Photo - APSU Athletics
A sweep of the distance events gave Austin Peay State University track and field a leg up at Sunday’s Ed Temple Classic, hosted by Tennessee State at the Gentry Center. The Austin Peay women finished third with 30 points, behind Tennessee State and Middle Tennessee, and ahead of Alabama A&M and Jackson State.
Austin Peay’s big winner on the day was sophomore Emmaculate Kiplagat, who dusted the field in the mile run with a 5:30.39 mark in the mile run, then returned for a win in the 3000m with an 11:05.82 mark. Freshman Keleah Shell (third, 5:39.94) was just over nine seconds behind Kiplagat in the mile, while Sarah-Emily Woodward (third, 12:07.41) also earned top-three honors in the 3000m.
Freshman Lennex Walker (8.17 in the 55m hurdles) and sophomore Diamond Battle (7.08 in the 55m dash) each earned runner-up honors in their respective disciplines. Shell pulled double-duty with a fourth-place finish in the 800m run (2:29.46), while Walker finished just out the money in the 200m dash, placing sixth at 25.86.
In the field, freshman Denia Hill-Tate’s personal-best 1.65m mark earned her runner-up honors in the high jump.
“Very encouraged about our efforts today,” said head coach Doug Molnar. “We came back in pretty good shape. I’m very pleased with the young hurdles and sprints groups. Hill-Tate had a great day. Walker and (Kamille) Dunbar keep getting better in the hurdles, and Emma keeps growing as a runner.”
(Courtesy APSU Athletics)
