Knotts finished first in both the long jump and triple jump Game statistics

Knotts, Thorpe Qualify For NCAA Championships At Appalachian Invitational
by Appalachian Sports Information

December 1, 2007 - BOONE, N.C. - Vonteena Knotts jumped 20 feet 10.5 inches and Danielle Thorpe leapt 20-3.5 as the pair took first and second place in the long jump for the Appalachian State women’s track and field team. Knotts earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships with the jump, while Thorpe earned a provisional bid. Several Mountaineers posted strong performances in the first indoor meet of the season. Knotts’ jump also set a new Holmes Center record.

Behind Knotts and Thorpe in the event, four other Mountaineers rounded out the top eight. Monica Johnson (19-02), Bianca Harvey (19-0.75), Crystal Dukes (18-8) and Kiara Crutchfield (18-4.5) finished fifth through eighth place, respectively.

Porsha’ Evans-Hardy placed second in the 55-meter hurdles, with a time of 8.37, just one-hundredth of a second off the leader’s time. Crutchfield tied for third out of 16 runners with an 8.57 mark.

Ashley McKiver ran a 7.14 second time in the first heat of the 55-meter dash to tie for second place out of 31. Knotts ran a 7.17 to place seventh in the event. McKiver went on to finish sixth in the 200-meter dash as well, just one-hundredth of a second behind teammate Johnson at 25.67. The time was a personal record for Johnson, besting her previous top indoor time of 25.73.

Knotts and Thorpe also finished 1-2 in the triple jump. Knotts landed a 40 feet 9 inches while Thorpe was barely an inch behind at 40-7.75.

Behind a pair of unattached competitors, reigning Southern Conference Champion Brittani Williams threw 40 feet 7.25 inches for third place in the shot put. Former Mountaineer and Holmes Center record-holder Beverly Burnett won with a toss of 46-9.5.

Williams went on to take home first place in the weight throw with a mark of 53-5.75. Whitney Smyre threw for 50 feet 2 inches for fourth place in the event while sophomore Adrianne Alexander placed sixth with a mark of 45-3.5.

Ashley Beale jumped 11 feet 5.75 inches in the pole vault for a third-place finish. The jump was just a quarter of an inch off the freshman’s personal best. Senior Kaitlyn Heeke was right behind with a 10-11.75 mark, good for fifth in the competition.

Behind an unattached jumper, Bridgette Hills and Julie Ward tied for second in the high jump with a height of 5 feet 3.75 inches. Hills, a freshman, was 2.25 inches off a personal best.

The team has a long layoff before returning to competition at East Tennessee State on January 18, 2008.