Florida A&M Baseball Clinches MEAC Southern Division Title With 20-4 Win Over NC A&T

TALLAHASSEE, Florida – Florida A&M (28-19, 17-5 MEAC) scored 13 runs in the first two innings and never let up on its way to a 20-4, seven inning, win over North Carolina A&T (13-39, 6-16 MEAC) at Moore-Kittles Field on Friday. It was the third time this season FAMU defeated NC A&T by a mercy rule. The Rattlers recorded 14 of its 24 hits in the first two innings, which was the most hits in a game this season and is the 26th time A&M has had 10+ hits in a game in 2016. Every starter recorded at least one hit for the Rattlers, while Alec Wong and Ben Ellzey each went 4-for-4. Wong has extended his streak to 11 straight at bats with a base hit.

The win was the 77th win for head coach Jamey Shouppe, which ties him for second all-time with Joe Durant (2001-2003) for wins over any consecutive three-year period in FAMU Baseball history. Shouppe is three wins away from tying the school record for wins in any three-year span.

Ricky Page (5-3) set a career-high in strikeouts for the second consecutive outing as he finished with nine strikeouts in five innings of work for the win. Page allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits and didn’t walk a batter.

Florida A&M used three pitchers in the win and didn’t walk a single batter, while totaling 12 strikeouts, including Cameron Sims strikeout to end the game.

Marlon Gibbs (2-for-2), Brian Davis (2-for-3), Jacky Miles, Jr. (3-for-5), Willis McDaniel (2-for-4) and Peter Jackson (3-for-5) all had multi-hit performances, while Davis (four RBI), Miles, Jr. (three RBI), Ellzey (five RBI), McDaniel (two RBI) and Jackson (four RBI) had multi- RBI performances. The four RBI for Jackson was a career high as well as the five RBI for Ellzey.

Javon Byrd recorded his first-career hit in the sixth inning, a single to left field.

FAMU jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning as six of the first seven batters recorded a base hit in the inning. Gibbs led off with a single to center field, but a misplayed ball by Myles Sowell allowed Gibbs to advance to second. Wong followed with a single up the middle for his eighth straight hit, which moved Gibbs to third. Wong went to second on a passed ball before Gibbs came home on an RBI single through the left side from Dylan Dillard. Miles, Jr. followed with an RBI single to plate Wong for the second run of the inning as Dillard was able to advance to third. Ben Ellzey later drove in Dillard from third with the fifth hit of the inning. McDaniel then recorded the fourth consecutive hit for the Rattlers, an RBI single to left field, as Miles, Jr. came home to score from third.

The Rattlers tacked on nine more runs in the second inning to increase their lead to 13-0. It was the second time this season FAMU had scored at least nine runs in an inning. Davis had a two-run triple in the inning, while Ellzey and Jackson each had two RBI doubles. Miles, Jr., McDaniel and Wong also added an RBI in the inning.

NC A&T got on the board with an unearned run in the third inning as the score was now 13-1. Ryan Jantsch led off with a single to left field and came around to score from first, when Page threw the ball past Davis at first while fielding a sac bunt attempt from Forest Kimbrell.

After being held scoreless in the third inning, Florida A&M scored two more runs in the fourth inning to push its lead to 15-1. Jackson led off with a single up the middle and Gibbs was hit-by-pitch to place runners on first and second with no outs. After a NC A&T pitching change, Wong took the second pitch he saw to center field for a single that loaded the bases. Davis then drew a bases loaded walk to plate Jackson from third and with two outs and the bases still loaded, Ellzey was hit-by-pitch to score Gibbs for the second run of the inning.

The Aggies scored their final three runs in the fifth inning that cut the Rattler lead to 15-4. James Rorie led off with a strikeout, but reached first on a wild pitch and Jantsch followed with a single to left field. Milton Rivera then took a pitch the other way for a double down the right line that scored both Rorie and Jantsch. Adan Ordonez followed with another double that brought home Rivera with two outs.

