St. Aug Defends Titles at CIAA Indoor Track & Field Championships

2014 CIAA Indoor Track & Field Championships Men's 800m Finals

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- Saint Augustine’s University successfully defended its men’s and women’s titles at the 2014 CIAA Indoor Track & Field Championships held at the JDL Fast Track on Sunday, February 16 and Monday, February 17.

The Falcons picked up their 18th straight league crown and 29th overall. The Lady Falcons captured their second crown in a row and 18th in 19 seasons. Overall, the Falcons and Lady Falcons have amassed over 150 CIAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships and 33 NCAA Division II Titles under legendary Head Coach George Williams.

"The ladies championship was very unexpected but I knew the guys would be strong since they were coming off a national championship", said Williams just before the awards ceremony.  "The ladies came in, stepped up and did the job.  This is a new, really young group that I have and they performed well and that makes me feel  good."

This year, the Falcons flew past the competition by a 95-point margin, outdistancing second place Virginia Union, 194-99.  Virginia State finished third (72 points) followed by Johnson C Smith, Lincoln, Bowie State and Livingstone.

SAU finished first in 10 events including 1-2 finishes in the 200m dash, 60m hurdles and a 1-2-3 finish in the 800m run.

The Falcon squad was so successful that three men from SAU tied for Most Valuable Field Performer.  DeJon Wilkinson, David Shaw and JaQuan Demiel finished the meet with the same individual point totals.

Virginia Union's Franck Charles was the Most Valuable Track Performer.

St. Aug's women (117 points) fought off challenges from Virginia State (90 points) Johnson C. Smith (87 points) and Winston-Salem State (81.5 points) to defend their title.  The Lady Falcons finished first in only the 4X400m relay but consistently placed second or third in nearly every other event.
Winston-Salem State's Tajanel McNeil was named MVP of field events after she won four titles.  Virginia State's Hughnique Rolle finished first in the 3000m run, mile run and 800m run to earn Most Valuable Track Performer honors.

COURTESY THECIAA.COM