Track and Field 2004-2005 Wrap-Up

The Cumberland College Track and Field team recently wrapped up their season at the Outdoor Nationals in Louisville, KY. The Patriots had many exceptional runners this season which led to their numerous honors and championships.

The Patriots began their indoor season at the University of Findley Invitational in Findley, OH. This meet was a non-scoring event and a practice run to start off the track and field season. It was, however, an opportunity for schools to get a look at the competition and for the athletes to mentally and physically prepare for the season. The Patriots had 14 top ten finishes while at Findley, with highest for the women being Shelly Schnee (3 rd – 800 Meter Run) and highest for the men being Thetlon Detry (2 nd – 600 Meter Run). Next on the schedule was the DePauw Invitational in Greencastle, TN where the Patriots picked up 14 top ten finishes. Shelly Schnee (2 nd – 600 Meter Run) was the highest finisher for the women and Jordan Jeffers (3 rd – 55 Meter Dash), Michael Veatch (3 rd – One Mile Run), and Breylen Derrick (3 rd – 800 Meter Run) were the highest finishers for the men. Overall the women took fifth place while the men took fourth. The Patriots went back to Greencastle again the next weekend for the DePauw Classic where the Patriots gained 36 top ten finishes. Taking first place finishes were Stephanie Woodfin (55 Meter Dash and 200 Meter Dash), Michelle Warnky (600 Meter Run), Shelly Schnee (800 Meter Run), Whitney Brainard (5000 Meter Run), LeNita White (Shot Put), the women’s 4x400 Meter Relay team, Jordan Jeffers (55 Meter Dash and 200 Meter Dash), Michael Veatch (One Mile Run), Thetlon Detry (600 Meter Run), Caleb Dodson (Pole Vault), Moses Cochran (Long Jump), the men’s 4x400 Meter Relay team, and the men’s Distance Medley team. The men finished second overall while the women finished third. The Patriots then went on to the NAIA Indoor Nationals where they only had two people place: Josiah Melly (7 th – 3000 Meter Run) and Shari Reese (18 th – Long Jump).

The Patriots wrapped up their indoor season and moved on to the outdoor season. They started off at the Emory Track Classic in Atlanta, GA. The Patriots gained 34 top ten finishes while at Emory, with first place finishes from Stephanie Woodfin (200 Meter Dash), Kelly Schnee (800 Meter Run), the women’s 4x400 Meter Relay team, Jordan Jeffers (200 Meter Dash), Michael Veatch (1500 Meter Run), Caleb Dodson (Pole Vault), Moses Cochran (Long Jump), the men’s 4x100 Meter Relay team, and the men’s 4x400 Meter Relay team. The Patriot ladies finished 6 th overall, while the Patriots finished 1 st. The Patriots traveled back to Emory the next weekend for the Emory Track Challenge. Back in Atlanta, the Patriots scored 23 top ten finishes with first place finished from LeNita White (Discus Throw), the women’s 4x400 Meter Relay, Jordan Jeffers (100 Meter Dash), Thetlon Detry (800 Meter Run), and Michael Veatch (1500 Meter Run). The men’s team took fourth while the women’s team took fifth. The team then went on to host their own invitational here in Williamsburg, KY. The Patriots grabbed 41 top ten finishes on their home track with first place finishes from Stephanie Woodfin (100 Meter Dash and 200 Meter Dash), Jessica Smith (Triple Jump), LeNita White (Shot Put and Discus Throw), the women’s 4x400 Meter Relay team, Jordan Jeffers (100 Meter Dash and 200 Meter Dash), Breylen Derrick (800 Meter Dash), Thetlon Detry (400 Meter Hurdles), and Caleb Dodson (Pole Vault). At their home meet the Patriots took the top finish while the ladies took the runner up position. The Patriots then traveled to Knoxville, TN to the Sea Ray Relays hosted by the University of Tennessee. Patriot high finishers were Stephanie Woodfin (100 Meter Dash) took 17 th place, while Jordan Jeffers (100 Meter Dash) took 12 th place. Then it was on to the University of Louisville, where the Patriots snatched 21 top ten finishes. Topping the list for the ladies were Kelly Schnee (4 th – 800 Meter Run) and LeNita White (Discus Throw). Leading the men were Caleb Dodson (1 st – Pole Vault) and the men’s 4x100 Meter Relay team. The Patriots then went on to the Select Small College Meet in Berea, KY where they achieved the highest number of top ten finishes all season. The Patriots took 49 top ten finishes with first place finishes from Stephanie Woodfin (100 Meter Dash and 200 Meter Dash), Kelly Schnee (400 Meter Run), Shelly Schnee (800 Meter Run), Barb Davies (500 Meter Run), Kelly Seifert (400 Meter Hurdles), Shari Reese (Long Jump), Jessica Smith (Triple Jump), LeNita White (Discus Throw), the women’s 4x100 Meter Relay team, the women’s 4x400 Meter Relay team, Jordan Jeffers (100 Meter Dash and 200 Meter Dash), Jared Tackett (400 Meter Run), Michael Veatch (1500 Meter Run), Lemuel Holifield (110 Meter Hurdles and 400 Meter Hurdles), Brad Wells (3000 Meter Steeplechase), the men’s 4x100 Meter Relay team, the men’s 4x400 Meter Relay team, and the men’s 4x800 Meter Relay team. The Patriot ladies topped at 1 st place for the women, while the men only took 2 nd place. With only two meets left in the season, the Patriots then traveled to the Georgia Tech Invitational. The women’s highest was the 4x400 Meter Relay team, while the men’s highest was the 4x100 Meter Relay team. The Patriots once again traveled back to Louisville for the NAIA Outdoor Nationals. The Patriots saw four top six finishes in nationals, which were also the five All-Americans. Making All-American status were Stephanie Woodfin (100 Meter Dash), Jordan Jeffers (100 Meter Dash and 200 Meter Dash), and the 4x400 Meter Relay team which consisted of Jordan Jeffers, Lawrence McGee, Moses Cochran, and Jared Tackett. The Patriot men finished 14 th while the women finished 41 st.

Coach Stroud commented, “This was a great way to end the season. The athletes did an outstanding job competing against the best athletes that are in the United States on the collegiate level. I could not have asked for a better performance from these kids.”

The Patriots finished their season garnering 241 top ten finishes. This is quite an accomplishment for the Patriots. Losing several top seniors this season will leave a small void for the team but many new recruits will fill the empty spots. The Patriot Track and Field team is looking forward to their next amazing season.