NEWARK, Del. –After winning 13 medals over the two-day meet, the Towson University outdoor track and field program captured its first-ever Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Outdoor Track & Field Championship title on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers recorded 163.5 points to earn the first-place finish, followed by Elon (158) and James Madison (140).
The two-day conference championships took place at the Stuart & Suzanne Grant Stadium on the University of Delaware's campus. Delaware placed fourth (108.5) followed by William & Mary (105) and Northeastern (80). College of Charleston (34) and UNCW (29) wrapped up the eight-team field.
Zanae Freeland became the second Tiger in program history to be named Co-Most Outstanding Track Performer of the Meet, according to a vote by the league's head coaches. She shared the vote with James Madison's Kennedy King. Ashley Adams was named Co-Outstanding Meet Performer for Running Events in 2010.
After an impressive first day, the Tigers added seven medals on day two, including four gold, one silver and two bronze. Sophomore
Lauren Coleman became the first ever Tiger to win shot put, recording a school record toss of 15.29-meters (50'2").
Zhane Washington captured bronze in the triple jump with a personal-best mark of 11.85m (38'10.50"). The Tigers' 4x100m relay team of
Jaina McLean,
Zanae Freeland,
Jamila Brown and
Liz Reid timed 46.28 to win silver. Freeland continued her day by winning the event titles in the 100m and 200m dashes. She is now the two-time CAA champion in the 100m dash (11.89) and the first Tiger sprinter to capture the 200m dash title (24.34).
Megan Kelly became the second Tiger to capture the 400m hurdles (1:00.66) after Ashley Adams won the event in 2010.
The Tigers came out strong in field events on the first day of the conference championships, winning gold in three of the four events and medaling in all four. Freshman Skyler Duncan became the second Tiger in program history to win gold in javelin throw and the first since Kelly Robinson in 2008. Classmate
Tymia Joseph continued the dominating performance, capturing the long jump event title for the first time in Towson history. For a second-straight year, Towson won two medals in pole vault. Senior
Brynn Warrington became the second Tiger to win the event while
Courtney Rose took bronze. Senior
Allison Marella won bronze in the 10,000-meter run to round out the Tiger day one medals.
How it Happened (Field Events)
- Lauren Coleman became the first Tiger to win shot put after recording a school record mark of 15.29m (50'2"). Her previous-best was then-school record 14.88m (48'10"). Ksenia Safonova finished eighth (13.35m/43'9.75") while Taylor Weiss finished 13th (12.14m/39'10"). Coleman's mark qualifies for the 2017 ECAC Outdoor Championships.
- Zhane Washington captured bronze in the triple jump with a personal-best of 11.85m (38'10.5"). Tymia Joseph finished 14th in the event with a mark of 10.96m (35'0.50").
- In high jump, Anyiah Allen tied for sixth with a height of 1.65m (5'5") while Naja McAdam placed 11th (1.55m./5'1").
- Taylor Weiss finished sixth in the discus throw after recording a personal-best and 2017 ECAC Outdoor Championship qualifying distance of 43.29m (142'). Taylor Giles placed 17th (33.14m/108'9") in the event.
How it Happened (Running Events)
- In the 4x100m relay, the Tiger squad of Jaina McLean, Zanae Freeland, Jamila Brown and Liz Reid won silver with a time of 46.28. Their time qualifies for the 2017 ECAC Outdoor Championships.
- Zanae Freeland continued her impressive day by winning the 100m dash title for a second-straight year. She timed 11.89 in the event finals for the gold medal after setting a school record 11.78 in the event prelims yesterday. She qualifies for the 2017 ECAC Outdoor Championships with that time.
- Freeland became the first Tiger sprinter to win the 200m dash after she timed 24.34 in the event finals. She was just two hundredths off from matching her school record of 24.32, set at the 2015 conference meet. That time qualifies her for the 2017 ECAC Outdoor Championships.
- Megan Kelly won bronze in the 400m dash with a time of 54.94. Liz Reid just missed medaling, following in fourth place (55.66). They both earned qualifying times for the 2017 ECAC Outdoor Championships.
- Allison Marella competed in the 5,000m run and placed seventh with a time of 17:20.51.
- Aniyah Allen just missed earning a medal in the 100m hurdles finals, placing fourth in the event with a time of 14.84. Helnsarah Penda placed seventh (15.24).
- Megan Kelly became the second Tiger in program history and the first since Ashley Adams in 2010 to win the 400m hurdles title. Kelly timed 1:00.66 for the gold medal. She earned a qualifying mark for the 2017 ECAC Outdoor Championships.
- Megan Knoblock timed 10:46.28 to finish fifth in the 3,000m steeplechase, which is a 2017 ECAC Outdoor Championships qualifying time. Abby Gauthier followed in seventh with a personal-best 10:59.38 and Erica Israel placed 10th (11:29.62).
- Towson's 4x400m relay team of Zanae Freeland, Liz Reid, Jaina McLean and Megan Kelly combined for a time of 3:48.29 and the fifth-place finish. The Tiger relay qualified for the 2017 ECAC Outdoor Championships.
Up Next
Qualified Tigers will compete at the 2017 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships May 12-14 in Princeton, New Jersey.
