Thursday, March 7, 2013

XU's Rolland, Jackson and Kennie collect GCAC awards

Devinn Rolland

Devinn Rolland
Zahri Jackson

Zahri Jackson
Christopher Kennie

Christopher Kennie

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Devinn Rolland, Zahri Jackson and Christopher Kennie are the first Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Athletes of the Week in outdoor track and field for the spring 2013 semester.

Rolland, a sophomore from Harvey, La., and a graduate of Cabrini High School, won the women's field award after qualifying Saturday for the NAIA National Championships in Xavier's first meet of the season, the Tulane Team Challenge at Tad Gormley Stadium. She long-jumped 5.66 meters (18 feet, 7 inches) to meet the NAIA's A-standard and finish second out of eight competitors. She also ran anchor on Xavier's 400-meter relay team which finished second in 49.83 seconds.

Jackson, a sophomore from Kingwood, Texas, and a graduate of Kingwood Park High School, won the women's track award after running 1,500 meters in 4 minutes, 48.71 seconds at the Tulane meet to finish first in a field of 11. Winning GCAC awards is nothing new for Jackson, who shares the conference's women's cross country record with eight awards.

Kennie, a freshman from New Orleans and a graduate of Holy Cross High School, won the men's field award after long-jumping 6.88 meters (22 feet, 7 inches) and finishing first at Tulane in his collegiate debut. Kennie also triple-jumped 12.54 meters (41 feet, 1¾ inches) to place second. His mark in the long jump was better than the winning mark at the 2012 GCAC Championships.

Xavier's women and men will compete Saturday in the McNeese Cowboy Relays at Lake Charles, La. Xavier will play host to the GCAC Championships on April 13 at Tad Gormley.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
XULAATHLETICS

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