighted by Millie Howard earning a gold medal in the mile and two top three finishes from Grace Moore. At the conference meet, the DMR of Howard, Sydney Williams, Lucy Jones and Katie Pinson broke the school record and earned a spot on the podium with a bronze medal.
> The Temple track and field team is led by captains Crystal Jones, Katie Leisher and Moore.

Last Time Out
> The Owls are coming off a solid initial team performance at their 2018-19 season opener last Saturday in Bethlehem, Pa. The meet was highlighted by debuts from freshmen Marissa White and Keegan Simonsen, and included five first place finishes from the Owls.
> Crystal Jones kicked off the action for the day, winning the high jump after clearing a height of 1.65m. The Fredericksburg, Va. native captured her second victory of the meet just a few minutes later, winning the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.92.
> Neck-and-neck with Jones was sophomore Sydney Williams, who attacked the hurdles to finish second overall with a time of 9.06.
> Following the hurdles, sophomore Candus Burks represented the Owls in the 60m dash. The Bowie, Md. native ran the straight away in 8.21, good for a second place finish overall. Burks also saw her first action in the sand this year, earning an 11.39m mark in the triple jump for her second runner-up finish of the day.
> The Owls saw a talented new face in the 400m, as White made an exciting debut as one of Temple's two freshmen competing today. The Nassau, Bahamas native made a statement during her first collegiate showing, winning the event with a time of 58.65 to hand the Owls their third victory of the day. Just behind White was junior Madison Beecher, who completed the 400m in 59.66 for a second place finish overall.
> The 800m was highlighted by senior Ashton Dunkley, sophomore McKenzie Gelvin and Simonsen all finishing in the top 10. Dunkley put on a solid performance to place second overall with a time of 2:16.79.
> The 200m saw junior Ebonee Jackson on the track for the first time this season. The Paterson, N.J. native started the season in high fashion, finishing the one-lap race in 26.11 and winning the event.
> Temple put on an exciting showing in the 4x400m to wrap up its first meet of the season, when the relay team of Williams, Jackson, Beecher and White earned a come-from-behind victory after an impressive final push from White in the last leg. The group ran the relay in 4:01.37, giving the team its fifth win of the day.