GAINESVILLE, Fla. -Savannah State competed in the annual University of Florida "Gator" Invitational this week, leaving Gainesville with six top five finishes and another school record.

Savannah State sophomore Asia Stinson broke the school record for the women's 55 meter dash last week at the University of Alabama Birmingham Blazer Invitational with a time of 7.57.

Thursday, Stinson demolished that record at the Gator Invite with a time of 7.01 in the preliminaries of the 55 meter dash. Stinson finished third overall in the finals with a time of 7.07. Teammate Jade Bentley finished 16th in the 55m with a time of 7.56.

Stinson also garnered a third place finish in the women's 200m dash with a time of 25.22. SSU newcomer Brittany Ivory finished with a time of 26.62 in 18^th place.

Senior Aleah Hordges finished fourth in the 400 meter dash with a time of 57.81. Jazy Seay-Blane finished the 400m with a time of 59.77 and a 10^th place finish, followed by teammate Chavonta Roberts in 11^th with a time of 1:00.56.

Newcomer Mariah Davis finished the one mile run with a time of 5:36.82.  SSU freshman, Ndidi Doe led the Lady Tigers in the 55 meter hurdles with a third place finish and a time of 8.47.

The SSU relay team of Hordges, Roberts, Seay-Blane, and Ivory finished fifth in the 4x400 with a time of 3:56.15. The team of Diamond Rogers, Bentley, Doe, and Davis garnered an 11^th place finish in the 4x400 with a time of 4:07.92.

In the field, Doe led the Lady Tigers in the long jump with a distance of 5.05m/16-7. In the triple jump Jaymi White finished second with a distance of 11.53m/37-10, followed by teammate Chanita Taylor who finished in fourth with a jump of 11.34m/37-2.5.  Rajeanne Jarrett finished eighth in the event with a jump of 10.88m/35-8.5.

Alexandrea Childs finished 17^th in the shot put with a distance of 9.95m/32-7.75.

For the complete story, visit www.ssuathletics.com

ADDISON LEADS ALL EAGLES AT VIRGINIA TECH INDOOR TRACK INVITATIONAL 

BLACKSBURG, VA. - North Carolina Central junior Brandon Addison earned a first-place finish in the men's 400-meter dash with a time of 49.18 seconds at the Virginia Tech Indoor Track & Field Invitational, hosted by Virginia Tech University on Jan. 18-19. 

In addition to Addison's top-place finish, NCCU freshman Joshua McClam recorded two top-10 performances, finishing fifth in the long jump with a distance of 7.05m (23-01.75) and seventh in the triple jump at 13.59m (44-07.00).

NCCU senior Willie Calvin rounded out the top-10 in the long jump, finishing 10th with a jump of 6.87m (22-06.50).

Sophomore Amber Brooks led the Lady Eagles with a sixth-place finish in the 800m run with a time of 2:20.37. In addition, senior Taisha Parkins and sophomore Syrita Hunt finished in the top-15 with the times of 2:25.03 and 2:26.05, respectively. 

The Lady Eagles also enjoyed other top finishes during the invitational. Senior Jasmine Wanamaker finished eighth in the 60m hurdles (9.18 seconds) and the second 4x400m relay team finished eighth with a time of 3:57.84, consisting of runners Delesha Conquest, Christa Landy, Anthonia Ballard, and Wanamaker.

For the complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com

Morgan State Competes at Great Dane Classic

MANHATTAN, N.Y. -- Morgan State returned to action on Friday and placed 15th in the UAlbany Great Dane Classic held at the New Balance Track & Field Center at the Armory.

Connecticut won the event with 126.5 points, while host Albany took second with 82 points and Villanova came in third with 71 points.

The Bears finished the day with four top-10 finishes, including two top-five finishers.

Morgan State once again had a solid showing in the field events. Emmanuel Stewart came in fourth in the weight throw with an IC4A/ECAC qualifying throw of 18.18m. Jefferson Butler also had an IC4A/ECAC qualifying throw in the shot put by recording a fifth place toss with a 15.74m.

For the complete story, visit www.morganstatebears.com

Tigers Finish Strong In Gator Invitational

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -Savannah State finished in the top of the field at the annual University Florida "Gator" Invitational Thursday morning in Gainesville, Florida.

The Tigers garnered five top five finishes in12 events. SSU was one of 15 teams competing in the invite, including two other Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) teams.

Leading the men in the 55 meter dash was newcomer Kenshard Hamilton who finished third with a time of 6:46. Teammate Darrius Baker finished the 55m in sixth place with a time of 6.55.  Hamilton finished ninth in the 200m dash, as well, with a time of 23.09.

SSU sophomore Lemaar Shakir led the Tigers in the 400m with a time of 50.94, and a ninth place finish. Savannah State newcomer Brandon Davis finished with a time of 52.95, while teammate Felton Chinn finished with a 53.99.

In the men's 800m run, newcomer Llorr Robinson finished with a time of 2:06.04 in 17th place. Kristopher Ballou finished eighth in the 1 mile run with a time of 4:37.07, while Derrick Bell garnered 10th place in the 3000m run with a time of 9:40.02.

SSU sophomore Cameron Hall finished the 55 meter hurdles with a time of 7.49 and a fourth place finish. Hall qualified with a time of 7.61.

The team of Hall, Shakir, Baker, and Davis captured a third place finish in the men's 4x400 relay with a time of 3:21.37.

In the field, Dolphrus Hayes garnered an 11th place finish with a distance of 4.30m/14-1.25 in the pole vault competition.

For the complete story, visit www.ssuathletics.com

Butler, Boateng Pace MSU At Terrapins Invitational

LANDOVER, Md. -- Morgan State was in action on Saturday at the Terrapins Invitational held at the Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex in Landover, Md.

The Bears finished the day with 13 top-10 finishes, including four top-five finishers.

Jefferson Butler captured first place in the shot put with an IC4A qualifying toss of 15.72m. Emmanuel Stewart came in second place in the weight throw with a toss of 18.30m.

Christian Boateng finished eighth with a time of 7.17 in the 60 meter dash. He also finished in  4th place finish in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.24, while teammate Aaron Strums finished 8th at 8.47. 

Wesley Redfearn and Evan Johnson placed 5th (52.19) and 8th (52.59) in the 400 meter dash respectively.

Hall, Hayes Lead SSU At Wake Forest Invite

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - In Savannah State's second meet this week, sophomore Cameron Hall and freshman Dolphrus Hayes led the men's track and field team in several top finishes at the Wake Forest Invitational in Winston-Salem, North Carolina Saturday.

Hall garnered a second place finish in the men's 60 meter hurdles with a time of eight minutes flat - a personal best record - after qualifying with a time of 8.20. Teammate Felton Chinn finished sixth with an 8.57, followed by Lemaar Shakir with an 8.62. After three events, Hall is ranked third in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) for the 60m hurdles.

Hayes finished second in the pole vault with a distance of 4.40m/14-5.25. This season marks the first time in Savannah State Division I history (2002), the school has fielded a pole vault competitor. Hayes is ranked second in the MEAC for pole vaulting after three events.

Another freshman led SSU in the 60 meter dash. Kenshard Hamilton garnered a fifth place finish in the event with a time of 6.97. Hamilton qualified with a time of 7.02.

In the 200m dash, Darrius Baker led the Tigers with an 8^th place finish and a time of 22.77, followed by Gregory Terrell with a time of 22.81 for 10^th place.

For the complete story, visit www.ssuathletics.com

Lady Tigers Compete In Wake Forest Invite

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -  The Savannah State women's track and field team garnered several top finishes in their second meet of the week Saturday at the Wake Forest Invitational in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Leading the Lady Tigers was sophomore Asia Stinson who finished the 55 meter dash with a time of 7.56 and second place overall finish. Stinson set the school record in the 55m Thursday while competing at the University of Florida 'Gator' Invitational with a time of 7.07.

Following Stinson in the 55m dash, Jaymi White finished seventh with time of 7.86, followed by teammate Brittany Ivory with a time of 7.93.

Stinson also garnered a second place finish in the 200 meter dash with a time of 25.40. Teammate Jade Bentley finished in seventh with a time of 26.01.

SSU senior Aleah Hordges led the Lady Tigers in the 400m dash with a second place finish and a time of 58.36. Chavonta Roberts finished seconds behind her teammate in third place with a time of 58.43. Jazy Seay-Blane rounded out the Lady Tigers with a time of 58.46 and a fifth place finish.