FAMU answered in the home half of the fifth inning with four more runs that made the score 19-4. AJ Elkins led off with a triple off the wall in right center and came home on an RBI groundout from Jackson. Gibbs was then hit-by-pitch and Wong singled through the left side as runners were now on first and second with one out. Davis then took a 3-1 pitch into the right center gap for an RBI double as Gibbs scored from second. With two outs, Miles, Jr. dropped in an RBI single into right field to bring home Gibbs. Ellzey then recorded his fourth hit of the day to plate Dillard.

The Rattlers scored one last run in the sixth inning for the final score of 20-4. Sims came in to pitch a scoreless seventh inning and ended the game with a strikeout to Ordonez.

Robert Peck (2-5) was touched up for 10 runs on 12 hits in the first 1.1 innings for the loss. Peck didn’t record a strikeout and walked one batter.

Florida A&M and North Carolina A&T will close out their regular season schedule on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 PM. Fans are encouraged
to arrive early as we will have a special ceremony to recognize our 2016 senior class.

As always, fans can follow Rattler Baseball on Twitter @BaseballFAMU and on Facebook. Live Stats are also available on the baseball schedule page of FAMUAthletics.com.

Box Score

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMAITON

The NFL Needs to Stop Talking About It and Simply Be About It

Stop The Window Dressing And Hire More Women And People of Color, Dammit!

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- How long have we been hearing about the NFL's great desire for diversity and inclusiveness in management and off-field employment opportunities?

At this point, they sound like your no-good cousin who sits around during every family bar-b-q saying, "You know what I'm going to do?....", pontificating on grandiose life changes and business plans, simply to spend the entire time between the next get-together doing diddly-squat, while hitting you up every few months asking, "Lemme hold a few dollars until I get things in order."

I'm happy to hear that the league that has long-denied the overwhelming medical evidence about brain concussions, brain injuries and suicides has struck up partnerships with the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) in order to provide opportunities for non-playing careers in the NFL.

But at this point, and please excuse my pessimism, I'm ready to tell the NFL what everybody wants to tell that manipulative loser of a cousin. "Ummmm, hell, no! I'm tired of your berlshit. You gets nothing here, partner. Get to steppin'!"

I'm happy that some athletic trainers, communications specialists, video directors, equipment managers and administrators will get a few internships, but I ain't buying that this is some great effort to diversity hiring efforts by the almighty, benevolent NFL.

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XU finishes 4-5 in long jump, qualifies 3 in 100

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — Xavier University of Louisiana's Keairez Coleman and Christopher Kennie finished 4-5 in the men's long jump Friday, and three from XU qualified for the women's 100-meter dash final in the HBCU National Classic track and field meet.
     
Coleman jumped 6.64 meters (21 feet, 9 1/2 inches), and Kennie jumped 6.61 meters (21-8 1/4).
     
Advancing to the 100 final were the Gold Nuggets' Chelsea James (12.11 seconds),Martina Wright (12.61) and Alexis Milton (12.64). James, Wright and Milton ran 3-7-8 in the preliminaries.
     
Xavier also will compete Saturday in the men's triple jump (Coleman) and the women's 400 and 1,600 relays. The meet is Xavier's last before the NAIA National Championships May 26-28 at Gulf Shores, Ala.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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WSSU’s Tonia Walker pleased with athletics program

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Tonia Walker, the athletics director at Winston-Salem State, can’t help but smile these days when she considers the state of her Division II program.

Cultivating a winning attitude and stressing graduation of athletes isn’t easy, especially when funding continues to be a problem.

There are other issues Walker faces in the coming years, but she is ready to tackle those one at a time. It’s a good thing she’s a natural problem solver, and that comes with her years of experience in college athletics.

Personally, Walker and her husband, Wayne, became grandparents for the first time and in between spoiling their granddaughter, Skylar, she is intent on making sure WSSU stays on top in the CIAA.
Here are a few questions Walker answered about the state of the WSSU athletics program.

Q: You just completed your second year as athletics director since taking over for Bill Hayes, how successful was 2015-16?

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Brown, Perry Join NSU Men’s Basketball Staff

NORFOLK, Virginia – Head coach Robert Jones announced today that Jamal Brown and former Spartan player Antoine Perry have been officially hired to join the staff of the Norfolk State men's basketball program beginning in the 2016-17 season.

