THE SPORTS DESK
College notebook: Area athletes bring home track hardware
BY STEVE DeSHAZO
Several area residents helped their college track teams bring home hardware over the weekend.
In Fairfax, junior Travaughn Baker–Johnson (Stafford) played a big role in George Mason winning its third straight Colonial Athletic Association men’s team title. He ran on the Patriots’ winning 400 relay team (40.82) and placed third in the long jump (24–5) and sixth in both the 100 meters (10.94) and 200 (22.11).
At the same meet, VCU’s Alex Hinton (Chancellor) was second in the men’s 800 (1:51.33) and Nicole Walters (Orange) seventh in the women’s 800 (2:14.91). Freshman Amethyst Polk (King George) helped the Rams finish second in the women’s 1,600 relay (3:42.57), and James Madison’s Whitney Station (Chancellor) was eighth in the women’s 400 hurdles (1:04.87).
Christopher Newport senior Dira Hansen (Culpeper) was named USA South Conference women’s field athlete of the year, helping the Captains finish a close second to Methodist in Gwynedd Valley, Pa. Hansen won the triple jump (36–3) and 800 (2:20.38) and finished second in the long jump (17–6), third in the 400 (58.67) and ran on the runner-up 1,600 relay (4:02.93).
Teammate Jenna Elliott won the women’s high jump with the No. 2 leap in school history (5–6).
Freshman Robert Mayes (Culpeper) helped CNU’s men claim their second straight team title. He ran on the winning 400 relay (41.98) and finished fourth in the 400 (49.75) and fifth in the 200 (22.45). Freshman Matt Gaddy was fifth in the 400 (50.57) and joined Mayes on the second-place 1,600 relay team (3:20.30).
Shenandoah sophomore Tim Robinson (Stafford County) was fifth in the 1,500 (4:06.69).
Tennessee State redshirt freshman Ashontae Jackson (Orange) won the women’s long jump (19–
11) and ran on two third-place relays (46.86 for the 400 and 3:45.38 for the 1,600) at the Ohio Valley championships in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Morgan State senior Monae Waller (Courtland) won the women’s high jump (5–8) at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference meet in Greensboro, N.C.
Freshman Jesse Fogg (Riverbend) was seventh in the men’s discus (a personal-best 142–10) to help Shippensburg’s men win their fourth straight Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference title in Bloomsburg, Pa. California (Pa.) sophomore Courtnee Whitaker (Mountain View) was fourth in the women’s 100 hurdles (14.64).
Clemson graduate student April Sinkler (Brooke Point) was second in the women’s triple jump (43–5) in the Bob Pollock Invitational on her home track.
Marshall senior Rachel Coaxum (Liberty) won the women’s 100 hurdles (14.44) at the Ohio Open in Athens.
SOFTBALL
Radford senior shortstop Nichole Beall (Culpeper) had a big week. After being named the Highlanders’ female student–athlete of the year and chosen to the Capital One Academic All-District 3 First Team, she graduated Saturday, then tied the school record with her 158th career RBI as Radford beat Charleston Southern 4–1 Sunday to clinch its fourth straight Big South regular-season title.
The Highlanders (32–18, 16–4) will host the Big South tournament beginning Thursday.
Hofstra (35–13, 19–0) will shoot for its ninth CAA tournament title in 11 years beginning Wednesday in Hempstead, N.Y. Senior starters for the Pride include catcher Courtney Crews (North Stafford) and outfielder Michelle Lavagnino (Riverbend).
Freshman standout Sabrina Hill (Mountain View) and Christopher Newport (34–9) will host an NCAA Division III regional Friday, facing Farmindale (N.Y.) State in its opener. Hill was named USA South player and rookie of the year with a .408 average, eight homers and 49 RBIs.
Bridgewater junior pitcher Heather Jenkins (Orange) and Roanoke freshman outfielder Rhea Schleicher (Colonial Forge) were each named to the all-Old Dominion Athletic Conference third team. Jenkins was 17–5 with a league-best 1.36 ERA and seven shutouts. Schleicher batted .354 with 18 RBIs.
Junior Meghan Smith (Mountain View) hit a two-run homer in Appalachian State’s 5–4 loss to Samford Sunday. The Mountaineers (21–23, 9–13) will host the Southern Conference tournament beginning Wednesday.
BASEBALL
Senior second baseman Levin Hyams (Colonial Forge) was 4 for 11 as Georgia swept a three-game weekend series from Auburn.
Freshman Derek Gallello (Riverbend) went 3 for 3 in Charlotte’s 6–5 loss at Georgia Tech Sunday.
Guilford junior second baseman Ben Esser (North Stafford) was named to the all-ODAC third team after batting .331 with 24 RBIs.
GOLF
North Alabama senior Tyler Chandler (Mountain View) was named to the all-Gulf South Conference first team for the second straight year with a 71.0 stroke average (second best in Division II). He and the Lions will compete in an NCAA regional tournament this week in Conover, N.C.
TENNIS
Bridgewater junior Olivia Stone (Massaponax) was named to the all-ODAC women’s second team. She was 7–1 at No. 5 singles.
Steve DeShazo: 540/374-5443
sdeshazo@freelancestar.com
