Track teams race to third and fourth place finishes

The Troy outdoor track and field men’s team finished in third place at the South Alabama Invitational on Saturday, April 8, while the women’s team finished fourth.

The teams finished with 106 and 88 points respectively.

“We are at the point in the season where, although we are entering the championship segment, we are in our seventh and eighth month of serious training for the year,” said director Marc Davis. “These athletes could easily pack it in and use fatigue as an excuse, but they are fighting and competing hard. We had some great results this weekend from our veteran leaders as well as our hungry newcomers. With two meets left before our conference championships, we are looking forward to some outstanding performances to come.”

Junior Zach Douglas of Cullman finished first in the shot put event and took home second place in the discus throw. His shot put was good enough for an 18.39-meter distance and a season-best mark, while his discus throw traveled 53.53 meters.

These two finishes were worth 18 total points.

Temple, Georgia native Hakim Montgomery finished first in the 100-meter dash. The 10.42-second finish not only earned the freshman 10 points, but set a personal record and season best.

Fellow freshman John Webb of Highland Springs, Virginia, also took home 10 points for the Trojans. Webb’s finish of 1:55:99 in the 800-meter dash was enough to earn him first place.

Just behind Webb was sophomore Joe Giese, a native of Meridian, Idaho. Webb and Giese’s combined finishes earned 18 points for the Trojans.

Sophomore Niata Alexander, a sophomore from Douglasville, Georgia, took home first place and 10 points in the 400-meter dash, finishing in 56.26 seconds.

Another Georgian earned four points for the Trojans in the same event. Junior Dallas Worthy of Covington, Georgia, finished in fifth.

Los Fresnos, Texas native junior Corina Cox combined with sophomore Jaevyn Worthham of Township, Michigan, for 18 points in the discus throw. Cox finished first with a 50.43-meter toss. Worthham’s 48.29-meter throw took second place.

Competition resumes for the Trojans next Friday and Saturday, April 23-24, at the War Eagle Invitational in Auburn, Alabama.