University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Alabama Relays
Five Top-10s Friday at Alabama Relays
March 20, 2015 | Track & Field
March 20, 2015
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Tennessee Track and Field recorded five top 10 finishes, all coming in the field events, on Friday at the John Mitchell Alabama Relays -- the second day of the outdoor season-opening meet at Sam Bailey Track Stadium.
Two of Tennessee's top finishes of the day came in the men's and women's shot put competition as Matthew Hoty and Cassie Wertman each finished inside the top five of their respective fields. Hoty picked up his second-place finish behind a throw of 58 feet, one inch (17.70 meters) on his fourth attempt, coming in behind only Kyle Felpel (59-0.25/17.99) of Alabama. Meanwhile, Wertman -- fresh off a second team All-American performance at last weekend's NCAA Indoor Championships -- closed out the night in third place with a toss of 49 feet, 6.5 inches (15.10).
In the men's javelin, Kyle Quinn made his season debut with an effort of 229 feet, three inches (69.89) - good for third in the event. He established that distance on very first attempt on the evening.
"I thought we got off to a good start to today's competition," said director of track and field/cross country Beth Alford-Sullivan. "Kyle Quinn carried the day for us, opening up his season with a throw of 229 feet. He only took three of his six throws, so we're being smart at the start of the season. I also thought we got solid jumping from Tyler Porter in the pole vault and great efforts from Austin Whitelaw and Kyle Walter in the men's 1500."
Rounding out the top 10 finishes on the men's side, Tyler Porter and Michael Maira finished eighth and ninth, respectively, in the pole vault. Porter topped out with a vault of 16 feet, 6.75 inches (5.05) while Maira matched his outdoor PR with a mark of 16 feet, 0.75 inches (4.90).
On the track, the women saw true freshman Cidae'a Woods turn in a 12.48 in her first collegiate 100-meter dash. She entered the season with a lifetime best of 12.06, which she established in high school. In the sprint medley relay, the quartet of Felicia Brown, Felecia Majors, London Freeland, and Amirah Johnson placed 18th with a time of 4:55.45.
The men saw a trio of finishers in the 1500 meters, led by Austin Whitelaw's 3:52.53. He finished 11th in the race. Kyle Walter was close behind in 15th at 3:53.78 while freshman Drew Kelley finished in 39th with an initial collegiate time of 4:06.98.
"This is a good opener for us and we're enjoying getting the season started," said Sullivan. "We'll get back at it tomorrow and look to have another strong day."
The Alabama Relays wind to a close on Saturday with a full slate on the track and in the field. Field events begin at 1 p.m. ET with the women's discus while women's 4x100-meter relay opens the day's action on the track at 2 p.m. Live, online coverage of Saturday's events will be carried by SEC Network + beginning at 3 p.m.
MEN'S RESULTS AT ALABAMA RELAYS
Thursday
Hammer Throw: 18. Deon McAdoo, 53.66m (176-0); 20. Carson Frost, 50.78m (166-7)
Friday
Pole Vault: 8. Tyler Porter, 5.05m (16-6.75); 9. Michael Maira, 4.90m (16-0.75)
1500m: 11. Austin Whitelaw, 3:52.53; 15. Kyle Walter, 3:53.78; 39. Drew Kelley, 4:06.98
Sprint Medley Relay: Tennessee `A' (Strother, Strange, Carter, Kaiser) - dnf
Javelin: 3. Kyle Quinn, 69.89m (229-3)
Shot Put: 2. Matthew Hoty, 17.70m (58-1.0)
WOMEN'S RESULTS AT ALABAMA RELAYS
Friday
100m: 13. Cidae'a Woods, 12.48
Sprint Medley Relay: 18. Tennessee `A' (Brown, Majors, Freeland, Johnson), 4:55.45
High Jump: Cidae'a Woods - nh
Shot Put: 3. Cassie Wertman, 15.10m (49-6.50)
! - Personal Best, $ - SEC Record, a - American Record, b - Banked Track, c - Collegiate Record, adv. - Advanced, dna - Did Not Advance, dnf - Did Not Finish, dnr - Did Not Run, dns - Did Not Score, dq - Disqualified, F - Foul, f - Facility Record, fr - Freshman Record, fr* - Tied Freshman Record, fs - False Start, H - Heptathlon, h - Hand-Timed, mr - Meet Record, nh - No Height, nm - No Mark, P - Pentathlon, sr - School Record, u - Undersized Track, w - wind-aided, wr - World Record
