February 23, 2008
Methodist Competes at Mason Dixon Conference Championships
Junior Tazz Petty won individual title in the 55 meters

NEWPORT NEWS, VA-  The Methodist Track and Field team reached one of the season's culminating dates with the Mason Dixon Conference Championships at Christopher Newport University. The Monarchs had 12 student-athletes competing in the meet with the men's team finishing third overall.

Junior Tazz Petty earned top honors at the meet with a first place finish in the 55 meter dash in 6.39 seconds. Petty ran a personal best 6.37 in the preliminary heat. He also placed second in the 200 meter dash finishing in a personal record time of 22.25 seconds. Joining Petty in the 55 meter dash was fourth place finisher, senior Michael Hill, fifth place finisher freshman Greg Bailey and ninth place finisher Adonis Stanley. Hill ran a personal best 6.52 in qualifying and finished in 6.53 in the final heat. Bailey qualified with a personal record of 6.62 seconds and ran the finals in 6.64 seconds. Stanley finished things out in 6.78 seconds.

Hill placed sixth in the 200 meters in 23.02 seconds while Bailey ran it in 23.23 for 10th place and sophomore Brandon Kidd placed 11th in 23.30 seconds. Kidd went on to finish third in the 400 meters in 52.30 seconds. Freshman Keith Durden ran a personal best 53.19 seconds to place fifth and sophomore Keon Hannibal placed ninth in 54.21 seconds, another personal best. Rob Robinson beat his personal record with a time of 57.08 seconds for 13th place.

Sophomore Chase Pattillo ran a season best 5:30.66 in the mile to place 12th overall. Junior Pat Thornell represented the Monarchs in the field events earning third place finishes in the high jump, long jump, and triple jump. Thornell finished at 1.91 meters in high jump before setting a personal record in the long jump at 6.42 meters. He rounded out his day with a season best 13.02 meters in the triple jump. The Methodist men also competed in the 4x400 meter relay placing third in 3:32.34 and placed fifth in the distance medley relay in 12:40.45.

Senior Tia Imel and freshman Lamerica Langley competed for the women's team. Imel ran a personal best 7.86 seconds in the 55 meters, just shy of qualifying for the finals with a seventh place finish. She placed 11th in the 200 meters in a time of 30.50 seconds. Langley threw the shot put a career-high 9.45 meters for a fourth place finish.

The Monarchs are scheduled to compete at UNC-Pembroke's Braves Track & Field Classic outdoor meet March 8 while the NCAA National Championships are March 14-15.

Results