Panthers DMR Teams Sweep Day One Of The Championships

BIRMINGHAM, ALA.- As the Panthers finish up day one of the OVC Indoor Track and Field Championships the men are sitting in second place and the women in sixth as they head into the final day of the competition. The Panthers have a total of 15 athletes qualifying for tomorrow in the running events.

The men picked up their first title of the championships as the DMR team of Franky Romano, Anthony Bello, James Allen, and Nick Oakley came in first with a time of 10:08.00 to take home the gold.

Dustin Hatfield came in second in the 5000 with a time of 14:47.09 to pick up the silver. In the long jump, Joe Smith placed third with a leap of 23-3 1/2. In the weight throw, Nick Phillips placed fifth to give the Panthers some points.

On the track, Jekeel Suber placed first in the 60-meter hurdles in his heat with a time of 8.29 to advance to the finals tomorrow. In the 800, Adam Swanson qualified for the finals by placing first in his heat with a time of 1:53.81.

In the 60 meters, Payton Powell and Shandall Thomas advanced to the finals tomorrow. Powell placed second in his heat while Thomas placed first. In the 400, Ricky Johnson, Damian Clay, and Riley Baker all qualified for the finals. Johnson and Baker placed first in their heats while Clay placed second.

In the 200 the Panthers advanced four to the finals. Rickey Johnson, Shandall Thomas, and Payton Powell all placed first in their heats. Tadiwa Mhonde placed second in his heat behind Powell.  At the end of day one, the men are in second place with 36 points.

The women were led by the DMR team of Kate Bushue, Sophia Keith, Chloe Irish, and Grace Rowan as the take home the gold with a time of 11:53.25. With that time, they are now number five on the EIU all-time list. In the 5000 Lindsey Carlson placed fourth in with a time of 17:08. 91 which is a personal best by six seconds. With that time, Carlson moves up to number four on the all-time list.

In the 200 Danielle Frank placed second in her heat with a time of 24.90 to advance to the finals. In the 900 Kate Bushue placed fourth with a time of 2:16.02 to advance to tomorrow. Zakiya Johnson advanced to the 400 final as she placed second in her heat with a time of 58.36.

In the 60-meter hurdles, Shanisa Stinson placed second in her heat with a time of 8.79 to move on to tomorrow's final. The women are currently in sixth place with 16.50 points heading into the final day.