NORFOLK, Va., April 20, 2022—Norfolk State junior Anthony Franklin was named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Men’s Track Athlete of the Week, presented by Coca-Cola, and Howard sophomore Kaya-Rae Dunbar was selected as Women’s Track Athlete of the Week, the conference office announced today. Morgan State senior Kobe-Jordan Rhooms was named Men’s Field Athlete of the Week, while Howard junior Minyarn Smalls earned Women’s Field Athlete of the Week honors.
Franklin (Jr., Lexington, Ky.) ranks top three in the MEAC in the 100 and 200 meters after stellar performances this past weekend at the Norfolk State Invitational. He won the 200 with a 20.99, which ranks second in the conference, and he came in third in the 100 with a 10.29 – which is the third-fastest time in the event in the MEAC so far this season.
Dunbar (So., Burtonsville, Md.) ranks 33rd in the nation in the 100-meter hurdles after winning the event this past weekend at the Norfolk State Invitational. In claiming the gold medal, Dunbar ran a MEAC-best 13.32.
Rhooms (Sr., Montego Bay, Jamaica) ranks No. 1 in the MEAC and No. 29 in the nation in the triple jump after leaping 15.63 meters (51 feet, 3.5 inches) in winning the event this past weekend at the Norfolk State Invitational. He was also strong in the long jump, recording a mark of 6.82 meters (22 feet, 4.5 inches)
Smalls (Jr., Cary, N.C.) set a pair of MEAC bests over the weekend at the Norfolk State Invitational, winning the heptathlon with a conference-best 4,696 points. She won all five events at the meet, and her 36.82-meter (120 feet, 10 inches) mark in the javelin throw also leads the MEAC.
Other Top Performers
Latifa Ali (Coppin State) came in second in the 100 meters (11.68) and third in the 200 meters (23.68) at the Norfolk State Invitational.
Joseph Manu (Coppin State) won the 100 meters (10.27) and came in third in the 200 meters (21.16) at the Norfolk State Invitational.
Annalise Bond (Delaware State) cleared 3.05 meters to finish third in the pole vault at the Norfolk State Invitational.
Tayshaun Chisholm (Delaware State) won the 110-meter hurdles at Norfolk State, ranking second in the MEAC with a 14.02.
Catherine Glenn (Delaware State) ran a 13.90 to come in second in the 100-meter hurdles at Norfolk State, ranking second in the conference.
Tyrell Martin (Delaware State) recorded a distance of 15.91 meters in the shot put at Norfolk State to win the event and rank second in the MEAC.
Ezra Monteiro (Howard) tossed the hammer a school-record and personal-best 53.66 meters to win the event at the Norfolk State Invitational.
Corinthians Payne (Howard) leads the MEAC in the 400-meter hurdles after coming in second with a 52.75 at the Norfolk State Invitational.
Janoi Brown (Maryland Eastern Shore) won the 400 meters at Norfolk State with a time of 47.68.
Spencer Settle (Maryland Eastern Shore) was second in the 400-meter hurdles at Norfolk State, after running a personal-best 1:01.43.
Atinuke Shittu (Maryland Eastern Shore) won the triple jump at the Norfolk State Invitational, leaping 12.10 meters.
Rachel Field (Morgan State) leads the MEAC in the 3,000-meter steeplechase after running an 11:59.58 this past weekend.
Johnelle Johnson (Morgan State) recorded a personal best in the discus throw at Norfolk State at 47.33 meters.
Tynniesia Wilson (Norfolk State) won the high jump at the Norfolk State Invitational with a personal-best leap of 1.64 meters.
Jada Banks (South Carolina State) ran a MEAC-best 4:46.32 to come in fourth in the 1,500 meters at the Gamecock Invitational.
Dexter Ratliff (South Carolina State) came in fifth in the discus at the Gamecock Invitational with a distance of 49.25 meters.
Waddell Rembert-Jett (South Carolina State) came in third in the 100 meters (10.44) and 4x100-meter relay (39.54) at the Gamecock Invitational.