@OspreyXCTF Welcomes #ASunTF Championship to Hodges Stadium this Weekend

Friday, May 13

Jacksonville, Fla.

All Day

University of North Florida

Atlantic Sun Championship

@OspreyXCTF Welcomes #ASunTF Championship to Hodges Stadium this Weekend

5/12/2016 3:09:00 PM | Men's Track, Women's Track

By: North Florida Athletics

Event Schedule (pdf)
Friday Heat Sheet
Saturday Heat Sheet

JACKSONVILLE -- The North Florida Track & Field teams will host the 2016 Atlantic Sun Conference Outdoor Championships on Friday and Saturday at Hodges Stadium. Competition is slated to begin both days at 9 a.m.with multi-events, while individual field events start at 3:30 p.m. on Friday and running begins at 7 p.m.

The Ospreys, who are hosting the outdoor championship for the eighth consecutive year, look to continue their strong spring performances. The UNF men finished runner-up last year and feature six athletes that enter the weekend as the top league performer in their event. Meanwhile, the women's team looks to build on last year's fourth-place showing led by a trio of conference event leaders in the lineup.

"We are very excited to host the ASUN Championships," said head coach Jeff Pigg. "Hosting the championship is a lot of work, but our athletic department works very well together. From the facilities crew headed by Ervin Lewis to the track set up done by Coach Krupa to Coach Cooke coordinating the officials, we have all the key areas covered and our entire staff chips in to get everything prepared. Additionally, it is an opportunity for our team to get involved with the behind the scenes set up of the meet. I think they really enjoy contributing to the success of the meet."

The UNF men enter the weekend following some record setting performances this season. Desmond Robb and Maurice Sapp are ranked first and second in the conference standings for the 400m while Nick Morken, Taylor Sumapang and Rayford James top the 800m list that includes six Ospreys in the Top 10. Morken and Tyler Stahl are listed one-two in the 1500m while Brad Hort tops the 10,000m chart and Fynn Timm leads the conference in the 3,000m Steeplechase. Bobby Harris, the ASun Indoor Champion in the high jump, comes into the outdoor championship as the top rated performer in the event.

"The men's team looks to follow up on a strong 2nd place finish indoors," added Pigg. "Retuning indoor champion, Bobby Harris, looks to continue jumping well this outdoor season. Desmond Robb leads the conference in the 400 and is ready to run well too. Senior Maurice Sapp has been running very well this year and looks to cap off his career with a great 400 meter race. Senior Taylor Sumagpang recently ran a PR in the 800 and lead our 800-meter entries. Coming off of redshirting indoors, Nick Morken is the conference leader in 1500 and will opt to run the 5000 instead of 800, in which he is also the leader. Tyler Stahl and Morken lead the 1500 where we also have four of the top seven times. Fynn Timm tops the steeplechase followed by Manny Velasquez, who is coming off a PR last weekend along with Bradley Langenberg, who finished 3rd last year and is looking for another strong race."

On the women's side, sophomore Hallie Grimes owns the fastest 400m time of the season in the conference while sophomore high jumper, Alyssa Young, and senior pole vaulter Megan Walker are also the top perfomers in their events.

"For the women, Megan Walker leads ASun and is hoping to follow-up her indoor championship in the pole vault," Pigg said. "Alyssa Young is jumping really well outdoors as well in the high jump and is coming off a big PR. Vanessa Philbert, who has been plagued by some leg pain in the last few weeks, looks to follow up her indoor win in the 800m and enters the weekend rested, fresh and ready to run well. In the steeplechase, Kelly Hensley and Audrey Carpenter are looking to score strong finishes. Tayler Johnson has been running well this track season and is looking to finish off the season with a great race. Eden and Grace Meyer come into the 10,000m event in scoring positions and have looked very good in practice."

Tickets for the ASun Championship are available for purchase at the ticket window at Hodges Stadium. Admission prices are $7 for a single day pass and $10 for the weekend. Youth, Senior Citizen, Military and UNF Faculty/Staff tickets are $5 single day and $8 for the weekend. Children 2 and under are free.

Live scoring updates for the ASun Championship will be available online at Halfimiletiming.com. Saturday's schedule begins at 9 a.m. with multi-event competition followed by individual field events starting at 3 p.m. and running events set to start at 5 p.m.

North Florida Competitors List:
FRIDAY (May 13)
Women's Pole Vault
Megan Walker

Men's 3000m Steeplechase
Fynn Timm
Manny Velasquez
Bradley Langenberg

Women's 3000m Steeplechase
Kelly Hensley
Audrey Carpenter

Women's 100m Hurdles
Tianna Hearn

Men's 10,000m
Travis Nichols
Jeremy Bryan
Brad Hort
Justin Bryan
Michael Damato

Women's 10,000m
Eden Meyer
Grace Meyer

SATURDAY (May 14)
Women's High Jump
Alexandra Ellis
Alyssa Young

Men's High Jump
Bobby Harris

Women's 4x100m / Men's 4x100m

Women's 1500m
Audrey Carpenter
Alexis Irwin
Emily Stallings
Morgan Rodriguez
Rachel Licea

Men's 1500m
Fynn Timm
Wesley Norton
Nick Morken
Tyler Stahl
Bradley Langenberg

Women's 400m
Hallie Grimes

Men's 400m
Desmond Robb
Maurice Sapp

Women's 800m
Harley Horsley
Kaitlin King
Tayler Johnson
Vanessa Philbert
Morgan Rodriguez

Men's 800m
Wesley Norton
Cristian Acuna
Taylor Sumapang
Rayford James
Constantine Stathis

Women's 400m Hurdles
Tianna Hearn
Alyssa Younker

Men's 400m Hurdles
Kyle Crompton

Men's 200m
Desmond Robb

Women's 5000m
Eden Meyer
Grace Meyer

Men's 5000m
Brad Hort
Michael Damato
Manny Velasquez
Tyler Stahl
Nick Morken

Women's 4x400m / Men's 4x400m