Bryan College Opens Season at Niswonger Invitational
January 18, 2008Johnson City, TN - Bryan College track and field opened their 2008 indoor season this afternoon with great success. It was the first day of competition for the 30th running of the Niswonger Invitational hosted by East Tennessee State University on the David E. Walker Track.
Inside the Memorial Center, Sophomore Josh Bradley (Ringgold, GA) finished 2nd in the first section of the men's 800 meter run with a time of 1:57.44, behind Southern University's KeDric Green's 1:56.69. The time placed him 7th overall after both sections of the seeded men's eight-hundred meter race were completed.
Freshmen Zach Mobley (Ooltewah, TN) took the 800 meter title and set a new indoor school record with a time of 1:53.48. Mobley took the lead with a little over 300 meters remaining and held on the for the win over Winthrop University's Matt Elliot.
Freshmen Drew Nunnelly (Cleveland, TN) competed in the unseeded section of the men's 200 meter run and competing for the first time indoors ran to a personal best of 23.83.
"It was nice to get the season going on a positive note. Bradley ran well and moved late in the race passing several athletes in the last 150 meters. Mobley put himself in great position and easily hit the qualifier for the national championships. It should be an exciting year for these two as they mature and get in more quality workouts," said coach Rodney Stoker. "Nunnelly is very new to the sport and I'm proud of how he handled himself today. He has great talent and he'll continue to improve. We are looking forward to tomorrow and having a giving a few more of our athletes an opportunity to compete."
Day two begins at 8am with the men's and women's long jump as well as the 5000 meter run. Colleges from across the country will be represented over the weekend as 85 schools and over 1,100 athletes will be competition. The meet is being run in conjunction with the Knoxville Track Club's High School Indoor Classic that has near a thousand athletes as well.