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Fokam, Perez Earn Titles at C-USA Championships
5/15/2021 9:21:00 PM | Women's Track & Field
Owls sit in first place with 62.5 team points
MURFREESBORO, TN - Rice senior jumper Michelle Fokam (long jump) and sophomore thrower Julie Perez (discus) each took home gold medals in their respective events to highlight the Owls' Saturday performance at the Conference USA Outdoor Championships.
The Owls will enter compeition on Sunday in first place with 62.5 team points, followed by Charlotte (49) and UTSA (33).
Fokam earned her ninth C-USA title between the outdoor/indoor seasons and the third outdoor long jump title in her illustrious career. Fokam, from Katy, Texas, established a non-wind aided personal best mark with a leap of 6.47m (21-2.75) on her third attempt to earn 10 team points for the Owls.
Perez, who placed third and earned all-conference honors in the hammer throw on Friday, won her first career C-USA title with a winning throw of 49.26m (161-7) on her final attempt in the discus on Saturday.
The Owls closed the evening with Natalie Goddard (4th-11:01.59) and Madeline Forbes (7th-11:15.93) each establishing personal best marks in the 3000m steeplechase to pick up seven combined team points. Other Owls who earned critical team points and set personal best marks included senior Teesa Mpagi in the long jump (6th-6.02m/19-9.00) and Ali Goodson (8th-3.83m/12-6.75) in the pole vault.
Rice qualified three runners for Sunday's finals, highlighted by a first place finish from Grace Forbes in the 1500m (4:32.74). The All-American, who won the 10,000m on Friday, is also set to compete in the 5000m on Sunday. Also qualifying for Sunday's finals included Johanna Bangala in the 800m (7th-55.28-PB) and Khayla Patel (11th-4:40.17) in the 1500m.
The final day of competition will get underway on Sunday at 1 p.m. beginning with the shot put.
Discus
1. Julie Perez – 49.26m (161-7.00)
9. Morgan Fey - 43.34m (142-2.00)
Long Jump
1. Michelle Fokam – 6.47m (21-2.75)
6. Teesa Mpagi - 6.02m (19-9.00-PB)
15. Maryam Hassan - 5.63m (18-5.75-SB)
20. Christelle Bonzil - 5.44m (17-10.25)
Pole Vault
8. Ali Goodson - 3.83m (12-6.75/PB)
10. Emily Harrison - 3.73m (12-2.75)
11. Audrey Ho - 3.58m (11-9.00)
14. Elena Siemens - 3.58m (11-9.00)
3000m Steeplechase
4. Natalie Goddard - 11:01.59 (PB)
7. Madeline Forbes - 11:15.93 (PB)
13. Loren Goddard - 11:51.99
1500m-Prelims
1. Grace Forbes - 4:32.74Q
11. Khayla Patel - 4:40.17Q
13. Sara Ivackovic - 4:41.63
100m Hurdles-Prelims
9. Lindsay Simms - 14.68
14. Justice Coutee-McCullum - 20.40
400m-Prelims
7. Johanna Bangala - 55.28Q
100m-Prelims
17. Gal Kadmon - 12.30 (SB)
800m-Prelims
8. Alyssa Balandran - 2:11.44 (PB)
15. Taigen Hunter-Galvan - 2:16.20
400m Hurdles-Prelims
10. Lindsay Simms - 1:04.04
200m-Prelims
17. Gal Kadmon - 25.24
The Owls will enter compeition on Sunday in first place with 62.5 team points, followed by Charlotte (49) and UTSA (33).
Fokam earned her ninth C-USA title between the outdoor/indoor seasons and the third outdoor long jump title in her illustrious career. Fokam, from Katy, Texas, established a non-wind aided personal best mark with a leap of 6.47m (21-2.75) on her third attempt to earn 10 team points for the Owls.
🎥 Catching up with the champ! If you can't tell she LOVES her team. #GoOwls👐 x #RFND pic.twitter.com/xC1UKr5lwp
— Rice TF & XC (@RiceTFXC) May 15, 2021
Perez, who placed third and earned all-conference honors in the hammer throw on Friday, won her first career C-USA title with a winning throw of 49.26m (161-7) on her final attempt in the discus on Saturday.
The Owls closed the evening with Natalie Goddard (4th-11:01.59) and Madeline Forbes (7th-11:15.93) each establishing personal best marks in the 3000m steeplechase to pick up seven combined team points. Other Owls who earned critical team points and set personal best marks included senior Teesa Mpagi in the long jump (6th-6.02m/19-9.00) and Ali Goodson (8th-3.83m/12-6.75) in the pole vault.
Rice qualified three runners for Sunday's finals, highlighted by a first place finish from Grace Forbes in the 1500m (4:32.74). The All-American, who won the 10,000m on Friday, is also set to compete in the 5000m on Sunday. Also qualifying for Sunday's finals included Johanna Bangala in the 800m (7th-55.28-PB) and Khayla Patel (11th-4:40.17) in the 1500m.
The final day of competition will get underway on Sunday at 1 p.m. beginning with the shot put.
Discus
1. Julie Perez – 49.26m (161-7.00)
9. Morgan Fey - 43.34m (142-2.00)
Long Jump
1. Michelle Fokam – 6.47m (21-2.75)
6. Teesa Mpagi - 6.02m (19-9.00-PB)
15. Maryam Hassan - 5.63m (18-5.75-SB)
20. Christelle Bonzil - 5.44m (17-10.25)
Pole Vault
8. Ali Goodson - 3.83m (12-6.75/PB)
10. Emily Harrison - 3.73m (12-2.75)
11. Audrey Ho - 3.58m (11-9.00)
14. Elena Siemens - 3.58m (11-9.00)
3000m Steeplechase
4. Natalie Goddard - 11:01.59 (PB)
7. Madeline Forbes - 11:15.93 (PB)
13. Loren Goddard - 11:51.99
1500m-Prelims
1. Grace Forbes - 4:32.74Q
11. Khayla Patel - 4:40.17Q
13. Sara Ivackovic - 4:41.63
100m Hurdles-Prelims
9. Lindsay Simms - 14.68
14. Justice Coutee-McCullum - 20.40
400m-Prelims
7. Johanna Bangala - 55.28Q
100m-Prelims
17. Gal Kadmon - 12.30 (SB)
800m-Prelims
8. Alyssa Balandran - 2:11.44 (PB)
15. Taigen Hunter-Galvan - 2:16.20
400m Hurdles-Prelims
10. Lindsay Simms - 1:04.04
200m-Prelims
17. Gal Kadmon - 25.24
-RiceOwls.com-
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Middle Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Women's Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Women's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Middle Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Women's Track & Field
Pole Vault/Multis
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