May 2, 2004

Boone, NC - Appalachian State University's women claimed their third straight Southern Conference Outdoor Track and Field championship and the Appalachian men came back from a 37-point margin with six events to go, to win by 17 points over second-place Western Carolina for their fourth-straight SoCon crown.

Appalachian State head coach John Weaver was honored with both the men's and women's Coach of the Year honors. He shared the women's honor along with Georgia Southern head coach Todd Layne.

Led by Bob Smith, the Mountaineer shot putters claimed four of the top five spots to score 28 points and take a three-point lead they would not relinquish. Smith, who earlier won the discus and hammer throw, was named the Field Most Outstanding Performer. Winner of the 800-meter run with a regional qualifying time of 1:50.45, Appalachian rookie Bryan Burney took home Freshman of the Year honors. One day after claiming the 10,000-meter run title, Steven Kocsis of Chattanooga won the 5,000-meter race with a time of 15:06.93 seconds. For his efforts, Kocsis was named the Track Most Outstanding Performer.

Appalachian State clinched the men's title in the next to last event of the competition when Joe Halin finished 14 seconds behind Kocsis in the 5000m to take second place.

Western Carolina's Milton Bolton claimed the 400-meter dash title with a time of 46.68 seconds. That was the fastest performance by a SoCon performer since VMI's Mario Small set the record of 45.77 in 1991. Senior Alex Prince of The Citadel also made the regional qualifying mark with his second-place showing in the 400m of 47.09. It was the second straight year Prince prevailed in the 400.

Tee Alford of Western Carolina won the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.41 seconds, which was the fastest time by a SoCon runner since 1991. Appalachian State's Chris Martin claimed the 200 with a time of 21.45 seconds.

UTC's Chris Harrington won his second straight 400-meter hurdles title with a regional qualifying time of 51.74 seconds. Led by champion Lawrence Briscoe, WCU took five of the top seven spots in the 110-meter hurdles. ASU's 4x100m relay team qualified for the regional meet after passing the baton for one circuit in 40.46 seconds. In the event finale, Appalachian won the 4x400m relay with a time of 3:15.44.

Wofford's Ugo Ihekweazu won the high jump at 6'4.75". WCU's Tyler Ferguson took the triple jump crown with a leap of 48'7.5".

In women's action, the Mountaineers continued their theme from Day One and cruised to their third straight title. Track Performer of the Year Jennifer Claud led the Apps all weekend long. Claud won the 100m and 200m and was a part of the second-place 4x100m relay, while also placing in the triple jump.

The top three finishers in the 100m, Claud (11.73), ASU's Christina Roberts (11.74) and UTC's Latavia Shores (11.77) all beat the regional qualifying mark. Roberts also narrowly missed beating Claud in the 200m. Laura Tieszen of Western Carolina, who set a SoCon record in the pole vault and finished second in the javelin, won Field Most Outstanding Performer acclaim.

Chattanooga's Kathleen Turchin was recognized as the SoCon's Freshman of the Year. Turchin won the 10,000m and finished second in the 1,500-meter run behind teammate Shannon Wommack. Chattanooga's Lanni Marchant took home the 5,000m with a time of 18:02.75.

ASU's Ronda White won both the triple jump and 100m hurdles for the third straight year. Georgia Southern's Marlo Mincey took home the 400m hurdles title for the second consecutive season and was the first leg of the winning 4x400m relay team.

East Tennessee State's Nichola Cornish won the 400m with a time of 55.07. Leslie Martin of WCU took the 800m with a clocking of 2:11.94.

Final 2004 SoCon Men's Track and Field Championship Scoring

1 Appalachian State 246.5

2 Western Carolina 229.5

3 Chattanooga 90

4 The Citadel 63 T5 Furman 53

East Tennessee State 53

7 Wofford 34

8 Davidson 26

9 UNC Greensboro 19

Final 2004 SoCon Women's Track and Field Championship Scoring

1 Appalachian State 231.5

2 Georgia Southern 172

3 Chattanooga 124

4 Western Carolina 110.5

5 East Tennessee State 60

6 College of Charleston 30

7 Elon 29

8 Furman 26.5

9 Davidson 13.5

10 Wofford 11

11 UNC Greensboro 6

12 The Citadel 5