CSU’s Epps soars to new heights at the Armory Collegiate Invitational
NEW YORK, N.Y. - There's something about competing at the historic Armory in America's largest city that brings out the best in senior Christina Epps.
Last month, she set a personal best mark in winning the triple jump there with a jump of 12.93 meters.
She topped that performance Saturday with one she will always remember for the rest of her life. Epps highlighted the second day of competition for the Coppin State men's and women's track and field teams at the Armory Collegiate Invitational. Epps' personal best performance lasted a month as she took some white out to her previous school standard.
Epps soared 13.16 meters in winning the event in impressive fashion. She won the competition on her last attempt of the afternoon. In finishing first, Epps also defeated three-time NCAA indoor triple jump champion and former University of Kansas standout Andrea Geubelle, who leaped 13.15 meters.
Epps' award-winning performance is currently the third best in the nation behind Florida junior Ciarra Brewer (13.55 m/44-5.5) and Texas A&M sophomore LaQue Moen-Davis (13.49/44-3.25). An effort like Saturday gives Epps plenty of confidence to end her final indoor season with a bang and more bling than Tiffany's.
Next up for Epps is next weekend's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championship meet at the Prince George's Sports Complex. Epps is No.1 against MEAC student-athletes in the triple jump. She has some goals that she believes are attainable aside from winning the event.
Epps knew she would have an awesome day and jump well when arrived at the Armory. Then, she figured she would reach her goal of 13 meters after fouling on a couple of attempts. The fouls weren't any type of intentional strategy to gain an edge, they just happened to help Epps in her quest to fly as far as possible. She fouled on three of her first four attempts.
Elsewhere on the women's side, Tanaya Yarde ran a season best 25.05 seconds in the 200-meter dash. Alexis Marsh covered the same distance in 25.97 seconds. They teamed with Sheena Brownell and Miriam Ekwuru
to run the 4 x 400-meter relay in 3:56.65.
The men had three runners earn MEAC qualifying standards in Rosen Daniel (200-meter dash), Delroy Davis (800) and Alaric Coker (mile). Coker and Daniel also helped the 4 x 400-meter relay team that included Kester Chase and Donnell Taylor glide around the banked oval in 3:19.03.
Lady Bears’ 4X400 Team Takes Seventh At Armory Collegiate Invitational
NEW YORK, N.Y. -The Morgan State women’s indoor track and field team concluded the two-day Armory Collegiate Invitational on Saturday at the Armory Track & Field Center.
Day 2 of the event was highlighted by a seventh-place finish by the Lady Bears’ 4X400 relay team. The team of Ekundayo Sogbesan, Teyanna Green, Nichole Candelaria and Tere Cooley ran a time of 3:45.16 in the 4X400 College section.
In other action, Tere Cooley placed 16th in the 800 meter run college section with a time of 2:15.50. Ishakeema Swain finished 20th in the mile run college section with a time of 5:07.86.
Samantha Clay had a toss of 53-03.00 in the weight throw to place 17th.
The Lady Bears will now turn their focus to preparing for the upcoming Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Indoor championships on Thursday, Feb. 13-Saturday, Feb. 15 at the Prince George’s Sports & Learning Center in Landover, Md.
Stewart, Griggs Lead Bears at Armory Collegiate Invitational
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Emmanuel Stewart and Ricardo Griggs were highlights for the Morgan State men’s track & field at prestigious Armory Collegiate Invitational, held in New York City.
Stewart finished with a top 20 toss in the weight throw on Friday. The senior posted a throw of 17.80m to finish in 16th place.
Griggs advanced to the 60m dash championship semis, taking 18th placed in a time of 6.89. He also paced the Bears in the 60m dash by placing 21st with an IC4A qualifying time of 6.92.
In other action, Christian Boateng finished 33rd in the 60m hurdles (8.24) and 35th in the 200m dash college preliminaries (22.83). Evan Johnson turned in a 49.97 to place 45th n the 400m dash college preliminaries.
Jefferson Butler had a toss of 14.15m in the shot put to place 35th.
Next up for the Bears is the upcoming Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Indoor championships scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 13-Saturday, Feb. 15 at the Prince George's Sports & Learning Center in Landover, Md.
Denmark wins long jump at Armory Collegiate Invitational
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Hampton University senior Teiara Denmark won the long jump title as the men’s and women’s track & field teams competed at the Armory Collegiate on Friday and Saturday at the Armory Track & Field Center.
Denmark took the long jump title with a season-best mark of 6.26 meters (20 feet, 6.5 inches). She also set a season best in the triple jump, setting a mark of 12.73 meters (41 feet, 9.25 inches) to come in fourth.
Senior Breana Norman ran a season-best 8.31 to finish second in the 60-meter hurdles, and she was on the 4x200-meter relay squad – along with sophomore Tanisha Greene, senior Emmy Fraenk, and junior Le’Quisha Parker – that came in third with a season-best 1:38.80.
Parker also ran a 24.34 to come in eighth in the 200-meter dash.
Sophomore Ce’aira Brown ran a season-best 1:12.06 in finishing second in the 500-meter run.
On the men’s side, the Pirates came in second in the 4x400-meter relay, as freshman Rayon Black, junior Chidi Okezie, junior Edose Ibadin, and senior Je’Von Hutchison ran a season-best 3:10.75.
Okezie came in third in the 200-meter dash with a season-best 21.54, and Ibadin came in seventh in the 500-meter run with a season-best 1:03.31.
Select student-athletes also competed in the Vince Brown Invitational hosted by Christopher Newport University on Saturday, and freshman Yolanda Springer came in second in the 60-meter hurdles (9.07).
Sophomore Maya Moore ran a 58.48 to finish second in the 400-meter dash, and junior Shalanda Grier was second in the triple jump with a mark of 10.94 meters (43 feet, 2.5 inches).
Freshman Amanda Delacruz was third in the mile run, running a 5:26.01.
Freshman Christoffe Scott turned in the Pirates’ best performance at CNU, coming in second in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.20. Freshman Andrae Green was third in the 400-meter dash with a 50.66.
The Pirates and Lady Pirates will be in Landover, Md. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday to compete in the 2014 MEAC Indoor Track & Field Championships.
Savannah State takes part In New York Armory Invitational
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Savannah State senior Jazy Seay-Blane led the men’s and women’s indoor track and field teams in the program’s first appearance at the prestigious New York Armory Invitational in New York City, N.Y. this weekend.
Seay-Blane ran a 56.46 in the 400 meter dash, finishing second overall. In the preliminaries for the 200 meter, Seay-Blane ran a 25.47, followed by Asia Stinson (26.09) and Aluntrea Davis (25.67).
On the men’s side, the SSU team of Justin Leggett, Cameron Hall, Antwuan Poole and Kenshard Hamilton finished second overall in the 4x200 meter relay with a time of 1:28.44.
In the 60 meter hurdles, semifinal race, Hall placed 9th with a time of 8.00. Poole ran 49.70 in the preliminaries of the 400 meter.
Hamilton finished in 22nd in the semifinal race of the 60 meter dash with a time of 6.95.
The Tigers conclude the 2014 indoor season with the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championship in Landover, Maryland on February 13.
The following SSU student-athletes have qualified for the MEAC championship: Jazy Seay-Blane, Asia Stinson, Rajeanna Jarrett, Jamie White, Alysia Potts, Kenshard Hamilton, Justin Leggett, Cameron Hall, Felton Chinn, and Timothy Jackson.