Brown will serve as an assistant coach, while Perry will become the team's new director of operations. Brown takes over the third assistant coaching position vacated when Larry Vickers became the permanent head coach for the NSU women's team. Perry, a 2010 graduate of Norfolk State, rejoins the program after spending the past two seasons as a graduate manager with the Virginia Tech men's basketball team.

Along with his on-court duties coaching the team, Brown will also serve as NSU's recruiting coordinator while handling scheduling and team travel.

He arrives at Norfolk State after spending the 2015-16 season as an assistant coach at fellow MEAC school North Carolina A&T. He is well-known within the league after also serving stints as an assistant coach with South Carolina State and UMES and one year as the head coach at his alma mater S.C. State, as well.

"I am very familiar with Jamal from his many years in the league," said Jones. "He brings a wealth of experience to the staff, and he is a tireless recruiter. We are excited to make JB a Spartan."

"I am thrilled to work with Coach Jones and become a member of the Green and Gold family," said Brown. "I admire the job that he and his staff have done over the three years leading the team. I look forward to being a part of a program that competes for championships every year."

Brown spent the first six seasons of his coaching career as an assistant coach at S.C. State under former head coach Cy Alexander, helping lead the Bulldog program to MEAC titles in 1998, 2000 and '03. Brown spent the next three seasons under Alexander at Tennessee State as the associate head coach before returning to S.C. State for one season as the head coach in 2006-07.

Brown also served as the associate head coach under Frankie Allen at UMES for five seasons from 2007-12. While there, he was selected to attend the ACE Program for Minority Coaches. He later coached for one year at Winston-Salem State in 2013-14 as an assistant before spending the 2015-16 season as an assistant under Alexander and then interim head coach Jay Joyner at N.C. A&T.

Brown graduated from S.C. State in 1997 with a degree in business marketing. He was a member of the Bulldogs' MEAC Championship team in '96. He is a native of North Charleston, South Carolina.

Perry will assist with certain aspects of recruiting while also handling a variety of other duties, including managing the team's budget, film exchange and video operations, hiring and supervising the team's managers, and assisting with compliance issues. One of Perry's main duties will also be overseeing the strength and conditioning program for both the NSU men's and women's basketball teams.

"Antoine was a hard-nosed competitor, and now he brings that same hard-working attitude to our program," said Jones, who coached Perry during his last three years at NSU from 2007-10. "Having been at the highest level of basketball in the ACC, Antoine can help enhance our staff in many different ways. He is a rising star in this business."

"I am extremely excited and thankful for the opportunity to come aboard," said Perry. "As a former Spartan, and alumnus, I believe that I have a vested interest in the success of this program. I look forward to doing all that I can to help us succeed here."

Prior to the previous two seasons at Virginia Tech, Perry also spent three years as an assistant coach with Nansemand River High School in Suffolk while also working a variety of camps in the Hampton Roads area.

A native of Norfolk, Perry played for four seasons on the Spartan bas
ketball team from 2006-10 after attending Booker T. Washington HS. He played in 77 games, including nine starts, during his four years with NSU.

He earned his degree in business management from Norfolk State in 2010.

It was also announced that Kelvin Hawkins, who has served as a volunteer director of operations with NSU the past several years, will now hold the title of special assistant to the head coach.

Mike Bello, Asst. SID
COURTESY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

NSU Signs Vickers to 3-Year Contract

NORFOLK, Virginia -- Norfolk State University Director of Athletics Marty L. Miller announced Friday that women's basketball coach Larry Vickers has been signed to a three-year contract to lead the program.

Vickers was named interim head coach on Jan. 20 and coached the Spartans for the final 11 games of the season. He was appointed to the permanent post on March 8, originally on a one-year contract. The new three-year contract replaces the one-year deal and will keep Vickers as coach through the 2018-19 season.

"I am extremely happy to finalize the arrangements for Coach Vickers to serve as the head women's basketball coach for the next three years. We were impressed with the improvements that the women's basketball program made during the brief period that he coached the team," Miller said. "Due to his background and experience, I think he will be successful in achieving success for the program. I want to thank President Moore and the Board of Visitors for their vote of confidence in the decision to approve Coach Vickers to lead this program to higher heights."

