May 25, 2007

Complete Results

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Sophomore Murielle Ahoure (Bristow, Va./Hayfield Secondary) finished with the top time in the preliminary heats of the women's 100-meter dash, shattering the previous school record in the process, on the opening day of the NCAA East Regional Track and Field Championships, held at James G. Pressly Stadium on the campus of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Fla. As a result, Ahoure advances to the finals of the event, scheduled for 6:40 p.m. tomorrow.

Ahoure got out of the blocks quick and blew away the rest of the competition in the third heat, crossing the finish line in 11.28 seconds, breaking the old George Mason school record of 11.39 seconds, set by Cydonie Mothersill in 1999. The second-place finisher, Patrice Potts of Virginia Tech, lagged behind Ahoure, finishing the race in 11.44 seconds. Potts' time was the next fastest time behind Ahoure's out of the four preliminary heats of the event.

The sophomore will attempt to improve upon her school record time when she races in tomorrow's finals of the event. Her previous top time was 11.41 seconds, which she set earlier this season at the Mason Spring Classic on March 31 at George Mason Stadium. In tomorrow's finals, Ahoure will run against seven other competitors, including Potts (11.44), Florida's Lakecia Ealey (11.47), Charlotte's Shareese Woods (11.48), Connecticut's Jessica Foreman (11.52), Georgia Tech's Jacqua Williams (11.53), Charlotte's Courtney Patterson (11.55) and Virginia Tech's Britni Spruill (11.55).

Along with her record-setting performance in the 100-meter dash, Ahoure also placed first in the third heat of the preliminary rounds of the 200-meter dash, dominating the field with a time of 23.45 seconds, her fastest time of the season in the event. Delaware State's Nekisha Franklin finished in second place in the heat with a time of 24.09 seconds. Ahoure will run in the finals of the event tomorrow at 7:35 p.m., racing against seven other finalists. Those finalists include South Carolina's Natasha Hastings, who set a new East Regional meet record with a time of 22.61 seconds, breaking the previous mark of 22.63 seconds set in 2003 by Penn State's Connie Moore, Florida's Natalie Knight (22.85), Miami's Krista Simkins (23.10), Charlotte's Shareese Woods (23.13), Virginia Tech's Britni Spruill (23.17), Georgia Tech's Jacqua Williams (23.31) and Charleston Southern's Dionne Gibson (23.63).

In addition to Ahoure, one other member of the women's track and field team competed on the first day of the regional meet. Freshman Tiara Swindell (Hampton, Va./Kecoughtan) ran in the fourth heat of the preliminary rounds of the women's 400-meter dash, clocking in at 56.65 seconds. The time was 24th out of the 26 competitors in the event.

Georgia Tech's Ashlee Kidd finished with the best time in the preliminary heats with a time of 52.37 seconds. Along with Kidd, seven other athletes will run in the finals of the event, scheduled for 6:50 p.m. tomorrow, including Penn State's Shana Cox (52.43), Richmond's Jessica Young (52.68), South Carolina's Brandi Cross (52.87), Miami's Ginou Etienne (52.89), South Carolina's Natasha Hastings (53.14), Florida State's Alycia Williams (53.73), and North Carolina A&T's Alexanderia Spruiel (53.75).

The NCAA East Regional Championships continue tomorrow with the first event, the women's hammer throw, slated to begin at noon. The top five finishers in each individual event will automatically qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, scheduled for June 6-9 in Sacramento, Calif.

Live results from the meet can be found on the web at http://www.gatorzone.com.