Sport in world

Western finishes third at Eastern Illinois Invitational

June 24, 2008 on 9:55 pm | In Athletics |

CHARLESTON, Ill. Sophomore Tony Odele and senior Amy Zaffino led the Western Illinois track and field teams at the Easter Illinois Invitational. Odele took home two first-place finishes and one second-place finish, while Zaffino earned a first, second, and third place finish.

The Leathernecks took third at the meet behind Indiana State and the host Panthers, while the Westerwinds came in third behind Eastern and Indiana State.

“I think we did alright,” said head coach Mike Stevenson. “I think the team had a hard time finding their rhythm due to the weather.“

The first of Odele’s first-place finishes came in the discus throw where he recorded a mark of 44.10 m (144’08”), just under two meters longer than his closest competition. The Springfield, Ill., native followed that performance with a first-place time in the 110-meter hurdles, with a time of 15.15 seconds.

“Tony [Odele] had a great day,” Stevenson commented. “He was close to his personal bests.”

Senior Sean Delahunt was the only other member of the men’s team to finish first in an event, taking home the top spot in the shot put with a mark of 16.63m (54’06.75”). The throw was over three meters longer than Odele’s (13.45m (44’01.50”)), who came in second in the event. Senior Walt Willis finished in fourth in the shot put with a mark of 12.96m (42’06.25”). Willis also earned a third-place finish in the hammer throw, with a mark of 49.37m (162’00”).

“Tony [Odele] and Sean [Delahunt] were a one-two punch in the shot put today,” said Stevenson. “It shows how much better we are in the field than a lot of teams. Even though they didn’t through their best today, we still dominated.”

On the women’s side, Zaffino earned her best finish in the hammer throw, taking first with a throw of 47.77m (156’09”). The Shorewood, Ill., native moved on to take second in the discus, with a mark of 40.44m (132’08”), before throwing a personal best of 12.15m (39’10.50”) in the shot put for third place.

Senior Beth Whalen was one of two other Westerwinds to take home first-place finishes on the day. The Bettendorf, Iowa, native ran the 5,000-meter run in 17:52.17 for first, just under one minute faster than teammate freshman Carianne Cottone, who finished in second (18:42.32).

The pole vault was another event where Western’s women’s team shined, taking first, third and fourth. Freshman Nichole Manning took first in the event with a mark of 3.50m (11’05.75”), while senior Katie Pickford and junior Faith Chew finished third and fourth, respectively, with mark of 3.35m (10’11.75”).

“Nichole Manning is consistent in practice and at meets and that is a big plus for her,” Stevenson added. “It was Katie’s [Pickford] first meet in a long time and she struggled with some injuries. Katie [Pickford] and Faith [Chew] just need to find some confidence and rhythm. The three of them can go really high if they get everything put together at the right time.”

Other top finishers for the Westerwinds were senior Heather Wetzel, who took third in the high jump (1.53m (5’00.25”)); Chelsea Gunder, who finished third in the triple jump (10.90mm (35’09.25”)); and Nikki Kiler, who finished third in the 200-meter dash (26.46 seconds) and third in the 400-meter dash (58.55 seconds).

The Western Illinois track and field teams will next travel to Waverly, Iowa, Saturday, April 5 to compete in the Wartburg Invitational before returning home to host the 19th Annual Lee Calhoun Invitational, April 10-12 at Hanson Field.

Originaly from Source