The 2016-17 season will be Vickers' ninth season as a coach at NSU. He served eight years as an assistant coach with the men's basketball program.



Matt Michalec, Asst. AD/Communications
COOURTESY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Cleveland Browns' VP sees nothing but good coming from NFL-HBCU partnership

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Sashi Brown has a degree from Harvard Law, and he’s proud of that. It helped get him where he is, which after a couple of course changes is in the front office of the Cleveland Browns as vice president for football operations.

But there’s another HU he believes isn’t getting as much notice in his success story.

“At my core, I’m a Hampton Pirate,” said Brown, HU Class of 1998. “It’s had every bit a part in shaping me and developing me into the position I’m in now.”

Which is why Brown is happy to see the NFL reaching out to Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Last week, the league announced a program with the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and Southwestern Athletic Conference, both comprised of HBCUs, that’s designed to add minorities to administration roles.

The initiative will include internships at the league and team levels, along with job-shadowing programs. There also will be a summit at the Celebration Bowl, a game between the MEAC and SWAC champions, in which NFL personnel will discuss non-playing opportunities in the league.

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Gators sweep South Carolina State, move on to face Syracuse

GAINESVILLE, Florida -- The No. 1 Gators entered Friday’s match against South Carolina State as the Southeastern Conference Tournament champions and fresh off a two week stretch with no games.

They weren’t the only champions at the Ring Tennis Complex, though. SCSU won its conference — the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference — as well.

However, when the two conference champions met on the court, the match was all one-sided.

The Bulldogs just couldn't find their footing against a Gator team that outmatched it in every aspect. And the final score of each match reflected it, as the Gators won big. Five of six Gators won their first set 6-0.

Florida (22-2, 13-0 SEC) defeated South Carolina State (8-11, 4-1 MEAC) 4-0 on Friday to advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in a match where South NCarolina State only took four games to Florida’s 60 in singles.

It was the Gators’ 17th win in a row.

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California-strong Bethune-Cookman enters MEAC Tournament on a roll

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- Looking at the Bethune-Cookman softball roster, you may get a little confused.

You may think you're looking at USC's roster, or maybe UCLA's. You see, just one player hails from Florida while the other 13 are from California.

“A lot of these kids are kids I inherited, but we do have another five California kids coming in next year,” said a smiling coach Laura Watten, who is in the second year of her second stint at B-CU. “The coach before me (Chris Cochran), I guess she didn't do a lot of recruiting in Florida, but in California.

“But it's also a case where they'll come here because they like the weather, and it's a case where the coaches and the travel ball coaches trust your system and they'll feed you players.”

Two of the California contingent are B-CU rookies, but already have made an impact on the Wildcats (17-30), who will enter Thursday's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex with an 11-4 conference record and as the second seed in the South Division.

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No. 17 Gold Nuggets qualify for NAIA tourney again

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana dropped one place to 17th Monday in the NAIA Women's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll, but the Gold Nuggets still earned a berth to next week's national tournament.

The Gold Nuggets (8-13) received the eighth of nine at-large bids. They qualified for nationals for the fifth consecutive year, the eighth time in nine years and the 10th time overall.

The NAIA National Championships will be played May 17-21 at Copeland-Cox Mobile Tennis Center in Mobile, Ala. It will be Mobile's 13th consecutive year as host.

The NAIA will announce seedings and the bracket Tuesday.

Xavier will be in familiar company at nationals. The Gold Nuggets played six of the other 23 qualifiers a combined eight times during the regular season. Xavier won one of those matchups, a 5-4 decision at Keiser March 23. Keiser is ranked 14th this week.

Georgia Gwinnett and Auburn Montgomery are 1-2 in the poll. In the previous poll two weeks ago, they shared the top spot and each collected seven first-place votes. But this time the Grizzlies grabbed 11-of-14 first-place votes to surge ahead of AUM, the 2015 champion.

The top-25 appearance is the Gold Nuggets' 38th in a row. They began their streak May 1, 2012.
The lowest-ranked team to earn an at-large bid was No. 18 Cumberland.

