Clayton State women set to open 2012 outdoor track and field season
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MORROW, Ga. – March 16, 2012 – Aiming for continued improvement from the indoor season, the Clayton State Laker women's track and field team is ready for the start of the 2012 outdoor season. The squad opens the season this weekend with the Morehouse Relays in Atlanta.
Events will take place on Saturday at Edwin Moses Track on the Morehouse campus. This is the first time since 2005 that Clayton State has competed in the Morehouse Relays. It is also the 16th season of women's outdoor track and field at Clayton State under veteran head coach Mike Mead.
Relays, middle-distance, distance and field events will be key components this season for Clayton State. The Lakers will run a distance medley relay with hopes on improving the school record in that event.
The distance medley team will consist of junior Monique Belmudes, sophomores Samantha Walling and Gisele Javois and freshman Maia Kuhnen. The current Clayton State distance medley record is 13:00.14 set in 2002.
Clayton State will also have a strong contingency in the distance events. Junior Paige Galvin will aim for some strong times in both the 1,500-meter and 3,000-meter runs, as will freshmen Jessica Smith and Holly McNorton in the same events. Look for both Belmudes and Walling to excel in the 800-meter run, and senior Tamara Marshall will also compete in the 3,000-meter run.
Galvin, Walling, Javois and Kuhnen are each coming off All-Southeast Region honors during the indoor season, along with junior Jasmine Madison and sophomore Jhaquil Richardson. Madison will compete in the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash, while Richardson will run in the 200-meter dash.
Senior Kayla Mobley, the starting power forward on the nationally-ranked Clayton State women's basketball team, returns for her second season in the shot put. Last season, she garnered All-Southeast Region honors in both the shot put and discus. In addition, soccer players Silvia Espelt and Kasi Cross will compete in the javelin and shot put, respectively.
