UMES opens indoor season strong
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. — Breaking in a brand new season at home, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) track & field team got off to a positive start during the College Lid-Lifter at the Hytche Center Saturday. Several Hawks made impressive debuts, while others soared to new heights as they embarked on another year.
The event started with the women’s weight throw and immediately two players made their hard offseason work pay off. Sophomore Regyn Davis-Young came in first with a new collegiate best of 14.59 meters, and senior Donisha Porter also earned a collegiate high 14.42 meters while coming in second. In the men’s edition, senior Rico Duncan won with a toss of 16.17 meters.
In the shot put, the women’s team earned a trifecta, with Porter winning at 13.38 meters, followed by Davis-Young at 12.60 meters and sophomore Nicovia Carter at 12.02 meters. Just like in the weight throw, Davis-Young’s throw stands as a new top mark for her as a collegian.
Duncan then edged out a Coppin State thrower to win the men’s shot put with a distance of 13.79 meters.
On the track, UMES made their first great strides in the mile, picking up right where they left off at the end of the Hawks’ excellent cross country season. Junior Jennaya Hield finished with a 5:26.86 mark to win the women’s mile and fellow junior Khalil Rmidi Kinini narrowly missed his own school record by winning the mile with a 4:13.78. His best mark in the event—4:13.04—seems destined to be replaced by a new school record this season.
In his debut as a Hawk, freshman Jalen Walker won the men’s 400 dash with a time of 51.68 seconds, along with a time of 22.90 seconds to take second place in the 200 dash. Fellow first year Hawks in freshman Jordan Leon and sophomore Donovan Mundy (Jacksonville, Fla.) continued their strong seasons with a one-two punch in the 800 meter run. Leon’s time of 1:58.00 gave him the victory.
A couple of other top women’s performances include freshman Yaminah Smith and her victory in the 3000 meter run with a time of 11:15.64 and freshman Luan Gabriel, who secured a second place time of 26.37 seconds.
The Hawk jumpers nearly swept that portion of the meet, with three Hawks—juniors Shauntel Lucius and Naje Benton and sophomore Tanise Edwards —all collecting victories on Saturday. Lucius won the triple jump with a distance of 11.85 meters while Edwards won the long jump at 5.49 meters, a new collegiate best for the sophomore. Benton took both events on the men’s side with a distance of 14.71 meters in the triple jump and a new top mark of 7.29 meters in the long jump.
However, the team saved their final thrills for the relay races at the end of the day. The ladies’ team of sophomore Dypna Umunakwe, Gabriel, and freshmen Alicia Colson and Lenneisha Gilbert battled hard against four other teams and gutted out a second place finish at 4:01.12.
Then came the men’s turn to run the race that would complete the day, and the Hawks’ quartet ended the meet on a high note. Freshman Michael Rollins and Mundy got the team off to a good start but a Delaware State team ran neck-and-neck with them. When Walker got passed on the third leg, the steady freshman was unfazed and handed the baton to Leon in a close second. The sophomore ran the final leg with reckless abandon, ultimately passing the Hornets runner in the home stretch to seal a win and a time of 3:26.28.
After a month of training, the Hawks will resume the indoor season in January.
For complete story, visit www.umeshawks.com
Brown wins two titles at NCU Holiday Open
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Ce’aira Brown opened the 2015-16 season by winning two event titles at the CNU Holiday Open, which was held on Saturday at the Freeman Center on the campus of Christopher Newport University.
Brown won the mile run with a time of 5:03.33, and she was also on the 4x400-meter relay squad that took gold with a time of 3:50.37.
Erin Morris, Kristian Young, and Tanisha Greene were also on that relay team.
Lauren Lyons came in second in the 400-meter dash after turning in a 59.56, and Siobhan Ford-Holland was third in the 200-meter dash with a time of 26.43. Kaitlin Scott’s 26.53 allowed her to come in fourth in that race.
Three Lady Pirates came in the top 10 of the 600-meter run, led by Greene’s 1:37.01 to finish fourth.
Kylie McMillan was fourth in the 60-meter hurdles after running a 9.05. Scott also ran a 9.05, ranking fifth.
The Lady Pirates were fourth in the Div. I team standings with 75 points. William & Mary, with 142 points, won the Div. I team title.
Sulaiman Fareed was also at the CNU Holiday Open, throwing the shot put 15.87 meters (52 feet, one inch) to come in second.
Most of the men’s track & field team competed in the Navy Invitational in Annapolis, Md. on Saturday, with Jasper Savoy bringing home gold in the 200-meter dash after turning in a 21.88.
Trey Holloway ran the same time to come in second. He also finished third in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.19; Ramoye Simon was second after running an 8.14.
Simon was also sixth in the 200-meter dash with a 22.72.
Savoy was second in the 60-meter dash after turning in a 6.93.
The Pirates were third in the 4x400-meter relay, with the foursome of Chace Washington-Saunders, Brenen Garrett, Seth Raines, and Rayon Black turning in a 3:20.88.
