.png&type=webp)
Saturday, February 22
Birmingham, AL
All Day
Rice University
vs
C-USA Indoor Championships
Photo by: CUSA
WT&F: Russell, Simpson-Sullivan Earn C-USA Titles
2/22/2020 11:35:00 PM | Women's Track & Field
BIRMINGHAM, AL - The Rice Owls women's track & field team put their best foot forward on day one of the Conference USA Indoor Championships on Saturday, winning two individual titles and qualifying four runners for Sunday's finals.
Freshman thrower Tara Simpson-Sullivan put an exclamation point on a successful opening day by winning the weight throw title on her final attempt, moving from fifth place to victory by breaking her own school record with a winning heave of 19.45m (63-09.75).
While Simpson-Sullivan helped close the evening on a positive note, it was fellow senior Zinedine Russell who kickstarted Rice's Saturday performance by winning gold in the pentathlon for her first career C-USA title. Russell totaled a career-best 3715 points and set indoor personal records in four of five events to earn 10 critical points for the Owls.
Senior All-American jumper Michelle Fokam set a season-best mark of 6.19m (20-03.75) to place second overall in the long jump, earning her ninth career all-conference performance.
Senior sprinter Hannah Jackson qualified for a pair of finals performances on Sunday, qualifying in both the 60m (3rd-7.56) and 200m (1st-24.00) while freshman Grace Forbes (1st-4:54.60) and Alyssa Balandran (6th-5:02.49) advanced to Sunday in the mile.
The Owls earned an additional five points with a fourth place finish in the distance medley relay. The foursome of Hannah Bablak, Tanae Dorsett, Nicole Mitchell, and Balandran finished in 12:05.73. Also earning five points was senior Khayla Patel, who just missed out on a medal stand performance by finishing fourth (17:03.54) with a PR in the 5000m.
Sophomore thrower Julie Perez also established a PR of 17.44m, placing ninth in the weight throw.
As a team the Owls enter Sunday in first place with 38 points through five scored events.
-RiceOwls.com-
Freshman thrower Tara Simpson-Sullivan put an exclamation point on a successful opening day by winning the weight throw title on her final attempt, moving from fifth place to victory by breaking her own school record with a winning heave of 19.45m (63-09.75).
🎥 Day one reaction from @CoachJimBevan at the @ConferenceUSA Indoor Championships. #GoOwls👐 x #RFND pic.twitter.com/EYTKa02j5y
— Rice TF & XC (@RiceTFXC) February 23, 2020
While Simpson-Sullivan helped close the evening on a positive note, it was fellow senior Zinedine Russell who kickstarted Rice's Saturday performance by winning gold in the pentathlon for her first career C-USA title. Russell totaled a career-best 3715 points and set indoor personal records in four of five events to earn 10 critical points for the Owls.
Senior All-American jumper Michelle Fokam set a season-best mark of 6.19m (20-03.75) to place second overall in the long jump, earning her ninth career all-conference performance.
Senior sprinter Hannah Jackson qualified for a pair of finals performances on Sunday, qualifying in both the 60m (3rd-7.56) and 200m (1st-24.00) while freshman Grace Forbes (1st-4:54.60) and Alyssa Balandran (6th-5:02.49) advanced to Sunday in the mile.
The Owls earned an additional five points with a fourth place finish in the distance medley relay. The foursome of Hannah Bablak, Tanae Dorsett, Nicole Mitchell, and Balandran finished in 12:05.73. Also earning five points was senior Khayla Patel, who just missed out on a medal stand performance by finishing fourth (17:03.54) with a PR in the 5000m.
Sophomore thrower Julie Perez also established a PR of 17.44m, placing ninth in the weight throw.
As a team the Owls enter Sunday in first place with 38 points through five scored events.
-RiceOwls.com-
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Multi-Events
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field2024 Night of the Owl End of Year Recap
Thursday, April 25
Tommy McClelland Introductory Press Conference
Sunday, August 06
2023 Night of The Owl End of Year Highlight
Tuesday, April 25
Night of The Owl End of Year Highlight
Monday, April 04