Georgia State track and field’s one day stay in Athens, Georgia at the Spec Towns Invitational was highlighted by Alysiah Whittaker’s 14.84 meter outing in the shot put, winning first place for the Panthers sophomore.
The Panthers actually earned both first and second place along with four of the top six spots in the shot put. In addition to Whittaker, LaPorscha Wells’ 14.60 meter effort had her at second. Carresa Reeves finished fifth with a 12.89 throw and Sharonda Bryant placed sixth with a 12.21 meter outing. Tracy Dorcemont finished last among the ten finalists that included five Panthers with an 11.70.
Whittaker also took home second in the discus throw at 45.72 meters. Bryant’s 44.81 put her at third and Alexandria Jackson placed fourth with a 43.14. Gray finished seventh (41.91) and Dorcemont earned 10th at 34.14 meters. The Bulldogs’ Asianna Covington won the discus throw at 48.83.
In the hammer throw, Wells’ 50.38 effort had her at fifth. Dorcemont placed sixth at 49.30 meters and Reeves’ 48.05 meter outing was enough for seventh. Kelsey Gray’s throw went a distance of 45.90 meters for eighth. Whittaker’s 42.78 was enough for 10th and Jackson finished 11th among the 11 finalists at 41.72. Georgia’s Shelby Ashe won the competition at 60.33 meters.
Gray was the lone participant in Panthers blue and white in the javelin throw, placing 10th out of 11 finalists with a 28.34 meter attempt. Wake Forest’s Jessie Merckle won it with a 49.82.
Nylah Chavis would represent Georgia State in the high jump and rose 1.62 meters earning her seventh. Leontia Kallenou, also from Georgia, would win this event as well at 1.90 meters.
The Women’s 1500 meters featured the Panthers’ Stella Christoforou who finished her course in 4:29.22 minutes for third place and Niamh Kearney who timed in at 4:34.14 for sixth. Despite the majority of the participants representing schools from Georgia, Kathryn Lazarchick of Wake Forest won it at 4:25.78. The Demon Deacons of Wake Forest also took home second.
The Panthers’ next meet will be this weekend of April 17-18 at the Georgia Tech Invitational. Day One will be Friday and will start at 1 p.m.
