May 3, 2005

Charleston, SC - The women's team wrapped up their most successful season in the relatively young history of the program. They equaled their highest point total of 18 from the 2002 SoCon championships in finishing in ninth place. The women have progressed more this year than any other as evidenced by the combined 44 school and freshmen records that were broken over the course of the indoor and outdoor season.

Sophomore Stephanie McNeill finished fourth in the shot put with a school record 42-3.5 mark and was just 6 inches shy of third place and an all-conference performance. McNeill was also ninth in the discus with a toss of 124-0, just short of the school record held by freshman Jenifer Moore. Freshman Jodi Whittle lowered her school record in the 200 to 25.14 from 25.48 which she ran at Clemson two week ago. Whittle also ran the anchor leg of the sixth place 4 x 100 relay team that ran 49.26, also on the relay were Juniors Miriam Crawford and Montair Booker and freshman Tasha Sanders. Crawford also ran a lifetime best 200 in 25.98 and ran a leg of the tenth place 4 x 400 relay in a season best time of 2:13.75 (Whittle, Sanders, and freshman Christine DeVasto). Sanders ran on both relays as well as finishing tenth in the Heptathlon and breaking two school heptathlon records in the 100m hurdles (15.63) and the shot put 37-7.25.

The Bulldogs placed three women in the finals of the javelin and finished fifth, sixth and eighth. Freshman Jenifer Moore led the way with a 111-2 throw followed closely by senior Kelly Pesterfield at 111-1. Finishing eighth was freshman Allison Taylor at 106-8. Sophomore Laura Hewston scored the remaining points with a seventh place finish in a school record time in the 10,000 meters running 40:55.53. Hewston eclipsed the previous mark of 41:30.56 set by Sharon Hacker in 2002. The Bulldogs held their awards dinner last night at the Altman Athletic Center in Johnson Hagood Stadium. The 2005 MVP award went to Jamaican freshman Jodi Whittle as she set a combined 10 freshman and school records during the indoor and outdoor season. Outstanding track award went to freshman standout Tasha Sanders and the Outstanding field event performer went to sophomore Stephanie McNeill. The high point award for the most points scored during the indoor and outdoor season also went to Whittle. The Keith Hamilton Most Improved track athlete award went to senior Mary Thornton. In cross-country the MVP award went to Summerville native Laura Hewston for the second year in a row and the Outstanding competitor for cross-country went to Beaufort freshman Wilma Harp.