TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University throwers from the indoor track and field team will compete in the Penn State University Tune-Up Friday, Feb. 21.

Seniors Lauren Coleman, Michella Obijiaku and junior Elisia Lancaster will represent for the Tigers in the afternoon events inside Ashenfelter III Indoor Track.

Last Time Out-USA World Championships
Some of the Towson student-athletes had the opportunity to compete in one of the most prestigious events among world champions and record holders.

Adia Cavalier (triple jump), Lauren Coleman (shot put), Crystal Johnson (60m), Elisia Lancaster (weight throw), Helnsarah Penda (60m hurdles) and Christina Riggins (60m) were the few that got to represent Towson in their perspective events.

Riggins ran a personal-best 7.59 in the 60-meter and Coleman competed extremely well after already dominating and breaking her own school record in the Don Kirby Invitational. Both Coleman and Lancaster broke records in their events.

"This is the first time that any Towson University student-athlete had participated in the USA indoor track and field championships," said head coach Mike Jackson. "It was an outstanding opportunity for our program and each individual that participated. This is an event that can be life changing and allows them to see that they can compete at any level."

"The student-athletes went out and really represented our team and Towson."

Last Time Out- BU Invite & Don Kirby
McKenzie Delahanty ran a personal-best time of 17:24.31 in the 5000-meter which also qualified her for ECAC's at the BU Invitational.

Down in New Mexcio, Lauren Coleman broke her own record with a throw of 16.75m in the shot put. Michella Obijiaku had a personal record with her throw of 16.30.

Obijiaku also finished second in the weight throw (20.47m 67-2) with a new school record. Coleman came in sixth throwing 19.63m (63-5). Shamika Burton had a personal record in the 60-meter with a time of 7.48.

In the Record Books
The week of Jan. 14, freshman Adia Cavalier set a new school record in the triple jump. Her 12.03m jump broke Wilhelmina Austin's jump from 2017. Then she broke her own school record at the Towson Invitational on Jan. 19, with a 12.29m (40'4") mark.

Hayley Horvath set a new record at the Towson Invitational as well in the pole vault with a 4.02m (13' 2.25").

Mid-Atlantic Rankings
The Tigers started 2020 in the top 5 of the USTFCCCA Mid-Atlantic Region, announcement went out Monday, Jan. 27.

The next week, the Tigers moved up two ranks to the number third spot.

This week, the Tigers are currently sitting at the number three spot and have two people, Lauren Coleman (ranked 14th) and Michella Obijiaku (ranked 22nd) in the NCAA.

Scouting the Tigers
Towson returns 34 student-athletes from last year including seven seniors in Zellie Charles, Shelby Francis, Melissa Graham, Victoria Jones-Alleyne, Michella Obijiaku, Helnsarah Penda and L.Coleman. This senior class has already made a name for their selves in the different Towson record books and will contribute to making the 2019-20 season one to remember.

Towson also brings in 11 freshman that help round out the roster and will bring some depth to each event.

Tigers in the Community

• The Towson University athletics department deems community service as one of its highest priorities to give back to the Greater Baltimore area.
• For the 7th consecutive year, the department exceeded 10,000 hours of community service to the Greater Baltimore region, finishing with 11,162 hours of community service in the 2018-19 academic season.
• Towson ranked #1 nationally for community service and won the 2018 National Championship for Community Service through the Helper Helper NCAA Team Works Competition.
• Towson had a 97% participation rate, attended 118 community service opportunities and volunteered with 19 organizations.
• Towson won the 2018 Volunteer of the Year Award from Susan G. Komen of Maryland.