Final Results

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Jacksonville State track and field team finished in a tie for sixth at the 2016 Ohio Valley Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday on the Tennessee State campus.

JSU finished the two-day event with 65 total points and matched Murray State for the sixth spot.  Eastern Illinois won the women's crown with 163 points, while Southeast Missouri claimed the men's title with 199.5 total points.

Saturday's competition was highlighted by senior Whitley Towns' performance on the track and freshman Courtney Bennett's record-setting day in the shot put.  Towns became the first Gamecock to ever medal in the 1500 meter event at the OVC Championships and come back around an hour and half later to claim second in the 800 meter event.  The Boaz, Alabama native claimed bronze in the 1500 event after crossing the line in 4:32.34.  She was just off the pace set by Any Yeoman of Eastern Illinois, who won the event with a 4:31.13 mark.  Towns reached the medal stand in the 800 meter event with a time 2:11.32, which was just behind Tennessee Tech's D'Airien Jackson's winning time of 2:10.37.

Freshman Courtney Bennett wrapped up her solid freshman campaign in the field events with her name etched in the JSU record books for the shot put.  Bennett, who owns the school record in the event, posted a toss of 46-08.25 and claimed the silver medal.

The Gamecocks picked up points from sophomore Kayla Thompson in the sprints, while Victoria Dumas and Jasmine Parham tallied points in the 400 meter hurdles.  Thompson finished fifth in the 100 meter dash with a time of 12.22 and returned to compete in the 200 meter finals.  She claimed sixth place with a mark of 24.77.