NAIA Women's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll

1. Georgia Gwinnett
2. Auburn Montgomery
3. Lindsey Wilson
4. SCAD Savannah
5. Brenau
6. Cardinal Stritch
7. Westmont
8. Indiana Wesleyan
9. Middle Georgia
10. William Woods
11. Arizona Christian
12. Davenport
13. William Carey
14. Keiser
15. Northwestern Ohio
16. Olivet Nazarene
17. Xavier
18. Cumberland
19. LSU-Alexandria
20. Lewis-Clark State
21. St. Thomas (Fla.)
22. McPherson
23. Mobile
24. Reinhardt
25. Georgetown (Ky.)


Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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No. 3 Rush first in line for at-large bid nationals

NEW ORLEANS — For the second consecutive year, Xavier University of Louisiana has secured the first at-large bid to the NAIA Men's Tennis National Championship.

Xavier (14-7) remained No. 3 in the coaches poll announced Monday afternoon, then learned 90 minutes later it was among the 24 teams to qualify for nationals.

The Gold Rush qualified for nationals for the eighth consecutive year and the eighth time overall.

The NAIA National Championships will be played May 17-21 at Copeland-Cox Mobile Tennis Center in Mobile, Ala. It will be Mobile's 13th consecutive year as host. The NAIA will announce seedings and the bracket Tuesday.

Xavier is 8-1 this season against NAIA opponents, 4-1 against the top 10. The Gold Rush have a pair of victories against No. 9 William Carey and one each against No. 4 Northwestern Ohio and No. 6 Keiser. The Gold Rush lost 5-1 Friday at No. 1 Georgia Gwinnett — the two-time defending national champion — in an NAIA unaffiliated group tournament.

The top-25 appearance is the Gold Rush's 76th in a row. That streak began April 4, 2007. The XU men are in the top 10 for the 46th consecutive time; that streak began May 3, 2011.

Georgia Gwinnett is a unanimous No. 1 for the 17th consecutive poll, dating to the 2014 postseason rankings.

The lowest-ranked team to earn an at-large bid was No. 20 Warner.

NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll

1. Georgia Gwinnett
2. Auburn Montgomery
3. Xavier
4. Northwestern Ohio
5. Dalton State
6. Keiser
7. Lindsey Wilson
8. Coastal Georgia
9. William Carey
10. Aquinas
11. Cardinal Stritch
12. Lewis-Clark State
13. Reinhardt
14. Westmont
15. McPherson
16. Olivet Nazarene
17. Mobile
18. Cumberlands
19. Bethany (Kan.)
20. Warner
21. Middle Georgia
22. Pikeville
23. Campbellsville
24. Tennessee Wesleyan
25. IU Southeast


Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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17 current, former Xavier athletes receive degrees

Volleyball graduates CeCe Williams and Franziska Pirkl. Pirkl was magna cum laude.
#xulagrad16 — at Xavier University of Louisiana.

NEW ORLEANS — Seventeen current and former student-athletes received degrees Saturday at Xavier University of Louisiana's 2016 commencement at XU's Convocation Center.
     
It was Xavier's 89th annual commencement. The total number of athletic-related degrees was 20.
     