Jerrick Powell and Stanley Davis each finished sixth in their respective events; Powell ran a 50.08 in the 400-meter dash and Davis turned in a 1:56.23 in the 800-meter run.
Hampton track & field will return to action after the New Year, competing in the Father Diamond Invitational on Jan. 9.
For complete story, visit www.hamptonpirates.com
Hornets Open Season on a High Note at UMES’s Lid-Lifter College Open
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – The Delaware State track & field program – under the direction of first-year head coach Damion Drummond – opened the indoor portion of its 2015-16 season with numerous Hornets registering top finishes in Saturday’s UMES Lid-Lifter College Open.
On the women’s side, Trameceia Sample won the 60-Meter Dash with a time of 7.83, in addition to coming out on top in the 200-Meter Dash with a time of 26.20. Deja Johnson, meanwhile, finished first (9.42) in the 60-Meter Hurdles, whereas Leandra Nyemeck (1:00.68), Vanessa Whittingham (1:00.84) and Tiffany Woods (1:01.50) placed in the top three in the 400-Meter Dash, respectively.
For Omealla Gordon, she won the 500-Meter Dash with a time of 1:17.45, while Erin Cooper took home the crown in the 800-Meter Run with a time of 2:31.84. In relay action, the quartet of Johnson, Gordon, Nyemeck and Rayanna Relerford won the 4x400-Meter event, crossing the finish line at 3:57.57 ahead of UMES and District of Columbia.
On the men’s side, Charles Wulff-Cochrane opened his senior season by winning the 60-Meter Hurdles (8.57) and 500-Meter Dash (1:05.78), whereas Joseph Crenshaw crossed the finish line at 7.03 to place first in the 60-Meter Dash. Crenshaw also managed to take first in the 200-Meter Dash with a time of 22.55. Rounding out Saturday’s outing for the men was the team of Crenshaw, Wulff-Cochrane, Emanuel Hitch and Krystofer Ringgold placing second (3:27.31) in the 4x400-Meter Relay event.
Coming up, the Columbia Blue & Red will return to action on Jan. 15 with the Spartan Regional Review in Staten Island, N.Y.
For complete story, visit www.dsuhornets.com
Howell Captures 60 Meter Title, Bears Record Solid Performances at Navy Invite
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Morgan State men's indoor track & field team opened the 2015-16 season Saturday at the Navy Winter Invitational at the Wesley A. Brown Field House.
The Bears had 16 individual top-10 performances and was led by standout sprinter Deyvon Howell.
Howell, a sophomore from Bryans, Md., led Morgan State by capturing the 60-meter dash in a personal best time of 6.91. He also clocked in at 22.15 to post a third place finish in the 200-meter dash.
In the 60m hurdles, Wilfred Asamoah placed fourth in a time of 8.35, and Devon Hairston finished in sixth (8.50).
Lloyd Hylton finished as the runner-up in the long jump after traveling 7.06m, while teammate Christopher Simon placed third with a mark of 6.92m.
Onyx Johnson finished in third place in the 800m run with a time of 1:55.95, and Donovan St. Louis and Akhenaton Pierre placed eighth (50.64) and ninth (50.68), respectively in the 400m.
The Bears relay foursome of Pierre, Stephen Varella, Evan Johnson and St. Louis in second place by crossing the tape in a time of 3:19.75 just behind Navy (3:17.12).
Morgan State returns to action after the New Year when they travel to compete in the Villanova Open on Friday, January 8th.
For complete story, visit www.morganstatebears.com
Rattler Men Finish Fourth, Women Seventh At Birmingham Indoor Opener
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The FAMU Men’s Indoor Track Team scored an impressive fourth place finish in their season-opening appearance here Friday at the Birmingham Southern College Icebreakers Meet at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
Veteran Dennis Pugh scored three Top 10 finishes, running second in the 60 meter hurdles; running on the third place 4x400 relay team, while placing ninth in the 200 meters.
Mehki McGuyver scored the one Rattler first on the day, winning the triple jump; Dennis McGee placed second in the shot put and fifth in the weight throw; Jocari Beattie was third in the high jump; Jamari Smith was fourth in the 400; Michael Poole was fifth in the long jump; Isaiah Smith ran seventh in the 800.
The Florida A&M women’s track team made a splashy Indoor debut here Friday, piling up 17 Top 10 finishes in the Birmingham Southern College Icebreaker Meet at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
Leading the way for FAMU was sophomore Judith Kibii finished second in the 3000, and ninth in the mile run; Jharna Alston, who was fourth in the 200 meters; Benisha Johnson who placed fifth in the weight throw, Christina Moodie who ran fourth in the 400, and Andrea Aaron, who finished fifth in the shot put.
Also scoring Top 10 finishes were Zakirra McKinnon, who ran sixth in the 60 meter hurdles; Ashley Giacommucci, who finished seventh in the triple jump, and Destiny Johnson, who ran eighth in the 800 meters.
For complete story, visit www.famuathletics.com