Men's Track and Field 1/26/2013 9:13:00 PM

GORWITZ, BAKER, SIMMONS STAND ATOP PODIUM ON FINAL DAY OF LIBERTY OPEN

RESULTS

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Behind Brian Gorwitz's, Jamiecka Baker's and Desi Simmons' titles in the men's mile, women's high jump and women's shot put, respectively, and six runner-up performances, Radford track and field put together another stellar showing on Saturday at the Liberty Open held inside the Tolsma Indoor Track Center.

Gorwitz blitzed the men's mile in a personal-record 4:12.71, which ranks as the fourth-fastest time in program history. With momentum on his side, the junior went on to finish third in the 3000-meter run with an 8:47.48 time. Running alongside Gorwitz in the event, Ryan Farnan ran the distance in a personal-record 8:46.09.

Simmons rocketed a 13.04-meter shot put to set an individual-best mark and capture the women's shot put, her first collegiate title. Coming off a personal-record throw in the women's weight throw on Friday, Jazmine Banks heaved a 12.23-meter mark to finish fourth, three spots behind Simmons.

Curtis Hodge led the men's throwers with a third-place finish in the weight throw by virtue of his 17.03-meter effort. Garrett Knudson's 14.52-meter mark placed him sixth in the shot put.

Teresa Williamson and Maggie Wissler highlighted the women's distance effort in the 3000-meter run and the mile, respectively. Williamson's personal-record time of 10:49.68 propelled her to a seventh-place showing, while Wissler's 5:20.36 individual-best one-mile run placed her in 10th. Katie Hickey finished 13th in the 800-meter run with a personal-best 2:32.94.

Continuing their dominance in the 800-meter run on the men's side, Eric Graves, Jake Zimmerman and Thomas Keefe each finished in the Top-10. Graves paced the pack of Highlanders in fourth (2:00.13), followed by Zimmerman in sixth (2:00.50) and Keefe in eighth (2:02.94). Chris Weeks crossed the line in an individual-record 2:40.49 in the 1000-meter run to place ninth.

Capturing her first collegiate title in the high jump, Baker guided the jumps portion of the meet for Radford. With a personal-record 1.60-meter mark, Baker won the women's high jump, while finishing third in the triple jump by tying her career-best mark of 11.38 meters.

A trio of Highlanders posted Top-5 marks in the women's long jump. Out in front was Kaleice Green's 5.47-meter showing, which placed her in second. Lora Wilson finished third (5.27 meters) and Kayla Christian concluded in fifth (5.24 meters).

On the men's side, Cory Dunn's personal-record 6.57-meter long jump placed the freshman in ninth. Josiah Brunson recorded a 13th-place performance in the pole vault with an individual-best 3.90-meter mark.

Radford continued its strong presence in the sprints with eighth Top-10 showings. All eyes were on Big South Men's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week Vincent Wyatt, who competed in his signature event—the 60-meter hurdles.

The sophomore did not disappoint as he blazed the preliminary round in 8.03, which was tied for the sixth fastest time in program history at that moment. However, that time would be dropped down a spot after Wyatt improved to 7.88 in the finals, to finish as the top collegian runner in the event.

Wyatt's time in the finals ranks as the second-fastest time clocked in the program history. In this season alone, the Atlanta, Ga. native has inserted four new Top-10 marks in the 60-meter hurdles.

Also in the preliminary round of the 60-meter hurdles was Devon Drake, who reduced his personal-best time in the event to 9.15.

In the women's race, Courtni Pannell was clocked at 8.89 to finish second, while Amber Church's 9.28 sprint was the sixth-best time. Lakei Crews finished runner-up in the 60-meter dash at 7.89, while K. Green placed sixth (8.06)—she was clocked for a career-best 8.02 performance in the preliminary round.

Joseph Betts paced RU in the men's 60-meter dash, coming in sixth with a 7.02 effort. Kaise White (50.39) placed second in the men's 400-meter run, while Michelle Speede (1:01.17) crossed the line in seventh place on the women's side.

Two additional personal-bests were set in the 200-meter races, with David Green finishing 13th (23.62) on the men's side and Danyelle McDaniel placing 21st (27.91) in the women's event. Christian was slightly ahead of McDaniel, completing the 200 meters in 27.61.

The Highlanders are back in action, Friday and Saturday (Feb. 1-2), in Winston-Salem, N.C. at the Hilton Garden Inn-vitational hosted by Wake Forest.

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