Student-athletes graduating (with high schools in parentheses) were:
     •  Vashni Korin Balleste, Rock Tavern, N.Y. (Washingtonville), women's tennis, bachelor of arts . . . honors in English.
     •  Jodi Simone Chatters, Lake Charles, La. (St. Louis Catholic), women's volleyball, bachelor of science . . . magna cum laude.
     •  Ryan Derek DeRousselle, Marrero, La. (Archbishop Shaw), men's basketball, master of arts.
     •  Brion J. Flowers, Lafayette, La. (St. Thomas More), women's tennis, bachelor of science.
     •  Whitney Monaté Gathright, New Orleans, La. (John Curtis Christian), women's basketball, bachelor of science.
     •  Emoni Anita Harvey, Memphis, Tenn. (Briarcrest Christian), women's basketball, bachelor of arts.
     •  Jodi De'Shae Hill, Prairieville, La. (Dutchtown), women's volleyball, bachelor of arts . . . cum laude.
     •  Zahri Iman Jackson, Kingwood, Texas (Kingwood Park), women's cross country/track and field, bachelor of science.
     •  Mario Alexander Myles, Stone Mountain, Ga. (Redan), men's tennis, master of arts in teaching.
     •  Simone-Alyse Nicole Elizabeth Newell, Detroit, Mich. (The Roeper School), women's tennis, bachelor of arts . . . honors in English.
     •  Franziska Antonia Pirkl, Munich, Germany (Theodolinden Gymnasium), women's volleyball, bachelor of arts . . . magna cum laude, honors in business.
     •  Xavier A. Rogers, Denton, Texas (Lake Dallas), men's basketball, bachelor of science.
     •  Alesha Noel Smith, Athens, Ga. (Clarke Central), women's basketball, bachelor of arts . . . cum laude, University Service Key Award.
     •  Briana Simms, Hendersonville, Tenn. (Station Camp), women's cross country/track and field, bachelor of science.
     •  Nikita Soifer, Beer Sheva, Israel (Hof Hasharon), men's tennis, bachelor of science.
     •  Jarvis Kelvin Thibodeaux, Houston, Texas (St. Pius X), men's basketball, bachelor of science . . . honors in theology.
     •  Cecily Cymone Williams, Houma, La. (Vandebilt Catholic), women's volleyball, bachelor of science.
     •  Kailey Marie Williams, Fort Worth, Texas (Martin), women's cross country/track and field, bachelor of science.
     Also graduating were:
     •  Omotolani K. Etti, men's basketball student manager, bachelor of arts.
     •  Jasmine Nicole Renard, basketball statistician, bachelor of science.
     •  Ahmad Abdul Azeem Siddiqui, men's basketball student manager, bachelor of science . . . honors in English.
     
Xavier is one of 44 colleges listed as a "Best Buy School" in the 2016 edition of the Fiske Guide to Colleges. Xavier's intercollegiate teams compete in the NAIA and the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference. (Cross country competed as a Red River Athletic Conference affiliate member in 2015.)
    
NOTES:  DeRousselle is an XU men's basketball assistant coach . . . Balleste and Flowers will compete for Xavier next week in the NAIA National Tennis Championships at Mobile, Ala.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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North Carolina A&T Aggies Men's Track and Field Earns #21 National Ranking

National Top-25

Regional Top-15

May 2-8 Rankings

GREENSBORO, North Carolina – The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), the governing body of track and field in the USA, released its latest top-25 NCAA Division I team rankings on Monday with the North Carolina A&T men’s track and field team listed among the top-25 for the first time in program history. They jumped an amazing 71 spots from 92nd to 21st in a week.

N.C. A&T’s top-25 slot puts them higher than some schools from big-named conferences such as South Carolina of the SEC and Kansas and Texas Christian of the Big 12. The Aggies’ previous highest ranking was 48th in 2008. The Aggies are ranked eighth in the USTFCCCA southeast region behind Kentucky, South Carolina, Virginia, Virginia Tech, N.C. State, Louisville and Clemson.

“Our team and staff are excited about our current national and regional rankings,” said director of track and field programs Duane Ross. “We’ve known all season that these guys can compete with anyone in the country at any time. There’s still a lot of competing to do. The goal is the awards podium at the NCAA championships. Once we have that, I’ll celebrate. We don’t want to be the best HBCU track and field team in the country. We want to be the best track and field team in the country…period.”

Mightily assisting in the team’s national ranking were the performances given over the weekend at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Outdoor Track & Field Championships held at N.C. A&T’s Irwin Belk Track as N.C. A&T broke two MEAC records. The USTFCCCA recognized the top-10 college track & field performance in the country from May 2-8 by reviewing every college track & field contest from all levels (NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA, etc.). Thirteen Aggies made the list, and a few received multiple recognition.

Aggie junior Christopher Belcher had the highest rankings. His performances in the 100 and 200 meters were established as the best in the country for the week, as he marked a MEAC record 10.07 and a 20.39 respectively. Moreover, surpassing simply weekend acclamation, Belcher’s performances elevated him nationally. He ranks third in the nation, second in the east region, in the 100. In the 200, he is fifth nationally and fourth in the east.

