T&F: Men and Women Collect Wins at Panther Icebreaker

Owls Set Five Team Records in Opening Meet of Indoor Season

RESULTS

Birmingham, Ala. - The Kennesaw State men's and women's track teams got the indoor season off to a fast start at the Panther Icebreaker at the Birmingham Crossplex. In a rarely scored meet, the men's team collected a win with 127 points while the women scored 70 points to tie South Alabama for first place.

"We had a lot of nervous and excited freshman on our trip to Birmingham this morning so I just reminded them that we're here to have fun," Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Andy Eggerth said. "I reminded them that we've been working hard all fall so let's just enjoy the opportunity to compete and learn where we can continue to improve. With five school records, a few meet records, several personal records, multiple national-leading marks, and a win for both the women and the men we really couldn't ask for much more."

On the men's side, Bilal Abdullah led the way for the Owls winning two events while finishing second in his other two events. He broke the school and meet record while becoming the first sprinter at Kennesaw State to break the eight second mark with a time of 7.99 in his preliminary qualifier for the 60 hurdles. Abdullah picked up a win in the 200 meter race setting a school record with a time of 21.43. His other win came when he joined teammates Joshua Mulder, Taylor Huntley, and Jalil Braxton to win the 4x400 meter relay in a time of 3:17:55. In the high jump, Abdullah jumped 2.15 (7'1") meters which was good for second.

Martynas Sedys started off his season strong throwing a school record and personal best 19.79 (64' 11.25") in the weight throw.

Freshmen Cameron Gatt collected a win for the Owls in the 3000m with a time of 8:48.19.

"We had a lot of really good performances for the men," Eggerth said. "Josh Mulder PR'd in the pole vault by almost 2 ½ feet, came back to make the hurdle finals and PR by nearly four tenths of a second (both are HUGE improvements), and followed that up with a 48.32 split to lead the 4x400m relay to a victory.

"Bilal Abdullah is probably the performer of the meet with a school record and currently the second fastest time in the country in the 60m hurdles," Eggerth added. "He also equaled the first place height in the high jump and leads the NCAA at this time. During the high jump, Bilal ran the 200m to another school record 21.43 which is also is the fastest 200m time in the nation thus far. Finishing out his day, Bilal ran a strong leg on the victorious 4x400m relay. Martynas Sedys' weight throw of 19.79m also ranks number one nationally and breaks the school record. I could go on and on, but these are a few of the many great performances that stand out."

On the women's side, freshman Jocselyn Powell ran the 60m hurdles in 8.64 seconds to claim the win. Fellow freshman Erica Sergeant got off to a great start in the pole vault setting a school record with a jump of 3.80 (12'5). Minutes later, she would shatter her newly set school record by vaulting 3.90 (12'9.5").

On the track for the Owls, Joyce Mattagliano set an indoor lifetime best, school record, and meet record with a 2:09. 93 in the 800m.

"It's enjoyable for our women to tie for the win in a field of 12 Division I teams," Eggeth said. "We were really led by a trio of freshmen today. Jocselyn Powell is currently ranked number two in the country after her win and huge PR in the 60m hurdles. Erica Sergeant took the gold medal in the pole vault with a school record and third best jump nationally. Joyce Mattagliano also set a huge indoor PR in the 800m winning the event, breaking the school record and leads the NCAA by about three seconds. Our women had many strong performances across the board so it'll be exciting to see what the season holds."

The Owls will travel to Birmingham, Alabama on January 9 and 10 for the UAB Blazer Invitational at the Birmingham Crossplex.

Keep up with Owls track and field teams by following KSU on Twitter at @KSUOwlNation and @KSUTrackFieldXC or by liking Kennesaw State Owls on Facebook.

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