Feb. 9, 2012

Full Release Notes

REVISED Vulcan Invitational Schedule

VULCAN INVITATIONAL
Samford returns to the Birmingham CrossPlex as they will co-host the Vulcan Invitational on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 10-11.

GOODSON AND BUSH IMPROVE THEIR SCHOOL RECORDS
At this past weekend's Meyo Invitational, Claire Goodson and Jonathon Bush both improved on their respective school records in the women's pole vault and the men's 400-meter dash. Goodson improved her school record for the third time so far this season, finishing third with a personal-best clearance of 13-1.75 (4.01m). The Alpharetta, Ga., sophomore came into the weekend ranked 33rd nationally and her new mark moves her to 29th.

Bush improved on his school record in the 400-meter dash, placing 11th Saturday with a time of 49.21. This beats his previous best of 49.39, set at the Auburn Invitational on January 21st. Bush also competed in Saturday's 200-meter dash, finishing in 26th (22.56).

CONFERENCE-LEADING DMR IMPROVES THEIR SEASON BEST MARK
The Bulldogs' women's distance medley squad of Marie Demedicis, Anna Laura Irvine, Holly Benson and Chelsea Treadway has led the conference all season and they improved their season-best mark Friday, finshing seventh in 11:54.90. The finish puts further distance between them and second place in the conference, as they now lead by over 22 seconds against second-place College of Charleston at 12:17.64. It also moves them to third all-time at Samford, less than a second out of the No. 2 spot (11:54.10) and just over two seconds behind the record (11:52.69).

FOUR RANKED IN THE NATIONAL TOP 50
Four Samford Bulldogs are nationally ranked in the top 50 in their respective event after last weekend. 2011 All-American Michael Seaman is the highest-ranked of the group, sitting in fifth with a school-record mark of 17-8.5 (5.40m). The Bardstown, Ky., senior continues to inch closer to the NCAA automatic qualifying height of 18-0.5 (5.50m), of which three athletes have cleared nationally.

His counterpart in the women's vault, Claire Goodson, moved up to 29th after breaking her own school record last weekend at 13-1.75 (4.01m). She is the youngest out of the four ranked Bulldogs, as she is only a sophomore after transfering this season from the College of Charleston.

Kyle Kirby is ranked 25th in the men's weight throw with his best mark of 64-9.25 (19.74m) coming at the Birmingham Indoor Invitational on January 26. Bo Ackerson-Gilroy's improved total in the heptathlon of 5,172 from the UAB Invitational ranks 45th.

SAMFORD TO HOST SOCON TOURNAMENT IN TWO WEEKS
After a competition-free weekend next week, Samford will serve as this season's host for the 2012 SoCon Indoor Track and Field Championships, held over two days beginning on Thursday, Feb. 23. The SoCon's nine men's teams and 12 women's teams will compete at the Birmingham CrossPlex, located in the Five Points West area of Birmingham on 2331 Bessemer Rd. This is Samford's second consecutive year hosting a conference meet, as they hosted the 2011 outdoor meet at the brand new Samford Track and Soccer Stadium.

UP NEXT
Samford returns to action in two weeks hosting the 2012 SoCon Indoor Championships on Thursday and Friday, Feb. 23-24.