Nambawa Wins Triple Jump at Vandy

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Sophomore Sarah Nambawa won the triple jump with an NCAA regional qualifying mark and sophomore Brittany Cox broke the school record in the hammer throw, leading Middle Tennessee's track teams at the Vanderbilt Invitational over the weekend.

Nambawa posted a mark of 43-1.5, winning the event by almost three feet. Nambawa also finished third in the long jump with a mark of 19-6.

Cox posted a third-place mark of 162-11, breaking a mark set three weeks ago by junior Maite Cortin. Cox also placed second in the shot put with a mark of 46-6.75.

On Friday night, junior Carl and senior Carlos Morgan both posted NCAA regional qualifying marks in the long jump, placing second and fourth, respectively, with marks of 25-2.75 and 24-7.25. Carlos Morgan finished third in the javelin with a mark of 186-9 and Carl Morgan was fourth in the event with a mark of 178-0.

Sophomore MeLyn Thompson was eighth in the shot put with a mark of 44-0.75 and Cortin was eighth in the hammer throw with a mark of 158-2. Freshman Kortney Thurman was eighth in the long jump with a mark of 18-7.25.

Sophomore Zamzam Sangau finished sixth in the 1500-meters in 4:31.99, while freshman Festus Chemaoi and freshman Isaac Biwott were third and fourth, respectively, in the 5000-meters with times of 14:54.48 and 14:55.22. Sophomore William Songock was eighth in the event in 15:00.70.

Junior Samuel Adade posted an NCAA regional mark in the 200-meters, placing second in 21.21. Former Blue Raider All-American Mardy Scales won the event in 20.97.

Adade came back on Saturday to finish fourth in the 100-meters in 10.78 and Carlos Morgan was sixth in 10.79. Sophomore DeRay Sloss placed second in the 110-meter hurdles in an NCAA regional time of 14.29, while sophomore Freddie Rankin was eighth in 15.21.

Carl Morgan placed fifth in the triple jump with a mark of 48-1.75 and junior Brandon Jones was eighth with a mark of 47-0.75.

"We had some really good performances [Friday] night and [Saturday]," head coach Dean Hayes said. "Friday night was a monsoon and Saturday wasn't real good weather either, but we continue to prove that we can do well in bad weather. Hopefully that will help us as we head toward the Sun Belt [Championships]."

Middle Tennessee's teams will take part in the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pa., and the Coach O Invitational in Troy, Ala., next weekend, the final tuneup before the SBC Championships set for May 7-9 in Denton, Texas.

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