Mountaineers

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JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — The Appalachian State men’s track and field team had five athletes place in the top ten in the 5000-meter run in the second day of the East Tennessee Niswonger Meet.

Leading the way was senior Brian Deal, notching a third place finish with a time of 15:07.61. Finishing behind Deal were his four teammates — Asmeron Desta, Phil Mitchell, Ryan O’Keefe and Brendon Helms — who all grabbed the fifth through eight spots.

Nick O’Keefe finished seventh in the mile run with a 4:29, while freshman and former Watauga standout Brooks Forsyth placed 11th.

In the 3000-meter run, Josh Houser finished seventh with a time of 8:43.

Veterans Ricky Harris and Joel Gaddy led the Mountaineers in the long jump, earning the third and fourth spots. Harris, who has already earned a provisional bid this season in the event, leapt 24-04.50, Gaddy was right behind him with a jump of 23-06.75. Freshman Phillip Bush finished seventh, with Mark Sturgis grabbing the ninth place spot.

Gaddy and Sturgis also were stellar in the triple jump, as Gaddy finished fourth in his flight with a jump of 49-01 and Sturgis placed fifth, jumping 48-10.75.

Appalachian freshman Mike Wilson was 13th in the pole vault with a vault of 14-06. Teammates Ryan Twiford, Justin Hunnicutt and Matt Boruff claimed the 16-18 spots.

Wes Kiser was fourth in the shot put with a throw of 50-10.25, while freshman Jerod Gardner placed 11th.
The Mountaineer women were also impressive throughout the day.

In the 3000-meter run, Jen Povick finished fourth with a time of 10:23.48. Her teammates Hannah Parks and Charlotte Walsh placed sixth and seventh, respectively.

Appalachian also did well in the other two distance events. Kala Robertson took home fifth in the mile run, and Anna Baker grabbed ninth place. Ashley Norris finished in 12th place finish in the 5000-meter run.

Ashley McKiver finished 10th in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.80.

Danielle Thorpe earned the runner-up spot in the triple jump with a jump of 40-11.00 while standout Vonteena Knotts posted a fourth place finish, jumping 40-07.75. Thorpe and Knotts also competed in the long jump, with Thorpe jumping 19-03.25 and Knotts 18-11.25 in their respective flights.

Rounding out the meet, Shea Snow finished third in the pole vault, while Lilly Tallent grabbed a third place finish in the shot put in her flight and Adrienne Alexander threw 44-09.50, good enough to earn third in the weight throw.