Jaguar track and field teams prepare for Peach Belt Championships

Shelbie Summerlin | Sports writer

The Augusta University track and field teams are getting ready for the Peach Belt Conference Championships, which will be held April 22-23 in Daytona Beach, Fla.

This season, the AU men’s team has had a school record set and a runner named the PBC track athlete of the week.

On March 26 at Emory Thrills in the Hills Open, Hans Troyer set a school record in the 10,000-meter event with a time of 30:45:33. Troyer placed second in the event. This feat, along with winning first in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, earned Troyer PBC men’s track top weekly honors on March 29. 

The AU women have also seen a school record established this season. Jayla Ferris finished in second place in the 400-meter race at Emory with a time of 58.91. 

Here is a look at some of the Jaguar track and field highlights heading into the conference meet:

Flames Invitational recap

Kai Brickey placed in the top-10 of the 800-meter race with a time of 1:53:41 (sixth). 

In the 400 hurdles, Xavier Allen finished eighth in the top-10 with a time of 57.97. 

Troyer placed 10th in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:26:35. 

For the women, Rachel Lovell finished 10th in the triple jump with a mark of 9.76 meters. 

In the javelin throw, Kaitlyn Lancaster placed 10th with a mark of 27.77 meters. 

Emory Thrills in the Hills Open recap 

Troyer finished first in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 9:19:15 and placed second in the 10,000 with a time of 30:45:33. 

Brickey ran for second place in the 1,500 with a time of 4:01:26. 

In the 5,000 race, Patrick Motes got second place with a time of 14:59:72. 

Allen ran for second place in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 56.15. 

The 4x800 relay team of Caleb Carillo de Alboronoz, Amir Dayal, Motes and Brickey took fourth with a time of 8:00:76. 

For the women, Priscilla Ajala ran for second in the 100 preliminaries with a time of 12.14 and placed second in the 200 with a time of 25.46. 

Ferris took second place in the 400 with a time of 58.91. 

Hannah Beach was first in the 10,000 with a time of 38:22:04. 

Lovell finished with second place in the high jump with a 1.60-meter mark. 

Trojan Opener recap 

In the 1,500-meter race, Motes took first place with a time of 3:58:12. 

AU runners took six of the top-10 spots in the 5,000-meter race. Troyer was first in 14:48:72, and Avery Jaynes finished behind him in second place with a time of 14:51:07. Thomas Rischar, Cameron Watson, Carlos Rodriguez and Matthew Moore placed fourth, eighth, ninth, and tenth, respectively. 

For the women, Beach finished fourth in the 5,000 with a time of 18:18:90. 

CIU Rams Invitational recap

Brickey finished third in the 800 with a time of 1:55:23. 

Allen placed fourth in the 400 hurdles. 

The 4x100m relay team—Allen, Daniel Forrester, Terrell Stokes and Imo Sunday—finished fifth with a time of 43.23. 

For the women, Ajala finished third in the 200 in 25.21. 

In the 400, Parmelie Andris placed second with a time of 59.86, and Ferris placed third with a time of 1:00:44. 

Haley Gilbert finished fourth in the 800 in 2:26:76. 

Lovell had a mark of 9.49 meters to place fifth in the triple jump. 

Victor Ice Breaker Duals recap

Allen placed second in the 400 with a time of 50.36. 

Brickey placed second in the 1,500 with a time of 3:57:66. 

In the 5,000, AU had eight runners place in the top-10. Troyer was first with a time of 15:07:70. Jaynes, Rischar, Motes, Crabtree, Moore, Todd and Rodriguez took second, third, fourth, fifth, seventh, ninth and 10th, respectively. 

Stokes finished third in the 400 hurdles with a time of 1:01:24. 

The 4x400m relay team of Allen, Forrester, Tremond Hatton and Sunday were first with a time of 3:28:19. 

For the women, Ajala won first in the 100 with a time of 12.17. 

Gilbert placed fifth in the 1,500 with a time of 5:03:78. 

Beach (18:36:83) and Cassie Lagan (19:01:94) were first and second place, respectively, in the 5,000. 

Andris took third in the 100 hurdles with a time of 15.95. 

Lovell finished in the high jump at second place with a 1.57-meter mark.

Gamecock Invitational recap 

In a warmup Beach took eighth place in the 1,500, as did Lovell in the high jump. Ajala was ninth in the 100.

Ward pointing toward PBC championships 

AU Coach Adam Ward believes he’s “seen solid progress” in his athletes over the season but that “we need to continue to work on skill elements of our races and field events” as the conference championships approach.

“We’ve seen a lot of personal bests and school records,” said Ward. “So many folks have improved from high school or from last season or even from the beginning of the season. It’s great to see each person make some progress.” 

Ward says his athletes are determined and motivated. 

“Watching athletes working hard to succeed despite our lack of facilities, etc. is inspiring,” said Ward. “I’m excited to see how our women and men do at conference.” 

Ward is anticipating some outstanding performance in Daytona Beach.

“I think we could see some big things from this group,” he said. “I hope we will see a few conference champions from a few men and women next week,” said Ward. “And if conditions finally play into our favor, someone can hit a national qualifying mark. That would be exciting to see before we end things in the next couple of weeks.” 

Contact Shelbie Summerlin at ssumerlin@augusta.edu.

Augusta’s Patrick Motes (595) shows his form in the 5,000 meters at Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn. (photo by Kai Brickey) At the top of the page, Tremond Hatten races in the 400-meter run at the Columbia International meet. (photo by Carlos Rodriguez)

AU’s Hannah Beach (1) captures the 5,000-meter run at Emory University in Atlanta. (photo by Kai Brickey)