Panthers' Schutte Throws Her Way to Third Place Finish

CLAREMONT, Calif. -- Behind the 146 foot third place toss of senior javelin thrower Kristen Schutte, the Lady Panthers scored six points in taking 45th place at the annual NCAA Division III outdoor track and field national championships.

Greenville featured three women who participated in four events during the three-day championships. In addition to Schutte making an appearance in the javelin competition, senior Penny Grant qualified for the 100-meter dash and long jump, and senior Philita Johnson raced in the 400-meter dash.

Grant, running in the national championships for the first time despite a number of appearances in jumping events, ran a 11.98 second time to place second in her heat and fourth overall heading into the finals. During the finals competition, she posted a time of 12.07 seconds to miss All-American status and finish ninth in the event.

Grant also participated in the long jump where she leapt 18 feet and one-half of an inch in placing 18th overall.

Johnson, competing in the 400-meter dash, ran a time of 56.72 seconds in the preliminary heat where she was 4th. Her time allowed her to advance to the finals, and she improved by almost one-half of a second. However, her mark of 56.24 seconds was ninth best and made her the second Lady Panther to narrowly miss All-American stature.

The championships concluded the women's track and field season -- a year in which they placed third at the NCCAA outdoor championships and second at the Illinois College True Blue Open.

Courtesy Greenville College sports information