Upstate Runners Compete at Duke Invitational
4/3/2009 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
April 3, 2009
DURHAM, N.C.- Complete Duke Invitational Results
The USC Upstate track and field team took eight athletes to the Duke Invitational on Friday afternoon to compete in the 5,000 and 10,000-meter distance events, while the rest of the Spartan squad enjoyed a weekend off from competition.
"This was a great meet for our distance athletes to compete in," said Upstate's distance coach Ed Schlichter. "We gained some much needed experience in some of the longer races. We were training through this week. We had some consistent finishes today, but overall, we were a little flat and tired."
The Spartans' were led by Matt Henderson and James Jackson in the men's 10,000-meter run, marking the first time in school history that Spartan runners competed in the event. Henderson finished in 33:14.07, slightly ahead of freshman James Jackson who crossed the finish line at 33:20.43.
"Matt (Henderson) PR'ed through the first 8,000-meters," Schlichter said. "He was only 12 seconds off his personal best half-way through the 10k with a 5k still left, which was impressive. He and James (Jackson) looked great. They are doing what they need to do to prepare for the conference meet. Today was a huge breakthrough performance for them."
Emily Tangwar posted a top-ten finish in the women's 5k, finishing eighth in 17:40.85 and posting her second-fastest time in the outdoor season. Jemeli Sang finished in 18:05.84, followed by Joan Tangwar in 18:17.48.
"Emily (Tangwar) didn't have her best start, she never really got in the race," said Schlichter. "Joan (Tangwar) ran well but she tightened up in the last mile. As a group, the girls were off from their top times, but they gained some important experience."
Freshman Lauren Walker ran the first 10,000-meters of her collegiate career and the second in Upstate history, posting a top-20 finish (15th) with a time of 40:24.71. Emily Tangwar holds the school's record time in the 10k in 36:24.96, which she set last season at the Penn Relays.
"The athletes were tired but we're looking forward to using the next couple of weeks to refuel," Schlichter said. "We're excited to get back to some shorter distances and to focus on getting better."
Spartans' track and field will be back in action next Saturday, April 11th, when they travel to Greenville, S.C., to compete at the Furman Invitational.
