SAU's Williams Selected National Outdoor Track & Field Head Coach of the Year

Coach Williams Has Captured Two Straight
Indoor  and Outdoor National Men's Head
Coach of the Year Awards.

RALEIGH, North Carolina  -- George Williams of Saint Augustine's University was named the 2014 NCAA Division II National Men's Outdoor Track & Field Head Coach of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Wednesday, May 28, 2014.

"I didn't win it, the kids won it," Williams said. "When you have a good group of kids, anything can happen. I would like to thank my peers for voting for me."

This is the second consecutive year and the seventh time overall that the legendary coach has won the award. In March 2014, Williams was selected the USTFCCCA Division II Men's Indoor Track & Field Head Coach of the Year for the second straight year.

Williams was honored Wednesday after guiding Saint Augustine's University to its second straight NCAA Division II Men's Outdoor National Title over the weekend. The Falcons have won the last two Division II Men's Indoor National Crowns as well. The men's and women's track & field program under Williams have combined to win 35 NCAA Division II national championships.

The Falcons won the men's outdoor title by a whopping 112 to 67 score over Adams State University in Allendale, Mich., this past weekend. The winning score was the highest since Abilene Christian scored 115 points in 2000. The Falcons earned 22 All-America honors, which was the most in Division II this year.

The Falcons won four men's events including the 110 meter hurdles by Ty'reak Murray (Sr./Portsmouth, VA), the 400 meter hurdles by Roxroy Cato (Sr./St. Ann, Jamaica), the 4x100 meter relay race and 4x400 meter relay race. The 4x100 team is comprised of Daniel Jamieson (Soph./Windsor, CT), Taffawee Johnson (Sr./St. Ann, Jamaica), Burkheart Ellis Jr. (Soph./Raleigh, NC) and Jermaine Jones (Jr./Wilmington, NC). The 4x400 squad consists of Cato, James Quarles (Sr./Washington, DC), Ellis Jr. and Joshua Edmonds (Sr./Jacksonville, FL).

The Falcons had five second-place and three third-place finishes at the outdoor championship meet. Five sprinters competed in the men's 200 meter finals which is a national record.

The honor caps another banner year for Williams, who has won over 150 coach of the year awards in his dynamic career at Saint Augustine's University, his alma mater. Two weeks ago, Williams was selected CIAA Athletic Director of the Year and CIAA Coach of the Year in four sports - men's and women's cross country, men's indoor track & field and men's outdoor track and field. He was chosen USTFCCCA Atlantic Region Men's Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Head Coach of the Year and CaptainU Division II Indoor Track & Field Winter Coach of the Year. His men's track & field team has won 18 straight outdoor and 17 consecutive indoor CIAA conference titles.

COURTESY SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

JCSU's Danielle Williams Named 2014 NCAA DII Women's Outdoor National Track Athlete of the Year

DANIELLE WILLIAMS
Courtesy: Johnson C. Smith University Athletics

JCSU's Danielle Williams has been named the USTFCCCA Division II Women's National Track Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive season.

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana – On the heels of the NCAA Championships and with the 2014 Division II Outdoor Track and Field season coming to a conclusion; the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) has announced Danielle Williams of Johnson C. Smith University as the National Track Athlete of the Year. Williams is the only female student-athlete at JCSU to ever receive this honor and this is her second consecutive year being selected for the award.

Williams won dual individual titles at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Fractions of a second were all that separated Williams, a recent graduate from St. Andrew, Jamaica, from becoming the first woman in Division II history to win three track events in the same championships. Prior to winning titles both at 100 and 200 meters, Williams lost out to teammate Samantha Elliott (Kingston, Jamaica) in the 100-meter hurdles by just .006 as both ran 13.05. This was an encore from last year's championships, where Williams won the 100m, 200m, and runner-up in the 100m hurdles.



In 100 meters, Williams would ultimately be a runaway by comparison as she edged out top-seeded Ada Udaya of New Haven by .06 in 11.55. She capped her day in the 200 meters; where she was able to just barely hold off Janae Johnson of Lincoln (Mo.) by .01 of a second in 23.48.

Williams' season also included a runner-up 100-meters hurdles finish at the Penn Relays and CIAA titles in all the aforementioned events.

Three other student-athletes received honors. All-time DII heptathlon record-holder Salcia Slack of New Mexico Highlands – a multiple-time champion herself – claimed the Women's Field Athlete honor. Steeplechaser Tabor Stevens of Adams State and record-breaking high jumper Jeron Robinson of Texas A&M-Kingsville claimed the Men's Track Athlete and Men's Field Athlete award.

