BLACKSBURG, Va.-–Winthrop sprinter Octavia Goode claimed her second straight Big South Conference Indoor Track Outstanding Performer of the Year award while the Liberty University’s men’s and women’s teams captured the 2003 Indoor Track and Field Championship held at Rector Fieldhouse on the campus of Virginia Tech.
Liberty's men's and women's team have won all six Big South indoor titles. The men’s team finished with 216 points, 114.5 points ahead of second place Radford (111.5 points). High Point (111 points) finished just a half-point behind the Highlanders, while Charleston Southern finished fourth with 72.50 points. UNC Asheville (50 points) and Winthrop University (36) place fifth and sixth.
On the women’s side the Lady Flames posted 150 points just nine points ahead of second place Coastal Carolina (141 points). Winthrop (93 points) and UNC Asheville finished third and fourth, with Radford University finishing fifth with 67 points. High Point (60.5 points), Charleston Southern (35.5 points) and Elon (7 points) round out the eight-team field.
Individually on the men’s side, High Point’s Taylor Milne placed first in the 800 meter and the one mile, posting meet records of 1:54.15 and 4:10.40 respectively, to earn 2003 Big South Conference Track Performer of the Meet. On the field side, Radford’s Rochelle Black earned the Field Performer of the Meet after clearing a Big South meet and conference record 6’11.00” in the high jump.
For the women, Octavia Goode of Winthrop University garnered Women’s Most Outstanding Track Performer for the second consecutive year, by finishing first in the 60 meters with a meet and Conference record of 7.46 and first in the 200 meters turning in a time of 24.72. On the field side, Coastal Carolina’s Jackie Lugailia captured gold in both the shot put (13.04m) and weight throw (15.56m) to earn Women’s Most Outstanding Field Performer.
Conference and meet record were broken on both side. For the men, Winthrop’s Joe Hall posted a conference and meet record in the 60 meter dash with a time of 6.81. Liberty’s 4x400 team set a new meet record with a time of 3:17.51. On the women’s side, Radford’s Natasha Tyler posted a new Conference and meet record of 56.34 in the 400 meters.
Brant Tolsma of Liberty University was named both men’s and women’s coach of the year.
Liberty’s Adam Williams and Coastal Carolina’s Kara Koppel were named the Big South Conference male and female 2002-03 Indoor Track and Field Scholar Athletes of the Year respectively.
The men's All-Academic Team honorees were: Zach Hampton, Charleston Southern; Jeff Fairman, Coastal Carolina; Adam Williams, Liberty; Goran Nava, Radford; Nick Christian, UNC Asheville; randon Holland, Winthrop.
Jen Gratton, Charleston Southern; Kara Koppel, Coastal Carolina; Erin Wallace, Elon; Jamie Vetten, High Point; Danielle McNaney, Liberty; Natasha Tyler, Radford; Micki Logue, UNC Asheville; Stephanie Vangsnes, Winthrop made up the women's All-Academic Team.
Winthrop Indoor Track and Field Highlights
Octavia Goode (wins the 60m and 200m, 60m in school, Big South record of 7.46; claims 9th individual/relay championship tying Adam Growley (97'-2001) with most individual titles; wins MVP of meet for second straight year.)
Joe Hall (sets only other meet record with 60m win in 6.81 seconds.)
Stephanie Vangsnes (wins 1st individual title in mile in 5:01.6 then leads the Distance Medley Relay to victory in 12:24.16; finishes 2nd in the 800 meters with a time of 2:19.11.)
Winthrop Women (record first ever sweep of the 60m sprint with Goode followed by freshmen Ieeshia English in 7.72 and Nicole Tucker in 7.80)
All Conference performers (top 3 finish)
Women:
60 meters
(1) Octavia Goode 7.46 (School and BSC record)
(2) Ieesha English 7.72
(3) Nicole Tucker 7.80
60 meter Hurdles
(3) Tomeika Banks 9.16
200 meters
(1) Octavia Goode 24.77 (School record)
2) Ieesha English 25.30
800 meters
(2) Stephanie Vangsnes 2:19.11
Mile Run
(1) Stephanie Vangsnes 5:01.06
Distance Medley Relay
(1) Stephanie Vangsnes 12:24.16
DeeDee Walker
Gabrielle Lee
Carrie Selmer
Men:
60 meters
(1) Joe Hall 6.81 (BSC record)
High Jump
(3) Brandon Morton 6'6"
Shot Put
(2) Wayne Alston 51-4.5"
