Track and field athletes set personal best marks ahead of ACC meet
Special to the Outlook
Capitalizing on their final opportunity to prepare for the Atlantic Coast Conference Indoor Championship meet, several FSU athletes set personal best marks at separate meet.
The ACC championships take place in Boston on Feb. 22-24.
During one of the weekend meets, Jeremiah Davis was the runner-up in the men’s triple jump at the Tiger Paw Invitational on Saturday at Clemson, South Carolina. He secured a personal best of 16.69 meters, a mark that leads the ACC and ranks third nationally. Davis’s mark also makes him third in FSU history.
Kyvon Tatham followed Davis in eighth place for the 12th-ranked Noles with a mark of 15.68 meters. Jayden Louis-Charles rounded out the event in 12th place at 15.06m.
Jaden Francis secured ninth place in the women’s open 800-meter run, establishing a personal best time of 2:11.05.
Women’s track and field athlete Suus Altorf placed third the 800, also setting a personal best at 2:04.56.
Dajaz DeFrand placed fourth in the 200, with another season best at 22.91. Walker followed DeFrand with a personal best at 23.54. Kaniya Johnson rounded out the event for the Noles in 24th place. She also set a personal best at 23.70.
Kayla Pinkard placed ninth in the women’s triple jump at 12:43 meter.
“Great performances from all the ladies in the 800 and 200,” said associate head coach Matt Kane. “The whole group is really running well and it’s exciting heading into the ACC Championship in two weeks.”
Andrew Hammel earned a personal best of 14:16.02 in the men’s open 5,000 at the David Hemery Invitational in Boston. Yet another personal best was set by Anothony Herra in the 800 at 1:53.76, while Patrick Donelly contributed his career best in the 3,000, finishing with a time of 8:07.03.
David Mullarkey ran his best time in the 5,000 at 13:28.23, making it the third-fastest time in FSU history. Kidus Misgina followed Mullarkey with a personal best at 13:44.68, earning the fifth-fastest time in FSU history.
“We had some really good efforts today at the BU Valentine Invite,” said FSU track and field head coach Bob Braman. “We had some lifetime best for Mullarkey, Misgina and Andrew in the 5,000 and Pat Donnelly in the 3,000.
“Zach Leachman had a season best in the 5,000. Everyone in that group but Hammel hit the ACC qualifying standard, and David and Kidus recorded the third and fifth best time in FSU history in the 5,000.”
