MEAC Indoor Track & Field Notes | National Rankings | MEAC Rankings


NORFOLK, Va., Jan. 15, 2020--All 11 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) track & field programs will be in action this weekend, looking to build on some standout performances already turned in so far this season.
 
On Friday, Bethune-Cookman, Morgan State, Norfolk State, North Carolina A&T State and South Carolina State will compete in South Carolina’s Gamecock Invite. Florida A&M will participate in the Samford Invitational, while Howard will be in the VMI Keydet Invitational.
 
Saturday will see Coppin State, Delaware State, Howard and Maryland Eastern Shore compete in the Maryland Invitational.

North Carolina Central will return to action in the JDL January Kickoff.
 
After this past weekend, the MEAC boasts six student-athletes who lead the nation in their respective events – three on the men’s side and three on the women’s side. After this past weekend’s action, North Carolina A&T State is well-represented in the national standings.
 
Randolph Ross made quite the impression in his collegiate debut, running a world-best 45.85 to win the 400 meters at the Jim Green Invitational in Lexington, Ky. Ross has almost a second and a half on the next-fastest time in the nation.
 
The Aggies’ Jaylan Mitchell leads the nation in the men’s 60 meters, thanks to the 6.61 he ran at Kentucky this past weekend, and the Aggies also boast the nation’s top 4x400-meter relay time at 3:06.06 and the second-best distance medley time at 10:00.08.
 
On the women’s side, NCAT sophomore Cambrea Sturgis continues to develop as one of the nation’s top sprinters, having set her personal best three times in the women’s 60 meters at Kentucky. She ran a 7.15 in the final to win the event and set the nation’s fastest time.
 
Paula Salmon, also of North Carolina A&T State, has the nation’s top 60-meter hurdle time for the women at 8.09 – just .01 seconds ahead of teammate Madeleine Akobundu.
 
The NCAT women’s 4x400-meter relay team is fourth in the nation.
 
Other Aggies in the national rankings include Akeem Sirleaf (tied for 12^th, men’s 400), Kemarni mighty (23^rd, men’s 400), Cedric McGriff (13^th, men’s 60-meter hurdles), Tori Ray (12^th, women’s 200) and Nia Lundy (ninth, women’s 400).
 
Norfolk State’s Kiara Grant has the nation’s top time in the women’s 200 meters, having turned in a 23.25 this past weekend in the Great Dane Invitational.
 
Her teammate Martha Bissah is nationally ranked in two events; she currently ranks second in the nation in the mile run and eighth in the 3,000 meters. Malika Pride currently sits 16^th in the nation in women’s 200 meters.
 
On the men’s side for the Spartans, Kai Cole is 23^rd in the 200 meters and Jacob Milton is tied for 24^th in the high jump (along with Morgan State’s Kobe-Jordan Rhooms).
 
Bethune-Cookman’s Kelton Williams is tied for 13^th in the men’s high jump.
 
Also for the Wildcats, Jordan Williams currently sits ninth in the nation in the men’s 400 meters and Monae Nichols is tied for 16^th in the women’s long jump.
 
Morgan State also has Keon Rantin ranked eighth nationally in the men’s 400 meters, Infinnatie Rowe ranked eighth in the women’s 800 meters and Brandon James 14^th in the men’s 800.
 
Coppin State has also broken into the national rankings, led by Aaron Lewis – who is tied for 18^th in the nation in the men’s 60-meter hurdles. Joseph Amoah is tied for 19^th in the men’s 400 and Theodore Westcarr is 20^th in the men’s 200.
 
Howard has the 20^th-best women’s distance medley time in the nation.
 
North Carolina Central’s Bhrandi Crenshaw and Maryland Eastern Shore’s Atinuke Shittu are tied for 23^rd in the nation in the women’s triple jump.
 
Ross was named MEAC Men’s Track Athlete of the Week for his outstanding performance this past weekend, while Sturgis and Grant shared the honor on the women’s side. Sturgis was also named National Women’s Athlete of the Week by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), the first Aggie to win that honor during the indoor season.
 
Delaware State’s Tre’ Johnson was named Men’s Field Athlete of the Week, while Coppin State’s Tre’J Johnson earned Women’s Field Athlete of the Week honors.