NORFOLK, Va. - South Carolina State's Tyrell Richard and North Carolina A&T State's Madeleine Akobundu were selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's (MEAC) Men's and Women's Track Athletes of the Week. Donterious Copeland, of Savannah State and Alantra Mines, of Morgan State, were named the MEAC Men's and Women's Field Athletes of the Week, the conference announced today.
Richard (Jr., Georgetown, S.C.) jumped out of the gates with a strong weekend which featured three first-place performances in his first meet of the season. His time of 21.16 won the 200-meter dash at the UNCG Early Bird Duals in Winston-Salem, N.C. while also winning first place in the 60-meter dash (6.83). He closed out the meet by helping the Bulldogs win the mile relay in a time of 3:21.44. Richard currently ranks first nationally in the 200 and 12th in the 60.
Copeland (Sr., Macon, Ga.) won the triple jump at the UNCG Early Bird Duals in Winston-Salem, N.C. last weekend. The senior warmed up with each jump as he posted the winning jump of 50-4 in his fifth attempt before passing on his final attempt. Copeland has the second-best mark nationally at this point of the season.
Akobundu (So., Lanham, Md.) won first place at the JDL College Kick-off Classic in a time of 8.35 in the 60-meter hurdles. She set a personal-best mark as her time ranks No. 1 nationally.
Mines (Fr., Doswell, Va.) made an early impression as she won the triple jump in her inaugural meet as a collegian. She shook off early butterflies as she posted the winning mark of 39-6.5 in her fourth attempt after three consecutive fouls.
OTHER TOP PERFORMERS
Annastacia Barham (MSU) finished second at the NAVY Lid-Lifter in the 400 in a time of 56.19, while placing third in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.80.
Martha Bissah (NSU) captured first place in the mile run at the Jack Pyrah Invitational and helped lead the mile relay to a fourth-place finish.
Cheyenne Brooks (FAMU) jumped 10-8 to place fifth overall in the pole vault at the BSC Panther Indoor Icebreaker.
Janoi Brown (MDES) set a new school record in his debut meet as a collegian, running the 300-meter dash in 35.60 seconds. The 300 toppled Gregory Thomas’ time of 35.70 seconds set back in 1981. Brown also ran the third leg of the sprint medley to a winning time of 3:34.60.
Sharnea Brown (NCCU) finished fourth in the triple jump with a mark of 36-10.25 at the UNCG Early Bird Duals.
Miaysha Bryant (NCCU) placed fourth in the 200 in a time of 25.78 at the UNCG Early Bird Duals.
Luan Gabriel (MDES) broke a 34-year-old record in the 300-meter dash, breaking Carol Galloway’s time of 40.36 seconds set back in 1983. Gabriel also ran the opening leg of the sprint medley, assisting to a winning time of 4:11.94.
Brianna Hayes (NSU) posted the top mark in the MEAC after winning the high jump (5-1) at the Jack Pyrah Invitational.
Lloyd Hilton (MSU) won the long jump with a length of 24-10.5 at the Navy Invitational Track and Field Meet.
Aaron Lewis (CSU) won the 60-meter hurdles at the Navy Invitational in a time of 7.95. He finished three-tenths off his own school-record which was set at last year's IC4A Championships.
Jacob Milton (NSU) jumped 7-0.5 at the Jack Pyrah Invitational to win the high jump.
Kyle Nottage (MDES) earned a pair of top five finishes (shot put, weight throw) in his collegiate debut at The College of New Jersey Open.
Keon Rantin (MSU) won the 400-meter dash in a time of 48.44 at the Navy Invitational Track and Field Meet.
Omega Smalls (NCCU) placed second (6-4.75) in the high jump at the UNCG Early Bird Duals.
David Too (FAMU) was the top collegiate finisher in the 3,000 as he placed third at the BSC Panther Indoor Icebreaker in a time of 8:23.32.
Breana Tyler (SCSU) won the long jump in a mark of 18-5.75 at the UNCG Early Bird Duals.