Reid, Thompson Claim Firsts for Blue Raiders

Freshman MeLyn Thompson won the shot put with a mark of 46-6.75, leading the Blue Raiders at the Carle/Health Alliance Invitational Saturday in Champaign, Ill. (MT)

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Senior Orlando Reid won a pair of events, freshman MeLyn Thompson took first in the shot put and freshman Brittany Cox broke the school record in the weight throw for the second time in three weeks, leading Middle Tennessee at the Carle/Health Alliance Invitational Saturday in Champaign, Ill.

Reid won both the 60-meters (6.78) and the 200-meters (21.79), leading four runners in the Top 7 in the 60 and three in the Top 5 in the 200.

Senior Juan Walker was second in the 60 in 6.85, with junior Carlos Morgan third (6.98) and senior Jermaine Barton seventh (7.08). In the 200, sophomore Samuel Adade placed fourth in 22.03 and Barton was fifth in 22.12.

Walker finished first in the 60-meter hurdles in an NCAA provisional time of 7.81, four-tenths of a second slower than his time in the event two weeks ago at Kentucky.

Elsewhere for the Blue Raider men, senior Pierre Ingram placed second in the high jump, clearing 6-6, his best mark since his freshman season.

In the jumps, Walker led a 1-2-3 finish in the high jump with a mark of 24-0.75, with Morgan second (24-0.25) and senior JaKeith Hairston third (22-5.75). In the triple jump, sophomore Frederick Middlebrooks finished fifth with a mark of 44-0, while Hairston was sixth (43-5.25) and sophomore Brandon Jones was seventh (43-4.25).

Senior James Thomas finished second in the weight throw with a mark of 55-11 and was fourth in the shot put with a mark of 50-7.25.

The Middle Tennessee men's distance medley relay also placed third in 11:14.11. The men's 4x400-meter relay did not finish after dropping the baton on a handoff.

For the Blue Raider women, Thompson won the shot put with a mark of 46-6.75, just ahead of Cox, who was second with a mark of 44-9.5. Cox finished third in the weight throw, breaking her own school record by two inches with a mark of 56-8.

In the jumps, junior Stephanie Tamgho placed second in the long jump with a mark of 19-0, while freshman Sarah Nambawa was seventh with a mark of 17-1.25 in her first attempt at the event. Nambawa finished fifth in the triple jump with a mark of 38-2.75 and Tamgho was seventh (37-5).

In the running events, freshman Tenesha Hill placed sixth in the 60-meters in 7.66, while senior Shanna-Kay Campbell was fifth in the 200-meters in 25.00 and Hill was seventh in 25.08.

Senior Veronia Patterson finished third in the 400-meters in 57.25 and sophomore TraMayne Gillyard came in eighth in 58.15.

Freshman Sangau Zamzam placed eighth in the mile run in 5:25.83, while Nambawa finished sixth in the 600-meters in 1:39.46 and Zamzam was eighth in 1:43.35.

Sophomore Iceca Epps finished fifth in the 60-meter hurdles in 8.88. The women's 4x400-meter relay placed fourth in 3:55.10.

"We really competed well in the sprints and hurdles, especially on the men's side," head coach Dean Hayes said. "MeLyn and Brittany had a good day with their efforts and Pierre jumped 6-6, so that was good.

"This is a very tight, narrow track, so any time close to their times this season is good."

Middle Tennessee heads to Bloomington, Ind., next weekend for the Indiana Invitational on Friday and Saturday.