LEXINGTON, Va. --- The Tusculum University men's and women's indoor track & field teams began competition Friday in the two-day VMI Winter Relays, hosted at the Corps Physical Training Facility.
Tusculum's men competed in five events on Friday while the women participated in four events. The meet will resume Saturday at 9 a.m. with 12 events on the schedule.
MEN'S RECAP
Junior Gerard Hearst advanced to the finals of the 60 meters for the second week in a row, running 6.99 in preliminaries to win his heat. Sophomore Giovanni Purser also advanced to the finals with a time of 7.14 seconds, which was a career best and moved him to ninth place on the school performance list.
Sophomore Jontavus Walker finished sixth in the 400 meters at 51.13 seconds, a career-best time that was seventh-fastest in program history. Senior Kyle Stanley also had a career best, running 52.48 seconds to move into sixth on the program's performance list. In the 1000 meters, Antonio Aparicio finished seventh overall in 2:35.67, while Ray Richardson was fifth in the 5000 meters (16:32.40) and Carson Walls took sixth (16:36.70).
In the triple jump, freshman Javell Brown took second place with a leap of 13.50 meters (44 feet, 3 1/2 inches), the seventh-best jump in program history and second on the performance list. Freshman Javon Brown was sixth at 13.04 meters (42 feet, 9 1/2 inches) which was eighth-best in program history and third on the performance list, and sophomore Pierre Dupuy was eighth in 12.70 meters (41 feet, 8 inches).
WOMEN'S RECAP
Junior Brianna Oats qualified for the finals in the 60 meters with a preliminary time of 8.29 seconds, which was seventh-fastest in the event and eighth-best in program history, and junior Kayneshia Carter was tenth in 8.37 seconds. In the 400 meters, senior Kenisha Staubbs was eighth overall with a time of 1:02.09 while junior Earthaiza Watkins was tenth overall in 1:03.02.
Sophomore Erin Bruce finished ninth in the 5000 meters and claimed third place on the program's performance list in the event with a time of 20:27.34. Junior Destini Wilson was sixth in the high jump at 1.50 meters (4 feet, 11 inches), which ties her for sixth on the school Top 10 list and matches her mark from Sunday's competition at the KMS Invitational.
MEN
60 prelims: 3. Gerard Hearst, 6.99 (advances); 8. Giovanni Purser, 7.14 (advances).
400: 6. Jontavus Walker, 51.13; 13. Kyle Stanley, 52.48.
1000: 7. Antonio Aparicio, 2:35.67; 11. Kyler Hodges, 2:38.49; 16. Caleb Archer, 2:43.93.
5000: 5. Ray Richardson, 16:32.40; 6. Carson Walls, 16:36.70.
Triple jump: 2. Javell Brown, 13.50m (44-3 1/2); 6. Javon Brown, 13.04m (42-9 1/2); 8. Pierre Dupuy, 12.70m (41-8).
WOMEN
60 prelims: 7. Brianna Oats, 8.29 (advances); 10. Kayneshia Carter, 8.37.
400: 8. Kenisha Stubbs, 1:02.09; 10. Earthaiza Watkins, 1:03.02.
5000: 9. Erin Bruce, 20:27.34.
High jump: 6. Destini Wilson, 1.50m (4-11).
