NORFOLK, Va., April 7, 2021—Florida A&M freshman Mario Ospina was named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Men’s Track Athlete of the Week, presented by Coca-Cola, the conference office announced today, while Norfolk State senior Martha Bissah was selected as Women’s Track Athlete of the Week. Howard sophomore Ezra Montiero was named Men’s Field Athlete of the Week, while North Carolina A&T State senior Loren James was named Women’s Field Athlete of the Week.
 
Ospina (Fr., Lake in the Hills, Ill.) completed the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 9:55.49 this past weekend at the Southern Miss Invitational, winning gold and setting the MEAC’s best time in that event. He is the first MEAC athlete to break the 10-minute mark in that event.
 
Bissah (Sr., Accra, Ghana) paced the field in the 1,500 meters at the Coastal Carolina Chanticleer Challenge, winning gold by running a MEAC-best 4:26.77. She was also on the 4x400-meter relay team that finished runner-up with a 3:43.58 – currently the third-fastest time in the conference.
 
Montiero (So., Newport, R.I.) was strong at the Towson Invitational, winning the javelin throw and coming in second in the hammer throw. His javelin mark of 42.28 meters (138 feet, 8 inches) is second-best in the MEAC, and he is the conference’s best at the hammer throw. This past weekend saw him go 47.60 meters (156 feet, 2 inches) in that event.
 
James (Sr., Baton Rouge, La.) won the shot put this past weekend at the High Point VertKlasse Meet with a distance of 14.93 meters (48 feet, 11.75 inches). She is the best shot putter in the MEAC.
 
Other Top Performers
Latifa Ali (Coppin State) was second in the long jump at the Towson Invitational at 5.84 meters (19 feet, 2 inches).
 
Emperor Campbell (Delaware State) won the discus throw at Towson with a mark of 45.66 meters (149 feet, 10 inches).
 
Tayshaun Chisolm (Delaware State) won his debut event this past weekend at the Towson Invitational, turning in a 14.08 in the 110-meter hurdles.
 
Pache’ Caldwell (Florida A&M) leaped 7.06 meters (23 feet, 2 inches) to win the long jump at the Southern Miss Invitational.
 
Ajani Williams (Florida A&M) won the 400 meters at the Southern Miss Invitational, running a 56.32.
 
Brandon James (Morgan State) won the 100 meters (10.69) and 200 meters (21.82) at the Towson Invitational.
 
Trequan Barnes (Norfolk State) ran a PR 21.17 in winning the 200 meters at the Chanticleer Challenge.
 
Arieana Parker (Norfolk State) was third in the hammer throw at Coastal Carolina with a personal-best mark of 44.94 meters (147 feet, 5 inches).
 
Azad Williams (Norfolk State) was third in the shot put at Coastal Carolina with a mark of 15.39 meters (50 feet, 6 inches).
 
Akeem Lindo (North Carolina A&T State) ran a 52.60 to win the 400-meter hurdles at High Point.
 
Aisha Southern (North Carolina A&T State) won the 100 meters (12.01) and 200 meters (24.78) at High Point.
 
Bhrandi Crenshaw (North Carolina Central) won the triple jump at the High Point VertKlasse Meet, leaping 11.94 meters (39 feet, 2.25 inches).
 
Marvin Jones (North Carolina Central) leaped 1.99 meters (6 feet, 6.25 inches) to win the high jump at the High Point VertKlasse Meet.