Gold Nuggets seek third straight GCAC outdoor championship

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana will seek a third consecutive Gulf Coast Athletic Conference team championship in women's outdoor track and field Saturday.

The GCAC Championships for women and men will start at 8:30 a.m. at Tad Gormley Stadium in New Orleans. It's a one-day meet. The final event, the 1,600-meter relay, will begin at 4:45 p.m. Team awards will be presented at 5:15 p.m. Admission is free.

Xavier won the women's team championship by 45 points over runner-up Dillard a year ago and by nine points over Edward Waters in 2013. The Gold Nuggets also won GCAC team titles in 2011 and 2004.

Nuggets senior Devinn Rolland seeks her fourth consecutive GCAC titles in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and the long jump. Teammate Catherine Fakler will try to win a fourth straight conference title in the 1,500 and her third in a row in the 5,000 and 3,000 steeplechase. Kwame Jackson is a three-time men's champion in the 5,000.

Xavier has the GCAC's top mark this season in five women's events: Rolland in the 200 (24.93), Fakler in the 1,500 (4:51.07) and 5,000 (18:54.34), Drew Chatters in the javelin (119 feet, 10 inches) and the 400 relay team of Chelsea James, Destini Thomas, Clarke Allen and Rolland (47.97).

In the men's events, Xavier leads the GCAC in five events: Joseph Moses III in the 100 (10.65) and 200 (21.60), Christopher August in the 1,500 (4:11.93), Alex Xavier in the 110 high hurdles (14.65) and Christopher Kennie in the long jump (21-0 3/4).

The meet schedule:

Field Events
8:30 a.m.: Men's Hammer (women to follow) - outside stadium
9 a.m.: Men's High Jump (women to follow)
9 a.m.: Women's Long Jump (men to follow)
10 a.m.: Women Pole Vault (men to follow)
11 a.m.: Women's Shot Put (men to follow) - inside stadium
11 a.m.: Men's Javelin (women to follow) - outside stadium
1:40 p.m.: Men's Discus (women to follow)
1:40 p.m.: Women's Triple Jump (men to follow)

Track Events (in meters)
9:30 a.m.: 3,000 Steeplechase W/M
11 a.m.: 400 Relay W/M
11:20 a.m.: 1,500 Run W/M
11:50 a.m.: 100 Hurdles Women
Noon: 110 Hurdles Men
12:15 p.m.: 400 meters W/M
12:45 p.m.: 3,200 Relay W/M
1 p.m.: Break
2 p.m.: 100 W/M
2:20 p.m.: 400 Hurdles W/M
2:45 p.m.: 800 W/M
3:15 p.m.: 200 Dash W/M
3:30 p.m.: 5,000 Run W/M
4:45 p.m.: 1,600 Relay W/M
5:15 p.m.: Awards and Presentations

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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