COURTESY JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Dan Schumacher Resigns as Chicago State Director of Athletics

DAN SCHUMACHER
Courtesy: Chicago State University Athletics

CHICAGO, Illinois -- Chicago State University Director of Athletics Dan Schumacher announced Friday (May 23) that he has resigned and accepted the same position at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Schumacher's final day at Chicago State will be June 13.

"I would like to thank the Board of Trustees and President Dr. Wayne Watson for giving me this opportunity," Schumacher said. "I especially would like to thank the athletics staff, coaches and faculty for such dedication to their craft. I am a Chicagoan, a South Sider. It was an incredible experience to be part of Chicago State Athletics and the Western Athletic Conference. I wish Cougar Athletics great success."

Schumacher's leadership helped Chicago State earn entrance into the Western Athletic Conference in 2013-14, the Cougars' first conference with an automatic bid to the NCAA postseason since 2006.

In the classroom, the NCAA Academic Progress Rate scores released earlier this month have Chicago State entering next year without a team under an APR penalty for the first time in the department's history.

In competition, several Chicago State teams have made major strides during Schumacher's two seasons as Director of Athletics. Men's basketball won the 2013 Great West Conference Tournament and earned a berth in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament. It was the first championship and postseason berth for the program as a Division I member. In 2013-14, men's basketball matched a program record with eight conference wins. The squad earned the No. 3 seed in the WAC Tournament, the highest seed by a Division I team in Illinois in their respective conference tournament. Baseball won 17 games in 2014, the program's most wins in 14 years. The squad picked up two wins over city-rival UIC. Women's golf set records for team and individual scoring averages. Men's golf saw an individual win a tournament for the first time in nine years.

"Over the past four years Chicago State University has undergone a significant transformation and Dan Schumacher has been a vital part of that process," CSU President Dr. Wayne Watson said. "Under Dan's leadership, our athletic department has become an area of strength for CSU. He helped facilitate our move to the Western Athletic Conference, created a culture of accountability that strengthened our NCAA compliance, and perhaps most importantly, worked to create an athletic department that emphasized academic success above all. The average GPA of our student athletes is now 3.24, and for the first time in the department's history we have zero academic progress penalties. I've immensely enjoyed working with Dan, I appreciate his service to CSU and I wish him all the best as he moves to his next endeavor."

The University has named Associate Athletic Director for Compliance Nino Berticelli as the Interim Director of Athletics. Berticelli has over 14 years of experience in collegiate athletics including seven years in athletic administration. A committee will be formed to conduct a nation-wide search for a permanent replacement.

"I came to Chicago State a year ago because I see the great things that can be achieved here," Berticelli said. "Dan Schumacher has built a fantastic foundation for us to not only meet, but also exceed that potential. It's most important now that we continue to stress those same values which have gotten us to this point: academics as a priority, accountability and doing things the right way. I want to thank President Watson for this opportunity, and for his confidence in me to keep this upward trend going."

COURTESY CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Alabama A&M names Rose Powell Volleyball Coach

ROSE MAGERS-POWELL
Courtesy: AAMU Athletics
 

NORMAL, Alabama -- The Director of Athletics at Alabama A&M University Bryan Hicks has named Rose Magers-Powell, head volleyball coach at Alabama A&M.

A native of Big Springs, Texas, she attended the University of Houston, earning awards such as Most Improved, Best Spiker, and Most Valuable Player of the Southwest Conference. She was a member of the 1984 US Olympic Volleyball team winning the Silver Medal, the highest finishing women's team in United States history.

"We are excited to welcome Coach Powell to the Bulldog family as head volleyball coach," Hicks said. "Her experience as a student-athlete, coach and community leader will continue to enhance our proud volleyball program."

Prior to her tenure at the helm of the RedHawks program. Powell, having one of the finest volleyball careers in American history, has applied her magic to local schools, camps, and collegiate programs. Through her coaching career at Martin Methodist, she has compiled a 367-279 overall record and entered 2013 ranked 11^th in the NAIA in total wins among active coaches.

"Her expertise, high level of competition as a player, and winning attitude will be instrumental in expanding our brand in the volleyball community," commented Hicks.

Following her collegiate stint, Rose played for two years on the USA National Team. During those two years, Rose helped the team achieve a Silver Medal at the Super Three Tournament (China, Japan and USA), a Gold Medal at the Pan American Games, a Bronze Medal at the World Championships, and a Gold Medal at the NORCECA Games.

She played nine years (1984-1993) in Japan as a professional player/coach. During this time she was a three-time MVP, six-time Best Spiker, one-time Best Blocker, and six-time Most Point Maker in the league.

"I am honored to have been given the opportunity to lead a well-respected and proven volleyball program like Alabama A&M," Powell said.

