Track & Field 1/29/2022 9:55:00 PM

Ply PRs in five events to highlight another strong weekend for Wildcat track and field

LUBBOCK, Texas – The Abilene Christian track and field team closed out the Texas Tech Invitational and Multis on Saturday afternoon with another weekend full of stellar performances.

INSIDE THE MEET

Results
Host: Texas Tech University
Site: Sports Performance Center
Location: Lubbock, Texas

HOW IT HAPPENED:

J.J. Ply turned in a PR in the long jump (6.82 m) portion of the heptathlon and followed with another in the shot put (11.79m/38'8 ¼") before wrapping up the heptathlon in seventh place with an ACU record 5,397 total points. Ply finished his weekend with a lifetime best in five separate events, and he now ranks second in the WAC in the heptathlon.
A week after she turned in a PR in the 60m hurdles, Megan Kirby turned in a time of 8.65 to open her pentathlon. She later added a lifetime best in the high jump (1.65m/5'5") before finishing the pentathlon in eight place with 3,722 total points, less than 50 away from her personal best.
Tyler Richardson took ninth in the weight throw with a season-best distance of 18.12m (59'5 ½"), the third best mark of his career. He would later turn in a season-best performance in the shot put, sliding into the top three in the WAC with a distance of 16.51m (54'2").
The ACU men's hurdle crew turned in five personal bests in the 60m hurdles, with Jamal January leading the way with a time of 7.99. On the women's side, Tayler Tolen turned in a season-best with a time of 7.52, while transfer D'Anna Smith ran a lifetime best time of 7.66.
Athan Huelskamp finished second in the weight throw with a personal best distance of 18.01m (59'1 ¼"). That mark currently ranks fifth in the Western Athletic Conference.
Freshman Ja'Dasia Sims broke into the top 20 with a lifetime best time of 57.62 in the 400m dash.
Cole Newman took first in the B Section of the pole vault with a lifetime best jump of 5.00 m (16'4 ¾"), while teammate Grant Baker matched the same maker.
Amy Ambelang ran a PR time of 25.05 in the 200m, putting her on the top ten on the WAC leaderboard.
Reigning WAC Field Athlete of the Week Annina Brandenburg finished as the runner-up in the shot put with a distance of 15.81m (51'10 ½").
Gabe Embree snuck inside the top 10 in the 3K with a time of 8:49.61 to represent the ACU distance squad.
The women's 4x400 relay team of Tolen, Sims, Ambelang and Savannah Walker turned in a season-best time of 3:53.48 to finish in second place.

UP NEXT:

The Purple and White return to action on February 4, when they open the Charlie Thomas Invitational and Multis on the campus of Texas A&M University.

#GoWildcats

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Players Mentioned

Annina Brandenburg: 5' 6"; Senior; 1VL / 1VL

Megan Kirby: Sophomore; 1VL / 1VL

Jamal January: 6' 0"; Freshman; HS / HS

Grant Baker: 6' 0"; Freshman; HS / HS

Tyler Richardson: Freshman; HS / HS

Amy Ambelang: 5' 6"; Junior; 1VL / HS

Gabe Embree: 5' 10"; Sophomore; HS / HS

Athan Huelskamp: 6' 0"; Sophomore; HS / HS

Cole Newman: 5' 10"; Junior; 1VL / HS

Savannah McCaleb: 5' 7"; Junior; 1VL / HS

Players Mentioned

Annina Brandenburg
: 5' 6"; Senior; 1VL / 1VL

Megan Kirby
: Sophomore; 1VL / 1VL

Jamal January
: 6' 0"; Freshman; HS / HS

Grant Baker
: 6' 0"; Freshman; HS / HS

Tyler Richardson
: Freshman; HS / HS

Amy Ambelang
: 5' 6"; Junior; 1VL / HS

Gabe Embree
: 5' 10"; Sophomore; HS / HS

Athan Huelskamp
: 6' 0"; Sophomore; HS / HS

Cole Newman
: 5' 10"; Junior; 1VL / HS

Savannah McCaleb
: 5' 7"; Junior; 1VL / HS