For the complete story, visit www.ssuathletics.com 

 

Howell, Bell Pace Spartan Women at Captains Invitational

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Freshman Kiara Howell notched her second shot put victory in three meets and Champagne Bell took a long jump title in her second straight competition to highlight the NSU women's track team's weekend at the Captains Invitational hosted by Christopher Newport University at the Freeman Center.

Howell, who began her NSU career with a first-place finish in the shot put at the CNU Holiday Invitational last month, earned another win at CNU on Sunday. Her best effort was 46 feet, 2 inches. She also posted a new season-best toss of 48-2.5 in the weight throw, taking second place.

Bell won the long jump Sunday (18-7.25) just two weeks after doing likewise at Penn State. That was part of a busy day for Bell on Sunday, as she also was third in the 400 meters (59.11 seconds) and ran a leg on NSU's third-place 4x400 meter relay team (season-best 3:56.48). Bell was joined by Ra'Shaun Combs, Torie Cunningham and Kaydianne McKenzie on the relay.

In other running events, Cunningham and teammate Brittney McCants placed 2-3 in the 200 meters. Cunningham was second in her heat in 25.41 seconds, while McCants won hers in 25.51.

In the 60 meters, sophomore Qua'Nesha Wallace posted a new PR of 7.68 seconds to finish fourth in that event. In distance events, senior Jamia Hutto was fourth in the 3,000 meters and freshman Rachel Webb was fourth in the 5,000.

For the complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com

Meseret, James Take Event Titles for NSU Men at CNU

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Junior Nathnael Meseret set a new personal-best in winning the mile run and senior John James claimed a victory in the high jump for the Norfolk State men's track team on Sunday afternoon at the CNU Captains Invitational at the Freeman Center.

Meseret cruised to a win in the mile, crossing the finish line in 4 minutes, 16.14 seconds. He finished more than seven seconds ahead of runner-up David Waterman (4:23.88).

Meseret was also the top collegiate finisher in the 3,000 meters, finishing ahead of two post-graduate runners. Meseret was third overall in 8:50.69, while teammate Damtew Adnew was right behind in 8:51.45. They led five Spartans who placed in the top nine in that event.

James had the top performance in field events for the Spartans on Sunday. He won the high jump with a top clearance of 6 feet, 10.75 inches. In other field events, freshman Jamarian Bates was runner-up in the triple jump with a top leap of 44-2 and sophomore Michael Mingo-Dabney placed fifth in the weight throw (48-0.5).

For the complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com 

Strong Weekend For Hampton Track At CNU Invite


NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -Hampton's men's and women's track & field teams were strong Saturday and Sunday at the Christopher Newport Captains Invitational, held on the Vince Brown Track at the Freeman Center.

Both squads combined to win 13 events over the weekend, with the Lady Pirates taking nine and the Pirates winning four.

Junior Breana Norman took home two events for the Lady Pirates, winning the 60-meter hurdles with an 8.54, while also taking the high jump with a mark of 1.75 meters (five feet, 8.25 inches).

The Lady Pirates also swept the relay events, taking gold in the 4x400-meter relay with a time of 3:51.26 and winning the distance medley after turning in a 12:41.05. Seniors Shantae Boney and Benita Taylor were both on the 4x400 squad, on top of their individual success.

Boney took the 400-meter dash with a time of 56.38, while Taylor won the 800-meter run after clocking in at 2:12.74.

Junior Devyn Thompson, who anchored the distance medley team, also won the 5,000-meter run with a time of 19:04.42. Sophomore Le'Quisha Parker won the 200-meter dash with a 24.95.

Senior Shaquanda Gainey won the pentathlon with 3,458 points. She won the shot put and long jump portions of the pentathlon, and never finished worse than fifth in an event.

Sophomore Chidi Okezie and junior Je'Von Hutchison shined for the Pirates, as both athletes were on the 4x400-meter relay team that won gold with a time of 3:22.98 and each won individual events.

Okezie won the 400-meter dash with a 49.04, while Hutchison took the 800-meter run with a 1:55.45.

For the complete story, visit www.hamptonpirates.com