Riley, Keith qualify for NAIA nationals in long jump

MOBILE, Alabama — Xavier University of Louisiana's Ry-Anne Riley and Ireyon Keith long-jumped their way Friday to the NAIA National Championships.

Both produced B-standard qualifying marks at the University of Mobile Invitational. Riley jumped 5.57 meters (18 feet, 3 1/4 inches) to finish fourth, and Keith jumped 5.51 meters (18-1) and placed fifth.

For Riley — a freshman from New Orleans and a former state champion at Lusher Charter School — it's the third event in which she qualified for nationals. She also did it as a member of the 400- and 1,600-meter relay teams. Keith, who also plays basketball for XULA, qualified for nationals for the first time.

The Gold Nuggets won two events — Riley in the 200 and the 1,600 relay team of Riley, Tramaine Shannon, Ariane Williams and Clarke Allen — and they finished second in four others. Their runners-up were Allen in the 200 and triple jump (10.58 meters/34-8 1/2), Brianna Pace in the 800 (2:25.13) and the 400 relay team of Martina Wright, Alexis Milton, Janelle Jones and Riley (season-best 47.70).

The NAIA's national meet will be May 25-27 at Gulf Shores, Ala.

The XULA men earned a pair of fourths: Khalil Gallien in the 110 hurdles (15.69) and the 1,600 relay squad of Elex Carter, Gallien, Aaron Grundy and Ammiel Williams (3:32.75). Carter, Seth Jackson and Chris Ward, all multi-year basketball lettermen, made their collegiate track debuts at this meet. Jackson long-jumped, and Ward ran the 200 and 400.

It was the final meet for the Gold Nuggets and Gold Rush before the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Championships April 22 at Tad Gormley Stadium in New Orleans.

Here are all XULA results from the University of Mobile Invitational:

Women
100: Martina Wright, 5th in 12.47
200: Ry-Anne Riley, 1st; Clarke Allen, 2nd; Alexis Milton, 5th; Janelle Jones, 23rd; Martina Wright, 25th
400: Ariane Williams, 3rd in 57.13; Tramaine Shannon, 6th in 57.69; Chinyere Jones, 13th in 1:01.96
800: Brianna Pace, 2nd in 2:25.13; Maliya Vaughan, 3rd in 2:26.61; Carlie Calais, 8th in 2:38.26; Chinyere Jones, 11th in 2:41.45
1,500: Taylor Price, 4th in 5:10.58; Dionysia Love, 6th in 5:11.52; Carlie Calais, 11th in 5:40.18
400 Hurdles: Terri Cunningham, 8th in 1:12.66
400 Relay: Martina Wright, Alexis Milton, Janelle Jones and Ry-Anne Riley, 2nd in 47.70
1,600 Relay: Ry-Anne Riley, Tramaine Shannon, Ariane Williams and Clarke Allen, 1st in 4:01.64
High Jump: Terri Cunningham, 3rd in 1.50 meters (4 feet, 11 inches); Chinyere Jones, 6th in 1.45 meters (4 feet, 9 inches)
Javelin: Tamia Scott, 3rd in 34.42 meters (112 feet, 11 inches); Taylor Ducros, 4th in 33.16 meters (108 feet, 9 inches)
Long Jump: Ry-Anne Riley, 4th in 5.57 meters (18 feet, 3 1/4 inches); Ireyon Keith, 5th in 5.51 meters (18 feet, 1 inch); Dorian Hill, 16th in 4.19 meters (13 feet, 9 inches)
Shot Put: Acacia Brown, 17th in 7.75 meters (25 feet, 5 1/4 inches)
Triple Jump: Clarke Allen, 2nd in 10.58 meters (34 feet, 8 1/2 inches); Dorian Hill, 5th in 9.69 meters (31 feet, 9 1/2 inches)

Men
100: Treshunn Miliner, 16th in 11.21
200: Treshunn Miliner, 16th in 22.76; Elex Carter, 24th in 23.31; Chris Ward, 34th in 23.97
400: Elex Carter, 18th in 52.87; Aaron Grundy, 21st in 53.25; Chris Ward, 22nd in 54.56
800: Oji Wells, 9th in 2:04.12; Ammiel Williams, 10th in 2:04.94
1,500: Ammiel Williams, 15th in 4:46.47
110 Hurdles: Khalil Gallien, 4th in 15.69
1,600 Relay: Elex Carter, Khalil Gallien, Aaron Grundy and Ammiel Williams, 4th in 3:32.75
High Jump: Aaron Grundy, no height
Long Jump: Seth Jackson, 11th in 5.90 meters (19 feet, 4 1/4 inches)
Triple Jump: Keairez Coleman, no mark

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