Michigan State University Athletics
Spartans Head To Spec Towns Track & Field Invitational
4/11/2013 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
April 11, 2013
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Meet Schedule
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State track & field program continues the outdoor season as members of the team travel south to the Spec Towns National Team Invitational in Athens, Ga. Held on the campus of the University of Georgia, the meet will begin at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 12. Events will continue on Saturday, April 13 beginning at 10:30 a.m.
Last Time Out
Last weekend, MSU hosted the ninth annual Spartan Invitational on Saturday at the Ralph Young Track & Field complex and Jenison Field House on Saturday, April 6. The Spartans earned wins in the 4x400-meter relay, along with eight individual wins and eight personal-best performances.
Winning their individual events was Antonio James (shot put), Jacob McFadden (400m hurdles), Austin Wissler (1,500m), Ben Miller (steeplechase), Jarred Gambrell (triple jump), Kurt Schneider (high jump), Leah O'Connor (steeplechase), and Alicia Evans (200m).
Recording personal records in their events were Antonio James (hammer - 61.37m/ 201-4), Chris Hessell (javelin-50.43m/ 165-5), Keenan Michael (200m-21.64), Jarred Gambrell (triple jump-15.29m/ 50-2), Cliff Miller (pole vault-5.08m/ 16-8), Alicia Evans (100m-11.88, 200m-24.16), and Chelsea Henderson (javelin-36.00m/ 118-01).
Qualifying for the NCAA Preliminary Championships
Qualification to NCAA Preliminary Championship Competition is based on the descending order list for the season, segregated by east and west sites, and prepared solely from the mandatory submission of meet results during the season. For each individual event contested at each Preliminary Championship Competition, the top-48 declared student-athletes will be accepted into the competition. For each relay event contested at each Preliminary Championship Competition, the top-24 declared relay teams will be accepted into the competition.
Climbing the Rankings
Michigan State currently has nine Spartans in the top-48 in the USTFCCCA national rankings, five men and four women. They include the following student-athletes:
Men:
| Lonnie Pugh | 16th | Discus (58.39m/ 191-7) |
| Keenan Michael | 34th | 400-meter hurdles (51.44) |
| Caleb Rhynard | 44th | 5,000-meter (13:57.99) |
| Antonio James | 44th | Hammer (61.37m/ 201-4) |
| 45th | Shot Put (17.86m/ 58-7½) | |
| Joe Banyai | 45th | 800-meter run (1:49.28) |
Women:
| Leah O'Connor | 8th | 3,000-meter Steeplechase (10:03.40) |
| Beth Rohl | 4th | Discus (56.85m/ 186-6) |
| 18th | Hammer (62.87m/ 206-3) | |
| Jaelynn Pryor | 12th | 400-meter hurdles (57.33) |
| Tori Franklin | 13th | Triple Jump (13.07m/ 42-10¾) |
The following Spartans rank among the top-five in the Big Ten conference this season:
Men:
| Josh McAlary | 2nd | 1,500-meter run (3:54.04) |
| Caleb Rhynard | 4th | 5,000-meter (13:57.99) |
| Keenan Michael | 4th | 400-meter hurdles (51.44) |
| Antonio James | 4th | Discus (54.85m/ 179-11) |
| 5th | Shot Put (17.86m/ 58-7½) | |
| 5th | Hammer (61.37m/ 201-4) | |
| Lonnie Pugh | 5th | Discus (54.78m/ 179-9) |
Women:
| Tori Franklin | 1st | Triple Jump (13.07m/ 42-10¾) |
| Amanda Impellizzeri | 2nd | Pole Vault (4.02m/ 13-2¼) |
| Leah O'Connor | 2nd | 1,500-meter run (4:20.75) |
| Ashley Stacey | 3rd | Long Jump (6.07m/ 19-11) |
| 5th | Triple Jump (12.27m/ 40-3¼) | |
| Sarah Birkmeier | T-4th | Pole Vault (3.87m/ 12-8¾) |
| Jaelynn Pryor | 4th | 400-meter hurdles (57.33) |
| Beth Rohl | 4th | Discus (56.85m/ 186-6) |
| 5th | Hammer (62.87m/ 206-3) |
Next Up
The Spartans will disperse across the country to compete at the Jesse Owens Track Classic in Columbus, Ohio, the EMU Twilight Invitational in Ypsilanti, Mich., and Polytan Invitational in Bloomington, Ind. Events will be held on Friday, April 19 and Saturday, April 20.
