GREENSBORO, N.C. - At the end of day one of the 2018 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Outdoor Track & Field Championships, the Florida A&M women and Norfolk State men hold the team leads at Irwin Belk Track.
The first title of the meet came from Delaware State’s Robert Duncan, who took gold in the men’s discus throw with a MEAC-best mark of 168 feet, six inches (51.36 meters).
Taylor Gorum of Florida A&M set a new MEAC outdoor record in winning the women’s discus throw, tossing the implement 169 feet, seven inches (51.69 meters). She snapped a mark that had stood since 1990 (Tiffany Daughtry, FAMU, 51.09 meters).
Bethune-Cookman’s Quamecha Morrison won the women’s high jump with a distance of five feet, 9.75 inches (1.77 meters).
Norfolk State’s Jacob Milton defended his title in the men’s high jump, winning gold with a mark of seven feet, one inch (2.16 meters). Teammate Garth Warner was second after clearing six feet, 11 inches (2.11 meters).
Hampton’s Janet Okeago defended her title in the women’s 10,000-meter run, clocking in at a MEAC-best 36:46.51.
Wesley Kirui, also of Hampton, won the men’s 10,000-meter run in 31:29.27.
After four events in the women’s heptathlon, Hampton’s Kaitlin Scott leads with 3,148 points. Ed’Quisha Alvin of Florida A&M sits second with 3,126 points, and Bethune-Cookman’s Tiara Williams racked up 3,080 points to sit third.
Williams won the 100-meter hurdles and 200-meter dash events on Thursday, while Alvin took the shot put.
Midway through the men’s decathlon, Hampton’s Jerrick Powell leads the way with 4,383 points. Bethune-Cookman’s JaQuaveon Beachem is second with 3,665 points, while Desmond Lindsay of Hampton sits third with 3,594 points.
Powell won the 100-meter dash, long jump, shot put and 400-meter dash events, while finishing second in the high jump to open a sizeable gap.
Kayla White posted the top time in the preliminaries of the women’s 200-meter dash on Thursday, winning her heat with a time of 23.21, which ranks second in the conference. Teammate India Brown, the defending champion in the event, ran a 23.50 to post the second-fastest time.
In the men’s 200-meter dash, South Carolina State’s Tyrell Richard posted the fastest time, winning his preliminary heat with a 20.57 – the second-fastest time in the MEAC this season.
Howard’s Uchechi Onuoha posted the top time in the women’s 400-meter hurdles with a 58.37, the fastest time in the MEAC this season, in the preliminary heats. She is the defending outdoor champion in this event.
In the men’s 400-meter hurdles, Jaelen Williams (50.90) and Stanley Davis (52.04) posted the top two times in the preliminary heats, each winning their respective races. Williams won the MEAC title in the men’s 400-meter hurdles last year.
After one day of competition, Florida A&M leads the women’s team standings with 50.5 points. Hampton is second with 22 points, and Bethune-Cookman sits in third with 20.5.
On the men’s side, Norfolk State holds the team lead with 29 points, with Bethune-Cookman in second with 22 points. Morgan State sits third with 21 points, followed by Hampton (15), Florida A&M (13) and Delaware State (10).
Friday’s action starts at 9 a.m. with the conclusion of the women’s heptathlon and men’s decathlon.
At 1 p.m. on Friday, the MEAC will hold a ceremony to recognize 10 student-athletes who are missing their graduation ceremonies to compete in the 2018 Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The ceremony will be streamed live via the
MEAC's Facebook Page.
For more on the 2018 MEAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, please visit
Championship Central.