NSU's Taylor, Nkrumah Cap Outdoor Season As 2nd Team All-Americans
EUGENE, Ore. – Norfolk State’s James Taylor and Keith Nkrumah both ran well in their respective semifinal heats on Thursday, but neither was able to qualify for their event finals at the 2013 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field.
Taylor finished tied for 13th in a field of 24 in the men’s 200m, while Nkrumah was 11th out of 24 in the 110m hurdles. By placing between ninth and 16th in their events, both Spartans will be named second-team All-Americans at the conclusion of the meet on Saturday.
Coming off a personal-best time of 20.63 seconds at the NCAA East Preliminary Round that enabled him to qualify for nationals, Taylor PR’ed again on Thursday. He clocked a time of 20.58 seconds, finishing fourth in his heat. The top two finishers in each of the three semifinal heats, in addition to the next two fastest times in the field, comprise Saturday’s championship final field of eight athletes. The slowest 200m qualifying time was a 20.33 by Iowa’s Justin Austin.
Despite not advancing, Taylor was able to duplicate his effort from indoor season, where he also was a second-team All-America performer in the 200m. He was 10th at the national indoor meet.
Nkrumah also placed fourth in his heat, finishing in a time of 13.77 seconds. The slowest qualifier for Saturday’s finals was Colorado State’s Trevor Brown. Nkrumah was making an appearance at the outdoor nationals for the second consecutive year. He was an honorable mention All-America performer after placing 24th in the same event last year.
The Brooklyn, N.Y. native concludes his college career as a six-time MEAC champion in the hurdles and relays. He also departs as the school record holder in the 110m hurdles (13.60).
For the complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com.
UMES' Lenora Guion-Firmin Rins In 400M Dash Of NCAA Finals
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - Maryland Eastern Shore's Lenora Guion-Firmin will run in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Outdoor Track and Field Finals. Guinon-Firmin ran a time of 52.03 seconds in the 400m dash semifinals to advance to the finals race Friday, June 7 at 5:55 p.m. (PT).
Guion-Firmin will be one of eight to advance to the finals round on Friday, and the only qualifier to represent a Historically Black College and University (HBCU).
She advanced to Eugene, Oregon, where the NCAA Finals are held, by running a second-place 51.97-second time in the NCAA East Preliminary Round.
Lady Rattlers Compete In First Day Of NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Nationals
EUGENE,OR – Florida A&M was well represented on day one of the 2013 NCAA outdoor track and field national championships. Lady Rattlers competed in the 4x100m relay, while Nakia Linson competed in the 100m dash at Hayward Field.
The 4x100m relay team had an uphill battle from the start, but rose to the occasion to take third place in their heat, that included two of the nation’s top teams in UCF and LSU.
On the first leg, Dynasty Jones was unable to make any headroom as the field took off from the start. On the second leg, Linson would make up ground improving the Lady Rattlers’ positioning. Jasmine Smith, the third leg, may have run the best leg of the race, as she pulled the Lady Rattlers into third position. Ashley Ivey had one of her best races, maintaining the Lady Rattlers in third, while fighting off competitors down the stretch.
The Lady Rattlers finished in 44.85, placing them 12th overall as a team. It also deemed them 2013 NCAA All-Americans. It was quite a feat, taking into the fact that they were ranked sixth in their heat coming into the race. To finish third in the heat was quite an accomplishment within itself.
In the 100m dash, Linson held her own, without running her fastest time of the season. She finished fifth in her heat, but 17th overall and will return to the track on June 6 at 7 p.m. EST to run the 200m dash. A free live webcast can be seen at www.NCAA.com.
For the complete story, visit www.famuthletics.com.
Hampton Track Wraps Up Season At NCAA Outdoors
EUGENE, Ore. – The 2012-13 Hampton University track & field season wrapped up on Wednesday and Thursday evenings at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, hosted by the University of Oregon at Hayward Field.
On Wednesday, Benita Taylor competed in the women’s 800m run and came in 11th after running a school-record 2:04.72. Taylor, who was a Second Team All-American in the indoor 800m run earlier this year, beat her own school record by roughly half a second.
Thursday saw Le’Quisha Parker compete in the semifinals of the women’s 200m dash, running a 23.67 to come in 20th.
Parker and Taylor were also on the 4x400m relay squad – along with Emmy Fraenk and Malekah Holland – that turned in a 3:38.35 in the semifinal heats to finish 20th overall.
On the men’s side, Trey Holloway was 20th in the 110-meter hurdles after turning in a 14.05. Holloway will become the Pirates’ first All-American since Reggie Dixon in 2010.
Though no Hampton student-athletes advanced to the finals in their respective events, all of them will receive All-American honors from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
For the complete story, visit http://www.hamptonpirates.com/.