"I would like to thank Mr. Hicks for trusting me and believing in the vision and philosophy that I will bring to the program. As anyone around here knows, the passion and history of volleyball in this area is the best in the country. To be a part of it is truly special."

Before accepting the head coaching position at Martin Methodist, she coached at Lee High School in Huntsville for four years. While there, she compiled a record of 108-50 and was ranked in the top 10 among volleyball coaches in the state.

In her first year at Martin Methodist, she was voted by her peers as the 1996 TranSouth Conference Coach of the Year. Under her guidance, Martin Methodist has turned their volleyball program into greatness. They have competed in numerous TranSouth Conference Tournament Finals and NAIA Regional Tournaments.

During the 2005 season she guided her team to the school's first-ever volleyball TransSouth Conference Regular Season and Tournament Championships and first NAIA Region XI Final, thus earning her recognition as the TSAC Coach of the Year for the second time in her career. She also had two players selected as NAIA All-Americans.

In recognition of her brilliant volleyball career, in 2007 Rose was honored as the recipient of the most prestigious award available to volleyball players. She was named to the All-Time Great Volleyball Player Award – an award that has been bestowed upon fewer than 100 players, both men and women.

Most recently, she was able to finish her education, by completing her studies and receiving her Bachelor's Degree in Human Services from Martin Methodist College in 2000. She now makes her home with her husband, Harry, and two sons, William and Brandon, in Huntsville, Alabama.

COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Saint Augustine's University Earns Nation's-Best 22 Men's All-America Track & Field Awards

NEW ORLEANS  -- Eleven Saint Augustine's University student-athletes led the way with 22 All-America men's awards on the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division II All-America list for the 2014 outdoor track & field season. The USTFCCCA released the list on Tuesday, May 27, 2014.

Seven women recorded eight All-America honors for the Lady Falcons. A student-athlete earned All-America honors if he or she earned a team point in their respective event at the 2014 NCAA Division II Outdoor Men's and Women's Track & Field Championship this past weekend in Allendale, Mich. Saint Augustine's University outscored Adams State 112 to 67 for its second straight men's outdoor championship and 35^th NCAA title overall for the program led by legendary Head Coach George Williams.

Burkheart Ellis Jr. (Soph./Raleigh, NC) of Saint Augustine's University was the only student-athlete to claim four All-America accolades. Teammates Joshua Edmonds (Sr./Jacksonville, FL), Jermaine Jones (Jr./Wilmington, NC) and Taffawee Johnson (Sr./St. Ann, Jamaica) were three-time All-American honorees.

Saint Augustine's University had four of the nation's nine male student-athletes who earned at least three All-America awards. On the women's side, Tia-Adana Belle (Fr./Bridgetown, Barbados) of the Lady Falcons earned multiple All-America awards, winning two.

Below is the list of men's and women's All-Americans from Saint Augustine's University and their respective events:

WOMEN

Tia-Adana Belle – 400 Hurdles, 4x400 Relay
Shakinah Brooks – Long Jump
Brittany Brown – 4x400 Relay
Akeisha Dumont – 4x400 Relay
Shamia Lassiter – 100 Hurdles
Ornella Livingston – 100 Dash
Cherrisse Lynch – 4x400 Relay

MEN

Roxroy Cato – 400 Hurdles, 4x400 Relay
Joshua Edmonds – 200 Dash, 400 Dash, 4x400 Relay
Burkheart Ellis Jr. – 200 Dash, 400 Dash, 4x100 Relay, 4x400 Relay
Daniel Jamieson – 4x100 Relay
Taffawee Johnson – 100 Dash, 200 Dash, 4x100 Relay
Jermaine Jones – 100 Dash, 200 Dash, 4x100 Relay
Elhadji Mbow – 400 Hurdles
Ty'reak Murray – 100 Hurdles
James Quarles – 4x400 Relay
David Shaw – Triple Jump
DeJon Wilkinson – Long Jump, Triple Jump

COURTESY SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

ECSU to suspend Baseball Program for next three seasons

ELIZABETH CITY, North Carolina -- Elizabeth City State University has announced the temporary suspension of its baseball program effective immediately.

During the next few years, ECSU will strengthen its fundraising efforts in support of all its athletic programs, including scholarships and facilities. ECSU anticipates a return to the baseball diamond beginning with the 2017-18 academic year. Head baseball coach Terrance Whittle will be reassigned within the Department, working on behalf of the program with a focus on the completion of a baseball field and other fundraising ventures for baseball scholarships.

Beginning with the 2014-15 academic year, the Athletic Department's sports sponsorship will be 10 sports, the minimum for NCAA Division II membership.

