PHILADELPHIA, PA- The La Salle Track & Field teams will head to the 2008 Atlantic 10 Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field Championships, to be held at the University of Rhode Island's Mackal Field House on Saturday, Feb. 16. Last season Coach Charles Torpey's Explorer men placed second and the women took fourth.
The Rhode Island men and Charlotte women's indoor track & field teams were the respective winners in 2008.
On the women's side, Charlotte has claimed A-10 championship crowns in its first two Championships as a member of the Conference. With their most recent title, the team tallied 167 points, clinching the championship by 67 points over second-place. Richmond (110). Rounding out the top five was third-place Rhode Island (86), followed by La Salle (71) and Duquesne (70). The Explorers are led by Rachel Papin (Philadelphia, PA) who owns the top time in the 5K currently.
Charlotte looks to continue its regular-season success by bringing three A-10 Performers of the Week winners to the 2008 Championship. The 49ers are led by two-time POW winner in junior Aja Jackson, who currently possesses the Conference's top times in one-mile run (4:56.61) and the 800-meter run (2:10.50). The pre-season favorite 49ers will have to hold off five-time Conference champion Rhode Island if they are to become the second A-10 team to win three consecutive championships. The only other, Rhode Island (2000-02), is anchored by two of the Conference's top throwers in seniors Sarah Thornton and Jasmine Jennings. Thornton's NCAA Indoor Championships-provisional mark of 62-10 3/4 leads the A-10 this season.
On the men's side, Rhode Island looks to defend its title after edging out La Salle at the 2007 Championship, 190-162. Finishing third was defending champion Charlotte (143), followed by Massachusetts (60) and Fordham (51).
The Rams are led by senior Yudehwheh Gbaa, who was crowned 2007 champion in the triple jump with a leap of 50-3/4 en route to winning Most Outstanding Field Performer. Rhody is seeking its sixth title in the last eight years, but will likely have to again contend with La Salle's standout runners, led by Korey Edwards. Edwards ranks in the top three in the Conference in three different events this season, including the fastest time in the 1,000-meter run (2:27.56).
La Salle's All-American middle-distance runner Sean Quigley (Braintree, MA) will be a factor as he currently leads the A-10 in two events- the 3K and 1 Mile race.
The high jump kicks off the women's Championship at 9:00am with Charlotte, Dayton, Duquesne, Fordham, La Salle, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Richmond, Saint Joseph's, Saint Louis, Temple and Xavier contending for the title.
The high jump also begins the men's portion of the Championship at 3:15pm with Charlotte, Fordham, La Salle, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Richmond, Saint Joseph's, Saint Louis, Temple and Xavier vying for the Championship.
