Ups and downs for winter athletes during winter break
Callom Harkrader
Issue date: 1/21/09 Section: Sports
Lynchburg College athletes took little break over the holidays as the men's and women's basketball teams played nine and six games respectively while the men's and women's indoor track and field teams traveled to VMI and Virginia Tech.
According to LC's website, the men's indoor track and field team had great success at the Hokie Invitational. Senior Brandon Edwards had a 45-07 3/4 triple jump, which was near NCAA qualifying, Coach Dr. Jack Toms said. Edwards also recorded an impressive 7.05 seconds in the 60-meter dash. In addition, freshman James Bell made headlines by clearing 15-1 in the pole vault tying him for third in school history while senior Earl Graves' performance in the 800 placed him fifth on LC's all time list, according to LC's website.
"What is amazing is that Earl does not train for that event," Toms said in an e-mail.
According to LC's website, freshman Sam Steinke recorded one of LC freshman's fastest times ever in the indoor 400 and currently ranks No. 1 in the 400 in the ODAC. Sophomore distance runner Ryan Van Alstine also currently holds the No. 4 spot all time at LC in the 3,000 meter, Toms said in the e-mail.
"There were so many great performances. It was just amazing. This is one of the best starts we have had in track and field in the last few years," Toms said in the e-mail.
Women's indoor track and field also enjoyed success over the break while competing in the Washington and Lee University Tune-up Meet and sending four sprinters to run at Virginia Tech. In Lexington, sophomore Ashley Allen won the weight throw with a toss of 13.78 meters and placed second in the shot put with a result of 10.97 meters. Fellow sophomore Daphne Desrosiers won the 55 meter dash and placed second on LC's all time list with a time of 7.53 seconds, behind only Georgette Turner's 7.52 set in 2000.
"…I fully expect [Desrosiers] to break that this year, if not at our next meet," said Women's Track and Field Coach James Goss. "Their next meet is this weekend at Liberty University."
According to LC's website, the men's indoor track and field team had great success at the Hokie Invitational. Senior Brandon Edwards had a 45-07 3/4 triple jump, which was near NCAA qualifying, Coach Dr. Jack Toms said. Edwards also recorded an impressive 7.05 seconds in the 60-meter dash. In addition, freshman James Bell made headlines by clearing 15-1 in the pole vault tying him for third in school history while senior Earl Graves' performance in the 800 placed him fifth on LC's all time list, according to LC's website.
"What is amazing is that Earl does not train for that event," Toms said in an e-mail.
According to LC's website, freshman Sam Steinke recorded one of LC freshman's fastest times ever in the indoor 400 and currently ranks No. 1 in the 400 in the ODAC. Sophomore distance runner Ryan Van Alstine also currently holds the No. 4 spot all time at LC in the 3,000 meter, Toms said in the e-mail.
"There were so many great performances. It was just amazing. This is one of the best starts we have had in track and field in the last few years," Toms said in the e-mail.
Women's indoor track and field also enjoyed success over the break while competing in the Washington and Lee University Tune-up Meet and sending four sprinters to run at Virginia Tech. In Lexington, sophomore Ashley Allen won the weight throw with a toss of 13.78 meters and placed second in the shot put with a result of 10.97 meters. Fellow sophomore Daphne Desrosiers won the 55 meter dash and placed second on LC's all time list with a time of 7.53 seconds, behind only Georgette Turner's 7.52 set in 2000.
"…I fully expect [Desrosiers] to break that this year, if not at our next meet," said Women's Track and Field Coach James Goss. "Their next meet is this weekend at Liberty University."