This decision may monetarily affect four baseball student-athletes who will be seniors this upcoming year. Student-athletes that continue their undergraduate education at ECSU will receive their athletic aid for 2014-15.Those who desire to transfer to another institution will be granted releases so that they may continue their playing careers.

"Suspending or eliminating a varsity sport should always be the last option for an athletic department because many people are impacted by such a decision", says J. Lin Dawson, Interim Athletic Director. "At the center of every decision and course of action are the student-athletes who trust Elizabeth City State University with their academic and athletic careers. Therefore, the decision to suspend baseball for three years is regretful and unfortunate. The Department of Athletics commits to (1) providing sound and well organized athletically-related experiences that lead to high achievement and lends to the overall satisfaction of student life and alumni pride, (2) graduating student-athletes, and (3) developing them as leaders to impact the community at large now and beyond their playing days. "

Due to financial restraints, the Athletic Department, like other entities at the University, must make significant changes to address the recent decline in enrollment. The temporary suspension of baseball is part of the University's intensive right-sizing plan to achieve financial stability.

While baseball is on hiatus, the University will use the time to raise the necessary resources to sponsor a competitive team and revive the efforts for proper facilities for our future home games.

COURTESY ELIZABETH CITY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Former SSU Tiger McGowin Promoted To Double-A

22 Year Old Kyle McGowin was drafted in in the fifth round of last year’s draft
out of Savannah State University by the Los Angeles Angels Major League
Baseball Club.
Courtesy Savannah State University Athletics

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas  --  Former Savannah State pitcher Kyle McGowin was recently promoted from High Single-A to Double-A in the Los Angeles Angels Minor League Baseball farm system.

McGowin started the season with the Inland Empire 66ers located in San Bernardino, California of the California League but is now a member of the Arkansas Travelers located in Little Rock, Arkansas and plays in the Texas League.

The lanky right-hander had an earned run average of 2.93 with the 66ers this season. McGowin made his debut with the Travelers two nights ago but took the loss, giving up six hits and three runs while striking out three in five innings.

During the month of April, McGowin was named the Angels farm Most Valuable Player. He pitched 33 innings, had a 1.91 ERA, gave up 27 hits, struck out 26 batters and walked nine, last month.

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Legendary author Maya Angelou dies at age 86

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- -- Maya Angelou, a renowned poet, novelist and actress, has died at age 86, her literary agent, Helen Brann, said Wednesday.

She died at her home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Brann said.

Also a professor, singer and dancer, Angelou's work spans several professions. In 2011, President Barack Obama awarded her with the Medal of Freedom, the country's highest civilian honor.

One of Angelou's most revered books was "I Know Why the Caged Sings."

Writer Julian Mayfield is said to have described the autobiography as "a work of art which eludes description."

Angelou spent her early years studying dance and drama in San Francisco but dropped out at age 14, instead becoming the city's first African-American female cable car conductor.

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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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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
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
https://twitter.com/xulagold
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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.

CONTINUE READING 

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/05/26/4139553/miami-hurricanes-baseball-regional.html#storylink=cpy

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.”

 

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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

CB Qua Cox, 2014 Indianapolis Colts Free Agent Signee
 Jackson State Tigers
Courtesy: JSU Athletics 

JACKSON, Mississippi — Years before Jackie Slater was a Hall of Fame offensive lineman, he was playing for Wingfield High School in Jackson, Mississippi, and hoping to attract the attention of college scouts.

This was in the early 1970s — about the time Southeastern Conference football teams were just beginning to recruit black players — so this massive teenager was mostly ignored by the big schools. But Jackson State welcomed him.

"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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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 12^th 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 10^th 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/1,000^th 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
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.

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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
Team Rosters
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.

Blue Tigers Romone Hill reflects after turning in his third All-American
performance of the NCAA Division II Championships.
Photo Courtesy: LU Athletics

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

Wiley College Ampomah wins national title at 2014 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championship

JOHN AMPOMAH
ALL-AMERICAN
WILEY COLLEGE WILDCAT
 COURTESY: WILEY COLLEGE ATHLETICS

GULF SHORES, Alabama  -- Less than a month removed from winning their first-ever conference championship in men's track and field, the Wiley Wildcats continue to earn recognition in athletics, this time on the national stage at the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

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

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

ANGELICA ALEXANDER
NAIA DIVISION I ALL-AMERICAN
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
GOLD NUGGETS
 

GULF SHORES, Alabama -- Angelica Alexander became Xavier University of Louisiana's second All-American of the 2014 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships when she placed fifth in the high jump Saturday.

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
XULAATHLETICS
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.