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by CORY WATSON
Sports Editor
Appalachian State University’s men’s and women’s track and field teams found themselves in familiar positions this past weekend.
The Mountaineers crossed the finish line Sunday afternoon as champions, sweeping the Southern Conference Indoor Championships on both men’s and women’s sides.
“Everybody in all their different areas, the throws, the jumps, the sprints, the distance, they all did their job,” Director of Track and Field and Cross Country John Weaver said of Appalachian’s performance over the weekend. “It was wonderful. It’s the kind of thing every coach has hoped for."
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| Weaver |
The men’s
track and field team finished in first place overall last weekend with
a score of 235 points, topping conference rival Western Carolina
University who finished with 191.
The men were led by a number of different athletes, among them junior athlete Matt Boruff.
Boruff set personal
records in the heptathlon and finished with 5021 points, far surpassing
his previous best mark of 4840 points and setting a new all-time SoCon
record.
“It’s
probably the most painful experience I’ve felt,” Boruff said with a
grin about his experience in the heptathlon, a grueling seven-event
long portion of the meet. “I’m really excited and feel really blessed
to be a part of this team this year.”
The
women’s track and field team also had an impressive weekend with 211
points, crushing second-place finisher Western Carolina, who finished
with 135.
Junior
Danielle Thorpe was among several Mountaineers who helped set the
winning pace over the weekend, winning her competition in the triple
jump and qualifying for nationals.
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| Boruff |
It was the first time anyone for the Mountaineers had taken home the crown since 2005.
Thorpe praised her team for the way it performed.
“We knew
where we needed to get points and we had it all planned out,” Thorpe
said. “This year, as a team as a whole, it’s probably the best I have
ever been a part of. We all had our mind set on a ring. We wanted it,
and we got it.”
Thorpe now sits fourth all-time for Appalachian in the contest.
Outdoor
season begins on March 20, and Weaver explained it would be crucial for
his athletes to stay in shape over their brief break.
The Mountaineers now turn their focus to the start of outdoor season which begins at the Wake Forest Invitational.
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