KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Indiana State thrower Felisha Johnson broke the Sycamore record in the shot put in winning the event and also finished as the top collegian in the discus invitational on the final day of the 2013 Sea Ray Relays hosted by the University of Tennessee.
The senior, who also finished second in the hammer throw on Thursday, received the Tony Wilson Memorial Award for being the Most Outstanding Women's Field Athlete of the Meet.
Johnson set the Indiana State record in the outdoor shot put a year ago at 56'-11¼” and blew past that mark on three of her six attempts at the Sea Ray Relays. Her best toss came on her fifth throw when she posted a distance of 59'-4¾” (18.10 meters). The mark moves the Sycamore into second in the nation behind Oklahoma's Tia Brooks (61'-5½”/18.73 meters). Purdue's Dani Bunch was a distance second in the event Saturday with a distance of 52'-10” (16.10 meters).
The senior finished as the top collegian in the women's discus throw invitational with a season best distance of 172'-6” (52.59 meters) while fellow Sycamore Mary Theisen also posted a season best of 168'-0” to place fourth (third collegian). Former Tennessee athlete Annie Alexander competed unattached and won the event with a distance of173'-5” (52.86 meters).
Brandon Pounds finished third in the men's discus throw invitational with a season best distance of 170'-7” (52.00 meters).
Both of Indiana State's 4x100 meter relay teams placed second on the day and both ran season best times and times that rank among the 10 best in school history.
Kaisha Martin, Macey Black, Demetra Camble, and Katie Wise combined for the women to finish in 46.08 seconds which ranks seventh on Indiana State's all-time list. The Sycamores finished just behind Connecticut (45.82) and ahead of Western Michigan (46.41).
Keith Housley, Greggmar Swift, Justin Baxtron, and Shaun Smith combined for the men to finish in 40.81 seconds which ranks ninth on Indiana State's all-time list. The top three times were within two-tenths of a second with Kennesaw State taking the win (40.76) and Southeast Missouri third (40.97).
The Indiana State men's distance medley relay team of Corey Hahn, Arqeil Shaw, Brad Adams, and Dustin Betz finished fourth in 10:03.65 which is the third fastest time in school history. Wisconsin won the relay in 9:50.68.
Macey Black, Shelby Higginbottom, Leeann Michl, and Stacia Weatherford combined to run 3:41.82, just off their season best effort, to finish sixth in the women's 4x400 meter relay. On the men's side, Kevin Piraino, Jonathan Jackson, Max Tuttle, and Ryan Dickson combined to run 3:15.09 and finish 12th in the men's 4x400 meter relay.
Katie Wise competed in the finals of the 100 meters after running the fifth fastest time in school history during the first round on Friday of 11.73. Wise was close to that mark Saturday, finishing fourth in the finals in 11.87. Tennessee's Kia Jackson won the event (11.56).
Shaun Smith reach the finals of the men's 100 meters by running a career best 10:52 in the first round on Friday. Smith finished fifth in Saturday's final with a time of 10.72. East Tennessee State's Ifrish Alberg was the race winner (10.42).
Jordan Collanese moved to eighth on the Indiana State all-time javelin list with a throw of 183'-1” (55.81 meters) which placed him seventh in the competition. Brenner Stage had a distance of 164'-8” (50.20 meters) and finished 10th in the javelin. Jamal Hampton placed 11th in the men's high jump by clearing 6'-2¾” (1.90 meters).
PHOTO CAPTION: University of Tennessee Senior Women's Administrator Donna Thomas presents Indiana State's Felisha Johnson the Tony Wilson Memorial Award after she was named the most outstanding female field athlete at the Sea Ray Relays. (Photo courtesy of Wade Rackley, University of Tennessee Photographer).
