CIAA Champions: JCSU Women Claim Fourth CIAA TItle in Thrilling Fashion

Charlotte, North Carolina – Leading by only seven points entering the final event of the afternoon, the Johnson C. Smith University women's 4x400m relay team returned a 3:39.45, the fastest time recorded this season in all of Division II, to distance itself from perennial power St. Augustine's and win the 2016 CIAA Track and Field Championships on their home track at the Irwin Belk Complex on Saturday.

The title is JCSU's fourth crown in the past nine seasons. All told, JCSU won five events on the day.

In the 400m, Kendra Clarke (Edmonton, Alberta) claimed the title while running a 52.74 while teammate Tovea Jenkins (St. James, Jamaica) finished in second. Crystal Campbell (St. Catherine, Jamaica) also helped score team points by finishing in fifth with a 56.25.

Fellan Ferguson (Trelawny, Jamaica) claimed two CIAA titles, winning the 800m and the 1500m events. In the 800, she posted a 2:07.47 while teammate Domenique Julius-Willaims (Oshawa, Ontario) claimed second place. Jenkins also finished fourth in the 800m.

In the 1500m, Ferguson won with a 4:38.60 while Julius-Williams claimed third place with a 4:45.33. Ferguson also finished third in the 3000m.

In the 4x100 relay, the team of Shamaz Quince (West Palm Beach, Fla.) Mayah Edwards (Kingston, Jamaica), Campbell, and Trudy-Ann Richards (St. Thomas, Jamaica) ran to a second place finish or 45.80.

Rounding out the CIAA winners was senior LaTondra Morrow (Charlotte, N.C.) in the high jump, as the claimed the title with a jump of 1.71m.

For final results, visit TheCIAA.com

Women's Team Standings, Final
1. JCSU 165
2. St. Augustine's 156
3. Winston-Salem St. 138.50
4. Virginia St. 72.50
5. Livingstone 28
6. Lincoln 22
7. Shaw 21
8. Bowie St. 15
9. Virginia Union 5

COURTESY JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION