Wednesday, May 28, 2014
St. Aug celebrates second straight outdoor crown
RALEIGH, North Carolina -- Saint Augustine’s University celebrated their second straight men’s outdoor track and field national crown Tuesday.
The Falcons scored 112 points to win by a 45-point margin over the competition at the 2014 NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Grand Valley State Track and Field Stadium Saturday.
“Most of the time we have an older team but this year we had old and young and they all performed very well,” said head coach George Williams Tuesday. “I think that’s what makes this team very special.”
The title was the 12th men’s outdoor title for the Falcons, who also swept the last two men’s indoor national titles. Overall, the Saint Augustine’s University track and field program has won 35 NCAA Division II national championships under Williams.
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Tuesday, May 27, 2014
XU's Jackson to conduct skills camp for boys June 9-12
NEW ORLEANS — Dannton Jackson, the winningest coach in the history of Xavier University of Louisiana men's basketball, will conduct a skills camp June 9-12 for New Orleans-area boys age 7-16.
Xavier's Convocation Center will be the site of the DJ Hoops Skills Academy. Featured guest coaches and speakers will include Brandon Bass of the Boston Celtics, DJ Augustin of the Chicago Bulls and Mo Williams of the Portland Trailblazers.
The camp costs $165 and is open to a limited number of participants. To obtain a registration form, visit djhoops.com or call (504) 521-7849.
Jackson is 249-107 in 11 seasons at Xavier and was selected Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year each of the past three seasons. He was the Louisiana Association of Basketball Coaches Small College Coach of the Year in 2014. Jackson's teams have won five GCAC regular-season championships and qualified eight times for the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship.
Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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Monday, May 26, 2014
National seed Ragin' Cajuns opens NCAA tourney with JSU
LAFAYETTE, Louisiana – Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns will play host to the NCAA Lafayette Regional at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field Friday when the Cajuns meet Jackson State at 6 p.m. in the nightcap of the first day. San Diego State will face Mississippi State at 1 p.m. Friday in the opening game of the four-team regional. The regional continues Saturday and Sunday and, if necessary, will finish on Monday. The winner of the Lafayette Regional will face the winner of the Oxford Regional in an NCAA Super Regional next weekend.
The Sun Belt Champions have earned a national seed for the first time in program history with a No. 6 seed.
The Ragin' Cajuns are playing host to a regional for the second time in school history, with the first ever regional host coming in 2000. All games of the regional may be viewed on ESPN3.com.
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Miami Hurricanes’ baseball regional opener Friday vs. Bethune-Cookman
MIAMI, Florida -- As expected, the Miami Hurricanes were not named one of eight national seeds Monday for the NCAA Division I baseball tournament coming this weekend to 16, four-team regional sites around the nation.However, the NCAA Division I Baseball Committee graced the Hurricanes with one of the least-intense regionals.
Coming to Coral Gables this weekend: No. 4 regional seed Bethune-Cookman (26-31, 208 RPI) of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference; No. 3 seed Columbia (29-18 and No. 35 RPI) of the Ivy League; and No. 2 seed Texas Tech (40-18, No. 17 RPI) of the Big 12.
The No. 1 regional seed Hurricanes (41-17 and No. 15 RPI) will face Bethune-Cookman at 7 p.m. Friday (according to ESPNU) at Alex Rodriguez Park, with Columbia vs. Texas Tech opening the Coral Gables regional at 2.
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Bethune-Cookman Wildcats are happy to be going south to Miami for regional
ORMOND BEACH, Florida — Bethune-Cookman couldn’t have drawn up a better NCAA regional pairing if the selection committee had given Wildcats coach Jason Beverlin a Sharpie and an easel pad.
Sure, the ’Cats got a No. 4 seed, which was expected considering their 26-31 record, but they were assigned to the Coral Gables Regional, which is headed by No. 1 seed Miami.
The Wildcats have beaten the Hurricanes in each of the last two seasons at Mark Light Field, a fact not lost on B-CU players and coaches as they excitedly reacted to the bracket as it was unveiled Monday on ESPNU.
“Anytime you’re familiar with your opponent I think it gives you an opportunity to game plan and know what to expect, and it more or less comes down to execution,” Beverlin said. “I think our guys aren’t going to be overwhelmed by the situation, because we’ve played them before and had success. Now it’s just a matter of going down there and playing like we can.”
Jackson State overcomes slump, bus fire to make NCAAs
JACKSON, Mississippi -- Three weeks ago, Jackson State’s baseball team stood on the side of the interstate, watching as a fire destroyed its bus.Now the Tigers (31-23) are headed to the NCAA tournament.
It’s been a crazy May for Jackson State, which was struggling before the team’s bus caught on fire May 5 during a road trip to play Savannah State. No one was injured in the blaze, but nearly all of the team’s equipment was destroyed. Several players also lost a substantial amount of personal items — including wallets, keys and clothes.
But the Tigers pushed aside the adversity to win the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament one week later. Now they’ll face No. 6 overall seed Louisiana-Lafayette (53-7) in the NCAA tournament’s opening round Friday.
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Money woes, declining talent plague HBCU football
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| CB Qua Cox, 2014 Indianapolis Colts Free Agent Signee Jackson State Tigers Courtesy: JSU Athletics |
"It was where I was wanted," Slater recalled. "And it's where I could excel."
Slater was one of many players who thrived at the nation's historically black colleges and universities, particularly from the '60s through the '80s. NFL superstars Jerry Rice and Walter Payton were part of that wave.
But HBCUs have slowly turned into an afterthought on the college football landscape.
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Remembering Lee Martin, Morgan State Track Star of the Early 1960’s
Services for Martin will be held on May 29 at Saint James Episcopal Church, 1020 W Lafayette Ave, Baltimore, MD 21217 at 10 a.m.BALTIMORE, Maryland -- S. Lee Martin, a former Morgan State track star and well known member of the Baltimore business and service community, died at the age of 76 on May 17.
Born in Buffalo, N.Y., Martin was captain of the legendary Morgan State track team of the early 1960’s; during which time, he was rated as one of the top half-milers on the East Coast. He also ran the anchor leg on Morgan State’s championship one-mile and sprint medley relay teams.
Former AFRO sports editor, the late Sam Lacy, referred to Martin as “the ace half-miler,” and wrote that “Lee ranks with the best collegians in the country. His 1:53.1 clocking is more than five seconds faster than Bob Ridley, his nearest rival in the CIAA (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association).”
Martin and the other members of the Morgan State’s track team were local celebrities in Baltimore. Even their opponents knew what time it was when the Morgan State Bears were in town.
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Wossman's Collins headed to Southern
MONROE, Louisiana -- The basketball exploits of Wossman guard LaQuentin Collins are well documented around northeast Louisiana.
Whenever Wossman needed a shot of instant offense the last two seasons, there was no doubt who was receiving the ball. Collins closed his career for the ‘Cats with a 24 point, 12 rebound, six assist senior season that earned him second team All-State honors in Class 4A.
Despite Collins’ laundry-list of accomplishments, there was still one thing he had to take care of to continue his career at the college level; the ACT.
Collins went after the standardized test with the same ...
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Sunday, May 25, 2014
Saint Augustine's University Falcons Cruise To 2014 Div. II Men's Outdoor National Track & Field Crown
FINAL MEN'S SCORES
ALLENDALE, Michigan -- Saint Augustine's University scored 104 points on the final day to capture its second consecutive men's outdoor national crown at the 2014 NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Grand Valley State Track and Field Stadium on Saturday, May 24, 2014.
The title was the 12th men's outdoor title for the Falcons, who also swept the last two men's indoor national titles. Overall, the Saint Augustine's University track and field program has won 35 NCAA Division II national championships under legendary Head Coach George Williams.
"I am always thankful for a championship," Williams said. "It never gets old. To see young student-athletes develop on the track and in the classroom is amazing."
The Falcons scored 112 points to win by a 45-point margin over the competition. Adams State, who led entering Saturday, finished second in the men's division with 67 points and Ashland placed third with 53 points. In the women's division, Lincoln (Mo.) won the 4x400 meter relay in the last event top edge Johnson C. Smith University 64-59. Grand Valley State was third with 53 points and Saint Augustine's University finished 10th with 24 points.
The Falcons were once again led by their talented array of sprinters, hurdles and jumpers. The men's squad won four men's events and scored multiple points in several others to win going away.
The Falcons entered the day with eight points and trailed leader Adams State by 25 points with 11 events remaining. They immediately cut into their deficit with a victory in the men's 4x100 meter relay race, the day's first running event. The foursome of Daniel Jamieson (Soph./Windsor, Conn.), Taffawee Johnson (Sr./St. Ann, Jamaica), Burkheart Ellis Jr. (Soph./Raleigh, NC) and Jermaine Jones (Jr./Wilmington, NC) crossed the finish line first in 39.42 seconds to defend their 400 meter relay national title.
Ty'reak Murray (Sr./Portsmouth, VA) continued the surge with a victory in the men's 110 meter hurdles in 13.89 seconds to pull the Falcons in fifth place with 28 points, which was 11 behind leader Adams State. He earned a national title in the event for the second time in his four-year career. The Falcons moved in front 42-39 over Adams State in the men's 400 meter dash when Joshua Edmonds (Sr./Jacksonville, FL) placed second in 46.03 seconds and Ellis Jr. finished third in 46.06 seconds.
The Falcons padded their lead in the 100 meter dash. Jones was second and Johnson was third to extend the team's lead over Adams State to 56-39 with six events left. Jones nearly won the 100, finishing three/1,000th of a second behind Tim Price of TAMU-Kingsville, who won in 10.484 to 10.487 for Jones. Johnson ran a time of 10.58.
The Falcons continued to pour on the points. In the men's triple jump, DeJon Wilkinson (Sr./Summerville, SC) finished second with a mark of 52-1¾ and David Shaw Jr. (Jr./Red Springs, NC) placed sixth with a leap of 50-7½ to open a 67-49 Falcons' lead with four events remaining.
The Falcons continued their strong finish down the stretch. Roxroy Cato (Sr./St. Mary's, Jamaica) won the men's 400 meter hurdles national title in 49.75 seconds. Elhadji Mbow (Sr./Dakar, Senegal) was fifth in the event in 51.46 seconds as the duo pushed the Falcons margin to 81-49 with three events left.
The Falcons cemented the title in the men's 200 meter dash as five sprinters competed in the finals. Edwards was second in 20.78 and Jones was third in 20.83. Ellis Jr. placed fifth in 21.054, Johnson finished sixth in 21.057 and Jamieson placed ninth in 21.78. All five sprinters combined to score 21 points for a 53-point Falcons' lead with two events remaining.
With victory already in hand, the Falcons capped the championship meet in convincing fashion. The quartet of Cato, James Quarles (Sr./Washington, DC), Ellis Jr. and Edmonds won the men's 4x400 meter relay national title for the second straight season with a time of 3:06.84.
On the women's side, Tia-Adana Belle (Fr./Bridgetown, Barbados) led the Lady Falcons with a second-place finish in the 400 meter hurdles in 57.58 seconds. Belle also was a member of the women's 4x400 meter relay which placed second in 3:37.88. The other Lady Falcons' members were Cherrisse Lynch (Jr./St. Lawrence, Barbados), Brittany Brown (Sr./Akron, OH) and Akeisha Dumont (Sr./Brooklyn, NY).
Shamia Lassiter (Soph./Chesapeake, VA) placed sixth in the 100 meter hurdles in 13.70. Ornella Livingston (Soph./Jamaica) finished seventh in the 100 meter dash.
For final results, go to ncaa.com. Each student-athlete gained All-America honors by finishing in the top eight places in their respective events.
| Men's Information |
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| Final Results PDF |
| Final Results HTML |
| Declared Athletes |
| Selected Athletes by Event |
| Team Rosters |
| Heat Sheets |
FINAL WOMEN'S SCORES
VIDEO: Women's Championship Highlights
COURTESY SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
Johnson C. Smith University Women's Outdoor Track and Field Places Second at the NCAA Div. II Championships
Danielle Williams, of Johnson C. Smith University, wins the 100 meter dash in 11.16 at the 2014 NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Allendale, Mich. Williams is in Lane 5 in the yellow jersey. The native of Kingston, Jamaica, also won the 200 meters.
ALLENDALE, Michigan -- The Johnson C. Smith University women's track and field team places second overall with 59 team points at the 2014 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships hosted at Grand Valley State University on May 22-24th. This is the second consecutive season the Golden Bulls have been the runners-up for an outdoor national title.
Lincoln University of Missouri won the championship with 64 team points. JCSU recorded 59 points with performances in just six events (100m dash, 100m hurdles, 200m dash, 400m dash, 400m hurdles, and 4x400 relay). The 4x100 relay team of freshman Crystal Campbell (St. Catherine, Jamaica), senior Danielle Williams (St. Andrew, Jamaica), senior A'Tyan Kennedy (Rock Hill, SC) and senior Samantha Elliott (Kingston, Jamaica) suffered a conversational disqualification due to an exchange zone issue. The disqualification took away 10 possible team points.
Williams won titles with season best performances in the 100m and 200m events. She clocked 11.55 in the 100m and 23.48 in the 200m. Both first place finishes earn 10 team points each for JCSU. Elliott also won two events to add 20 points to the team total. She won the 100m hurdles and 400m hurdles with times of 13.04 and 57.12, respectively to the events. Williams claimed second place in the 100m hurdles with a time of 13.05. The second place finish earned eight team points.
Sophomore Tovea Jenkins (St. James, Jamaica) placed fourth overall in the 400m. Jenkins timed in at 53.81 and recorded five points for the Golden Bulls.
In the overall event finale, JCSU trailed Lincoln (MO) by just one point leading into the 4x400m relay. The tandem of Elliott, freshman Domenique Julius-Williams (Ontario, Canada), Campbell, and Jenkins had a time of 3:40.53 for third place. Unfortunately, Lincoln (MO) won the relay event and ultimately the championship. JCSU earned six points, while Lincoln (MO) had 10 points to account for the final overall scores.
At last year's championships, JCSU produced 54 team points and fell just six points shy of a national title. The Golden Bulls cap another extremely successful season. JCSU won their second consecutive CIAA Outdoor Championship, finished second in the nation for the second consecutive season, and bring home seven All-American honors.
The top five finishers were: Lincoln University of Missouri – 64 points, JCSU – 59 points, Grand Valley State – 53 points, Adams State – 39 points, and Ashland – 38 points. There were 74 teams in competition.
| Women's Information |
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| Final Results HTML |
| Declared Athletes |
| Selected Athletes by Event |
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Final Results
COURTESY JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
Lincoln University Blue Tigers Win NCAA Division II Women's 2014 Outdoor Track & Field National Championship
Ten Lincoln University Athletes Turn In All-American Performances as Blue Tigers Win Seventh Outdoor Title.
ALLENDALE, Michigan -- For the seventh time overall, and the first time since 2009, the Lincoln women's outdoor track & field team is the national champion.
The Blue Tigers scored 64 team points on Saturday (May 24) to win their seventh NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field National Championship. Ten Lincoln athletes combined to turn in 12 All-American performances, with both Blue Tiger relay teams winning national titles.
Lincoln, which has also won four indoor national championships since 2003, won their 11th overall championship on Saturday. The Blue Tigers had previously won the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field National Championship in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009.
The day began and ended on high notes for Lincoln, starting in the 4x100m relay, where the foursome of Judith Riley, Kimberly Bailey, Yanique Ellington and Janae Johnson won in 45.34. Ellington and Johnson would go on to earn three total All-American honors, which are bestowed upon any athlete who finishes in the top-eight on an event at the national championships. Johnson was the runner-up in the 200m, clocking in at 23.49, and took fifth in the 100m in 11.87. Ellington, meanwhile, placed third in the 100m (11.75) and fourth in the 200m (23.49).
The day ended with the 4x400m relay. Entering that event, Lincoln had 54 team points and was in first place by just one point. Johnson C. Smith was in second with 53 points, and the two teams were going head-to-head in the relay with everything on the line. The Lincoln foursome of Willomena Williams, Jhevere Hall, Donna-Lee Hylton and Tamara Keane stepped up, winning the race in 3:37.29 to guarantee the Blue Tigers the national championship.
Keane also earned All-American recognition in three events, including the 400m hurdles, in which she placed fourth with a time of 59.56. Keane finished seventh in the 400m dash, timing in at 54.22, while Hylton placed eighth in the latter event with a time of 54.91.
Hall was also a multiple All-American honoree, as she placed sixth in the 800m in 2:09.35. Monique Thompson had the best performance by a Blue Tiger in that event, claiming fourth after posting a time of 2:08.76. Lincoln's final All-American award winner was Ladonna Richards, who took fourth in the 100m hurdles with a time of 13.32.
The Blue Tigers scored 64 points, beating second-place Johnson C. Smith (59 points) by five points. Grand Valley State, which hosted the national championship meet, came in third after scoring 53 points. Adams State (39 points) took fourth, edging fifth-place Ashland (38 points) by one point. Central Missouri, meanwhile, had the second-best finish of any MIAA program behind Lincoln, taking sixth with 34 points.
VIDEO: Women's Championship Highlights
VIDEO: Day 2 Recap
VIDEO: Day 1 Recap
| Women's Information |
|---|
| Final Results PDF |
| Final Results HTML |
| Declared Athletes |
| Selected Athletes by Event |
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| Heat Sheets |
Final Results
By Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY BLUE TIGERS ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
LU BLUE TIGERS: NCAA Division II National Champions in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2014.
Eight Lincoln University Blue Tigers Earn All-American Honors at the NCAA Men's Championships
ALLENDALE, Michigan -- Eight members of the Lincoln men's track & field team turned in All-American performances at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field National Championships, which ended on Saturday (May 24). The Blue Tigers earned 25 team points in the process, tying LU with the Academy of Art for ninth overall.
Romone Hill led Lincoln with three All-American honors, earning individual awards in both the 100m and 200m. In the 100m, Hill finished fourth with a time of 10.58. In the 200m, Hill came in seventh after clocking in at 21.23. To earn All-American recognition, an athlete must finish in the top-eight of an event at the national championships.
The Blue Tigers had a pair of second-place finishes, including in the 4x100m relay, where Hill teamed with Wesley Best, Romel Lewis and Michael Ashley to finish in 39.85. Lewis, unfortunately, ended up aggravating an injury after that race. Lewis had previously qualified for the finals in the 100m and 400m hurdles, but had to withdraw from both races.
Ashley joined with Jermaine Blake, Roger Blake and Winston Edwards in Lincoln's other second-place finish, which came in the 4x400m relay. The foursome finished in 3:07.99. The other All-American for Lincoln was Orneldo Thomas, who took seventh in the long jump on Thursday (May 22) with a distance of 7.45m.
St. Augustine's scored 112 points to win the men's title while Adams State was a distant second with 67 points. Ashland earned 53 points to rouBnd out the top-three. Lincoln had the second-best finish of any MIAA program, as only Pittsburg State, which took fifth with 36 points, finished ahead of the Blue Tigers.
Final Results
By Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
COURTESY LINCOLN UNIVERSITY BLUE TIGERS ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
Romone Hill led Lincoln with three All-American honors, earning individual awards in both the 100m and 200m. In the 100m, Hill finished fourth with a time of 10.58. In the 200m, Hill came in seventh after clocking in at 21.23. To earn All-American recognition, an athlete must finish in the top-eight of an event at the national championships.
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| Blue Tigers Romone Hill reflects after turning in his third All-American performance of the NCAA Division II Championships. Photo Courtesy: LU Athletics |
Ashley joined with Jermaine Blake, Roger Blake and Winston Edwards in Lincoln's other second-place finish, which came in the 4x400m relay. The foursome finished in 3:07.99. The other All-American for Lincoln was Orneldo Thomas, who took seventh in the long jump on Thursday (May 22) with a distance of 7.45m.
St. Augustine's scored 112 points to win the men's title while Adams State was a distant second with 67 points. Ashland earned 53 points to rouBnd out the top-three. Lincoln had the second-best finish of any MIAA program, as only Pittsburg State, which took fifth with 36 points, finished ahead of the Blue Tigers.
Final Results
By Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
COURTESY LINCOLN UNIVERSITY BLUE TIGERS ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
Wiley College Ampomah wins national title at 2014 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championship
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| JOHN AMPOMAH ALL-AMERICAN WILEY COLLEGE WILDCAT COURTESY: WILEY COLLEGE ATHLETICS |
Wiley College sophomore John Ampomah became the first Wildcat male to ever claim an individual national championship as he won the javelin throw Friday. The sophomore from Konongo, Ghana, won the event with a throw of 74.42 meters.
Ampomah's winning mark bested the throw of second-place finisher Andy White of the University of British Columbia by more than two meters (72.35 m). Lindon Victor of Benedictine, Kansas, took third with a throw of 66.29 meters.
"I am very happy to represent my school at the national meet and to win Wiley's first individual event championship," Ampomah said.
A transfer from Neosho County Community College (Kansas), Ampomah's victory in the javelin throw was a fitting end to a very successful first season of four-year college competition. Ampomah won the javelin throw in all but one meet this year. He took third at the University of Texas' Clyde Littlefield Relays, a meet that features some of the best NCAA Division I athletes in the United States.
Ampomah, one of the top African javelin throwers competing at any level of competition, owned the longest throw of any NAIA competitor throughout the year. He finished 1.04 meters shy of breaking the 28-year old NAIA championship meet record.
Ampomah was not the only competitor in a Wiley uniform to enjoy the national spotlight. Fellow Ghanaian Atsu Nyamadi took third place in the decathlon, winning three field events in the process. Nyamadi, Wiley College's 2014 Male Athlete of the Year, won the long jump, shot put and javelin events.
"It is a great honor to represent your school in any meet, and I thank my athletes for giving their best," Wiley College head track and field coach Micah Tirop said. "I am very pleased with the continued success of Wiley College's track and field teams."In the women's events, Wiley College's Doreen Agyei finished sixth nationally in the 200-meter dash.
FINAL RESULTS
By Alan Wiederhold
WILEY COLLEGE WILDCATS OFFICE OF SPORTS INFORMATION
Saturday, May 24, 2014
WSSU To Eliminate Two Sports in Fall 2014
WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- The Winston-Salem State University Department of Athletics has announced plans to reduce its sports sponsorships to 11 sports, as it will drop two sports beginning in the fall of 2014.
The discontinued sports are women’s bowling and men's tennis, and affect just three student-athletes monetarily.
The student-athletes participating in the affected sports who continue their undergraduate education at Winston-Salem State University will continue to receive their athletic aid for the 2014-15 school year, if they were receiving aid.
The Department of Athletics will grant releases to student-athletes who choose to transfer and compete for another university.
The reduction results in the elimination of one part time head coaching position.
“This is an extremely difficult decision, but it is being done in the best long-term interests of our student-athletes,” says Director of Athletics, Tonia Walker.
"Over the past eight years, our program has grown with respect to the number of staff, sports programs and the means in which we operate. Since the return to Division II in Fall 2010, we have been fortunate to yield phenomenal program success. However, we now face the challenge sustaining the program at the same level of operation while working against the challenge of a marked enrollment decline. The reduction of students enrolled in the University has a direct impact on the athletics fee paid by all students and makes up the greatest percentage of the athletics budget“, added Walker.
"With the University going through a right-sizing plan, and combining different segments of the University, the Athletic Department felt the need to do the same, as we work to align revenues and expenses in these turbulent economic times", says Walker.
COURTESY WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
XU's Alexander jumps to All-America honor
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| ANGELICA ALEXANDER NAIA DIVISION I ALL-AMERICAN XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA GOLD NUGGETS |
Alexander tied her school record of 1.68 meters (5 feet, 6 inches). It's the third time this season that Alexander -- a senior from Shreveport, La., and a graduate of Byrd High School -- cleared that height.
Alexander, who earned her bachelor's degree from Xavier two weeks ago, entered the meet tied for 13th in the NAIA season rankings. Her best jump of 2013 was 1.57 meters (5-1 3/4).
"I'm proud of Jelly," XU coach Joseph Moses said. "This was not unexpected by any means. She got to concentrate on field events this year because she wasn't splitting time with basketball. She worked hard all season, got better and more consistent, and you see the result today."
Alexander was one of eight to clear 1.68 and was awarded fifth place because of the third-fewest misses in that group. Oklahoma Baptist's Akela Jones was the champion at 1.78 meters (5-10), and Westmont's Becky Collier was second at 1.71 (5-7 1/4).
Teammate Devinn Rolland was named All-America on Thursday after placing fourth in the long jump.
This was Xavier's final athletic competition of 2013-14.
Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Engages Evolution Sports Partners to Develop Strategic Initiatives
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- Damon Evans, Founder and Managing Director of Evolution Sports Partners (“ESP”), and former Athletic Director at University of Georgia, has announced that the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) has engaged ESP to develop and implement strategies for continuous quality improvement of Conference operations.“My partners and I formed ESP to drive business results in the world of Intercollegiate Athletics,” said Damon Evans. “Our team delivers highly specialized consulting, technology and data analytics services that garner insights, capture data and deliver outcomes for college athletic departments, conferences and sports organizations. The SIAC is extremely forward-thinking in their approach and strategy for continuous quality improvement, and we’re excited to be their partner.”
ESP’s Consulting Division is a team of highly specialized experts who take an ownership role in the plans and strategies developed for their clients. The team uses technology to ma
nage the engagement process and offers services centered on the four primary metrics of Intercollegiate Athletics: Academics, Strategy, Fans and Revenue.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with ESP to explore ways we can continue to provide outstanding service to our members, ” said Gregory Moore, Esq., Commissioner of the SIAC. “The power of having an outside, expert team review, analyze and develop strategies to drive academic, business and revenue outcomes, then work with us to ensure our goals are achieved, makes for an outstanding relationship. The engagement will develop a number of new initiatives for the SIAC, offering the best academic and athletic experience for student athletes at our institutions.”
About Evolution Sports Partners
ESP, founded by Damon Evans, Tracy Howe and Peter Kraft, offers a new breed of technology, data analytics and consulting to Intercollegiate Athletics. The company has offices in Morristown, NJ and Charlotte, NC.
About the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
The SIAC was founded in 1913 and the conference still remains as one of the nation’s most viable forces in Intercollegiate Athletics. The SIAC is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), participates on the DII level, and sponsors seven men’s championships and six women’s championships annually. The present membership is composed of fourteen institutions from six states with its 15th member joining in the fall of 2014.
PVAMU Athletics Statement on NCAA APR Release
PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- Prairie View A&M University was recently informed by the NCAA's Committee on Academic Performance that its football program has been placed on postseason ban for the 2014 NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs for the upcoming season due to low Academic Performance Rate (APR) average over the past four years. The university's APR score of 908 fell two points short of the 910 filter the NCAA has put in place. However, the team is still eligible for the 2014 Southwestern Athletic Conference Football Championship and the annual league championship game as the SWAC opts out the playoffs.
Prairie View A&M student-athletes are graduating 17 percentage points higher than the overall student body. The current student body federal graduation rate is 33 percent while the student-athletes have a rate of 50 percent. "We have higher academic standards than the NCAA minimums and are penalized when reporting to the NCAA," said Prairie View A&M Director of Athletics Ashley Robinson. "However, we do acknowledge that football eligibility is an issue and we are providing support and an approved APR Plan to improve their academic performance rate."
PVAMU President Dr. George C. Wright has made a commitment to all students at the university, which includes student-athletes, that they have the necessary support to be successful in the classroom. Dr. Wright's goal is to ensure that the NCAA and its supporters fully understand the unique mission of PVAMU and the students the university serves.
Prairie View A&M Director of Athletics Ashley Robinson and Director of Athletic Compliance Monique Carroll have been tasked with establishing the "Foundation for Future APR Success". One of the first tasks has been to beef up the Compliance Department's staffing in order to provide full support for the student-athletes. As a result, Carroll has hired three additional personnel to directly assist in academic support of the student athletes. With the additional staffing in place, Carroll and her staff have already drafted an extensive APR Improvement Plan, that was approved by the NCAA. The plan will have a positive impact on future APR scores.
"Our 2014 football schedule reflects PVAMU's commitment to academics as the 10-game schedule allows the student-athletes to have ample time to focus on their academic endeavors throughout the season," stated Robinson.
Under fourth-year head football coach Heishma Northern, the PVAMU football program has broken a plethora of records both on the field and in the classroom. Coach Northern has reported the second and third-highest APR scores in program history since APR was introduced in 2004. The football team posted a score of 925 during the 2011-12 reporting cycle and a score of 912 in 2012-13.
During the current APR reporting cycle, nine teams at Prairie View A&M saw improvements in their multi-year scores (baseball, football, men's basketball, men's indoor & outdoor track & field, men's tennis, softball, women's cross country and women's indoor track & field).
With the four-year APR score set to raise to 930 in 2015-16, Prairie View A&M is being proactive in preparing its teams for the higher benchmark. As of now, 13 (baseball, bowling, men's basketball, men's tennis, soccer, softball, volleyball, women's basketball, women's cross country, women's golf, women's indoor & outdoor track & field and women's tennis) of the department's 18 teams have exceeded the future score.
To stay informed on Prairie View A&M's academic progress and NCAA rules legislation, please subscribe to the Office of Athletic Compliance and Academic Advising's monthly newsletter by clicking here..
For more information on rules education, APR and compliance related matters, contact Director of Athletic Compliance Monique Carroll at (936) 261-9141 or mvcarroll@pvamu.edu.
COURTESY PAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
Southern Jags Dawson Odums Golf Tournament set for June 21
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| HEAD COACH DAWSON ODOMS HEAD FOOTBALL COACH SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY JAGUARS Courtesy David Clark, Athletics Media Relations Student Photographer 2014 Dawson Odom Golf Tournament |
The Dawson Odums’ Golf Classic is sponsored by the Blue and Gold Century Club and includes a continental breakfast and a full course lunch.
Prices for the one-day tournament include $95 for singles and $500 for one-team foursomes, which features hole sponsorship on the course.
For companies interested in entering several teams, the tournament offers All-American and Hall of Fame level sponsorship packages, which include gifts for each member on the team, SU Football season tickets and Bayou Classic tickets.
Copper Mill Golf course is an 18-hole links course located in Zachary La. Teams will not exceed 27 or 108 individual players. All sponsorships and teams must be paid no later than Sunday, June 15, 2014 to secure your spot.
For more details regarding the first annual Dawson Odum’s Golf Classic, contact Craig Pierre at 225-324-7234 or via email at craigpierre@bellsouth.net.
2014 Dawson Odom Golf Tournament
COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
Rolland misses mark in 100; Alexander jumps Saturday
GULF SHORES, Alabama — Xavier University of Louisiana's Devinn Rolland did not qualify Friday in her preliminary heat of the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships.Rolland ran 100 meters in 12.18 seconds to rank 16th out of 32 competitors. The slowest qualifying time to reach the final was 11.89. Rolland's best time this season was 11.66, which ranked fourth in the NAIA entering the meet.
Rolland, who competed in four events at nationals, was fourth in the long jump Thursday and was All-America in that event for the second time in three years.
Xavier's final competitor in the three-day meet will be senior Angelica Alexander, who will high jump at 2 p.m. Saturday. Alexander's best jump is 1.68 meters (5 feet, 6 inches), accomplished twice this season. Alexander is tied for 13th in the NAIA entering the meet.
Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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Friday, May 23, 2014
Updated 5/23: 2014 HBCU Football NFL Free Agent Signings
POS PLAYER TEAM COLLEGE
T Terren Jones, Atlanta Falcons, Alabama State
CB Derricus Purdy, Chicago Bears, Texas Southern
WR Travis Harvey, New York Giants, Florida A&M
DB Jakar Hamilton, Dallas Cowboys, South Carolina State
DB Vernon Kearney, Kansas City Chiefs, Lane College
T Michael Ola, Miami Dolphins, Hampton University
S Jerome Junior, Jacksonville Jaguars, Winston-Salem State
DB Courtney Bridget, Washington Redskins, Hampton University
TE Rashaun Allen, Seattle Seahawks, Southern University
RB Jourdan Brooks, Cleveland Browns, Morgan State
LB Brandon Denmark, Green BayPackers, Florida A&M
WR Tyler McDonald, New England Patriots, South Carolina State *(minicamp invitee)
CB Keith Lewis, Tampa Bay Bucs, Virginia University-Lynchburg
LB Carlos Fields, Oakland Raiders, Winston-Salem State
RB Isaiah Crowell, Cleveland Browns, Alabama State
LB Joe Thomas, Green Bay Packers, South Carolina State
DB Justin Blake, Washington Redskins, Hampton
WR Lee Doss, Washington Redskins, Southern
CB Qua Cox, Indianapolis Colts, Jackson State
WR Greg Moore, Indianapolis Colts, Lane College
K/P Bobby Wenzig, Kansas City Chiefs, Alabama State *(minicamp invitee)
CB David Van Dyke, Kansas City Chiefs, Tennessee State
TE A.C. Leonard, Minnesota Vikings, Tennessee State
DE Francis ("Frank") Mays, Philadelphia Eagles, Florida A&M
OL Karim Barton, Philadelphia Eagles, Morgan State
DT Leon Minto, Houston Texans, Johnson C. Smith U.
OL Nathan Isles, Seattle Seahawks, North Carolina A&T
BOLD: 5/23/14 Updates
*Tryout
Hampton Pirates' Bridget Signs Free Agent Deal With Washington Redskins
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| COURTNEY BRIDGET COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS |
Bridget (Baltimore, Md.) was seventh on the team in tackles this past season, tallying 51 total stops (including 22 solo efforts). He had a career-high 10 tackles (four solo) in the 2013 season opener at Western Illinois.
He also had five pass breakups on the season.
The UNLV transfer was with the Pirates for three seasons, and in 2011 Bridget made five starts, recording 20 total tackles. He also recorded his lone interception as a Pirate that season against Savannah State.
If he makes the squad, Bridget will be the second Pirate on the roster in Washington; former Hampton defensive lineman Chris Baker is entering his third season with the Redskins.
For more information on Hampton University football, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.
COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
XU's Rolland is All-America long-jumper for 2nd time
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| Xavier's Devinn Rolland, third from right, receives her fourth-place award in the long jump at the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships. |
Rolland, competing in her third event of the day, placed fourth out of 24 jumpers. The top six individuals and relay teams in each event are named All-America.
Rolland is a junior from Harvey, La., and a graduate of Cabrini High School in New Orleans.
Rolland jumped 19-5 1/2 to finish sixth at nationals in 2012.
Xavier did not qualify for finals in any of its three track events. Rolland was 17th in 24.97 seconds in the 200-meter dash, and Catherine Fakler did not finish in the 1,500. The 400 relay squad of Kailey Williams, Rolland, Tramaine Shannon and Chelsea James was 15th in 47.75.
Rolland will compete in the 100 preliminaries at 3:10 p.m. Friday.
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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Thursday, May 22, 2014
Jacksonville Jaguars Sign WSSU's Jerome Junior
JACKSONVILLE, Florida -- The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed former WSSU safety, Jerome Junior, after the two-day rookie minicamp that ended this past weekend.The 6-foot-1, 207-pound Junior transferred to Winston-Salem State in 2013 after four years at Connecticut. In 2013, Junior finished as the Rams fourth leading tackler, amassing 41 tackles, 4 tackles for losses, 0.5 sack, one interception, four pass breakups, one quarterback hurry and one forced fumble.
Jerome Junior was one of two workout rookies signed after rookie minicamp.
COURTESY WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
School-Record 89 NSU Spartans Named to MEAC All-Academic Team
NORFOLK, Virginia -- A school-record 89 Norfolk State University student-athletes have been named members of the 2013-14 MEAC Commissioner's All-Academic Team.
The number is 13 higher than last year's previous record of 76. To be selected, athletes must be sophomores, juniors or seniors with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Athletes must have also been in at least their second year at their current school during the 2013-14 academic year.
Only Delaware State (136), Howard (131), Bethune-Cookman (114) and South Carolina State (96), all of which offer more sports programs than NSU, had more athletes selected to the MEAC All-Academic Team than did the Spartans.
Listed below are NSU's members of the all-academic team, including their sport and major.
WOMEN (39): Rae Corbo (WBB, Business), Rachel Gordon (WBB, Psychology), Jazamine Gray (WBB, Exercise Science/Physical Education), Quineshia Leonard (WBB, Kinesiotherapy), Thea Aspiras (WBO, Fine Arts), Delilah Bethel (WBO, Biology), Courtney Brown (WBO, Education), Ashley Buck (WBO, Sociology), Carrie Hickey (WBO, Social Work), Jessica Overton (WBO, Education), Courtney Williford (WBO, Education), Kelsea Yarbrough (WBO, Electronics Engineering), Taylor Brandon (CHR, Education), Jazmine Copeland (CHR, Medical Technology), Alexis Griffen (CHR, Social Work), Desiree Lewis (CHR, Finance), Kiana Manson (CHR, Chemistry), Bratasia Stephenson (CHR, Sociology), Ashley Woodley (CHR, Exercise Science), Morgan Boyd (WSB, Kinesiotherapy), Alina Moriarty (WSB, Biology), Stephanie Wheatley (WSB, Elementary Education), Whitney Williams (WSB, Sociology), Angie Darcus (WVB, Kinesiotherapy), Jasmin Flowers (WVB, Chemistry), Janay Frazier (WVB, Math/Optical Engineering), Maatra Henderson (WVB, Kinesiotherapy), Jessica Johnson (WVB, Business Finance), Rebecca Graff (WTE, Business Management), Yvonne Kamegne (WTE, Business), Mafalda Lhorca (WTE, Mass Communications), Andrea Macchiavello (WTE, Business), Tiara Davis (WTK, History), Adugna Desalegn (WTK, Kinesiotherapy), Amethyst Edmond (WTK, Biology), Kassandra Irizarry (WTK, Nursing), Tori Lewis-Johnson (WTK, Management Information Systems), Rachel Webb (WTK, Political Science), Charity Wilson (WTK, Kinesiotherapy)
MEN (50): Troy Applin (MBA, Building Construction), Cameron Day (MBA, Electrical Engineering), Jeff Di Fulgo (MBA, Kinesiotherapy), Cody Ellis (MBA, Exercise Science/Physical Education), Ian Horne (MBA, Kinesiotherapy), Chase Kyriacou (MBA, Kinesiotherapy), Justin Lee (MBA, Computer Science), Zach Markel (MBA, Sociology), Ryan Montgomery (MBA, Medical Technology), Matt Outman (MBA, Accounting), Kyle Vaas (MBA, Psychology), Hefeng Sun (MBB, Business Management), Shaquan Bailey (MFB, Kinesiotherapy), Andre Bean (MFB, Physical Education), Joshua El (MFB, Kinesiotherapy), Tanner Fiano (MFB, Mass Communications), Alonzo Fowlkes (MFB, Electrical Engineering), Ramsey Henderson (MFB, Mass Communications), Jamal Hill (MFB, Kinesiotherapy), Louis Humphrey (MFB, History), DeMarta' Johnson (MFB, Health Fitness Instruction), Alex Killam (MFB, Electronics Engineering), Deon King (MFB, Building Construction), Keenan Lambert (MFB, Business Management), Daniel Oladimeji (MFB, Computer Science), Mike Phillips (MFB, Computer Information Technology), E.J. Rogers (MFB, Mass Communications), Dallas Simmons (MFB, Business), Omari-Ali Timmons (MFB, Business), Tevin White (MFB, Interdisciplinary Studies), Michael Witcher (MFB, Kinesiotherapy), Julius Wormley (MFB, Sociology), Kent Austin (MTE, Accounting), Igor Braga (MTE, Computer Science), Daniel Grauel (MTE, Business), Peter Ramstromer-Pello (MTE, Computer Information Technology), Robin Riethmueller (MTE, Business), Dzmitry Zyhmantovich (MTE, Business), Chad Allen (MTK, Building Construction), Marcus Anderson (MTK, Computer Science), Stefan Battles (MTK, Sociology), Ian Copeland (MTK, Biology), Steven Daniels (MTK, Sociology), Michael Evans (MTK, Sociology), Sammy Kiptoo (MTK, Accounting), Michael Mingo-Dabney (MTK, Business/Finance), Michael Smith Jr. (MTK, Mass Communication), Robert Thrasher (MTK, Psychology), Ryan Turner (MTK, Building Construction), Willard Ward (MTK, Business)
Key:
MCC – Men's Cross Country
WCC – Women's Cross Country
MBB – Men's Basketball
WBB – Women's Basketball
WGO – Women's Golf
MGO – Men's Golf
WSO – Women's Swimming
WVB – Women's Volleyball
MFB – Football
CHR – Cheerleading
WSB – Women's Softball
MBA – Men's Baseball
WBW – Women's Bowling
WTK – Women's Tennis
MTK – Men's Tennis
MTR – Men's Track and Field
WTR – Women's Track and Field
Matt Michalec, Asst. AD/Communications
COURTESY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
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