North Carolina A&T’s Alexandria Spruiel qualified for the NCAA Division I Track and Field Championship with a second-place finish in the women’s 400 meters Saturday at the 2009 NCAA Track and Field East Regional held at North Carolina A&T’s Irwin Belk Track.
Hampton’s Francena McCorory won the regional championship in the 400 with a time of 52 seconds. McCorory, the national indoor champion in the 400, and Spruiel have been putting on great races for fans for quite some time. They even ran side-by-side one another at the MEAC Championships before McCorory pulled away four weeks ago at N.C. A&T.
But after they competed on Saturday, McCorory and Spruiel could be found talking and joking like two longtime pals.
“I want to beat her at some point,’’ said Spruiel. “But if I go around and see her as my nemesis or my rival, I will not go into the race relaxed and I will not have fun. We like to keep each other cool and relaxed. She’s one of the girls. We just happen to bring out the best in each other when we are running.”
Spruiel will not be alone in her trip to the national event in Fayetteville, Ark., June 10-13. Senior hurdler Loreal Smith qualified for the NCAA Championships with a fourth-place finish in the 100 meters. Smith ran a 13.21 to bounce back after not reaching the finals last season.
“I just want to stay hungry,’’ said Smith. “This is the toughest region from top to bottom to make it out of, so I am truly grateful to be going. But I know I can do better. Whenever I find myself getting content with my performances, it’s time to quit track and field.”
Junior sprinter Calesio Newman is headed back to nationals for the second consecutive season. Newman ran a 10.32 in the 100 meters to finish fifth. Newman qualified despite having a slight hamstring pull in his left leg. “It’s a major accomplishment to go back,’’ said Newman. “My coaches continue to do a tremendous job of getting me prepared.”
The only field event athlete to reach nationals for the Aggies was David McFadgen. McFadgen jumped 51-feet, 5 ? inches on his second flight to qualify.
Overall, Florida State took the regional title for the women. Florida took the title for the men. There were 14 regional records broken over the two-day event, and two MEAC competitors ? McCorory and Bethune-Cookman’s Ronnie Ash (men’s 110 hurdles) won regional championships.