When disqualifying the times that were wind-aided, Belcher sits at No. 1 in the country in the 100 and No. 2 in the 200. Though times that are aided by the wind (where the wind measures 2.0 meters per second and above) are considered for qualifying times to NCAA regionals and nationals, they do not count toward any form of record breaking times or marks for conferences, regionals, nationals, etc., making Belcher’s performances even more significant.

“Chris is by far one of the hardest working athletes I’ve ever had. I have to make him take days off from practice,” said Ross. “What makes him so dangerous is that he and I are on the exact same page about how far we want him to go in this sport. He wants it all: the NCAA title, the Olympic trials title, and ultimately the Olympic medal. He’s an absolute joy to coach and watch compete and his future is very bright.”

Over the weekend, Belcher also assisted the 4x100 team in making the USTFCCCA top-10 list. Junior Maurice Eaddy, junior Caleb Gabriel and freshman Rodney Rowe teamed with Belcher to run a MEAC record 39.58 that placed them second in the nation for the week. The 4x1 team is ranked twice among the top-24 teams in the east region. Their 39.58 time has them ranked 11th and their 39.98 time at the Florida Relays (3/31/16) has them ranked 23rd.

Also making the USTFCCCA list for the men was the 4x400 relay team consisting of freshman Justin Hamilton, junior Dorian Claggett, sophomore Corey Aiken, and sophomore Dajuan Harding. The men’s 3:07.67 in the relay put them at third in the country for the week. Harding also had an individual performance rank third in his 46.14 mark in the 400. The last male to make the list was junior Frank Quarles, who won the individual conference title in the men’s long jump over the weekend. In the long jump, Quarles reached 25-feet, 7 ¼-inches in the finals that ranked third and 25-feet, 2-inches in the trials that ranked ninth last week.

As for the women, sophomore India Brown and freshman Kayla White were listed as the top individual performers. USTFCCCA ranked Brown’s times second and fourth in the 100, with her preliminary time of 11.47 and her finals run of 11.50.

Brown was also listed 10th in the in the 200 for her 23.75 sprint in the championships. Brown won MEAC championships in the 100 and 200 over the weekend.

Claiming three individual weekly rankings of her own, White took seventh in the 100 (11.57) and fourth (13.48) and eighth (13.52) in the 100-meter hurdles listings. Her 13.52 helped her win the MEAC title in the 100mh. Brown and White were also ranked together with freshman Yakira Love and sophomore Morgan Knight in the 4x100. The quartet was listed fifth for their 44.96 performance in the event.

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Farrier impressing as Morgan State interim coach

COURTESY MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- The 2015 coach of the year in the FCS began last season with an interim label, only to shed it midway through the regular season in what was a spectacular turnaround for his team.

It would be hard for any interim coach to match what Portland State's Bruce Barnum accomplished in earning STATS FCS Coach of the Year - staging a six-win improvement, beating a pair of FBS opponents and leading the Vikings to the national playoffs for only the second time.

But Fred Farrier, the interim head coach at Morgan State, has made a solid impression over the first three months since he was elevated from offensive coordinator to replace Lee Hull, who resigned from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference program after two seasons to become the Indianapolis Colts' wide receivers coach.

The 44-year-old Farrier says he's "chasing championships" at Morgan State. As an assistant coach, he helped the Bears earn a share of the 2014 MEAC title and reach the FCS playoffs for the first time, with his offense setting 35 school records.

"He's been evaluated on a daily, weekly basis here to determine, hey, is he the right guy? That could happen at any time," said Morgan State athletic director Floyd Kerr, whose program is the only one among 124 FCS schools with an interim coach.

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Dylan Dillard’s RBI Triple in the 10th Inning Lifts Florida A&M Over NC Central 5-4

DYLAN DILLARD

DURHAM, North Carolina – Dylan Dillard scored Alec Wong with an RBI triple in the top of the 10th inning to give Florida A&M (26-18, 16-5 MEAC) a 5-4 win over North Carolina Central (24-27, 11-13 MEAC) at the Durham Athletic Park on Sunday afternoon. The FAMU pitching staff combined to hold NC Central hitless over the final 6.2 innings. Sawyer Betts came in to pitch in the fifth inning and went five scoreless innings of relief with no hits, one walk and three strikeouts to earn the win. Betts faced the minimum number of batters. Dillard finished the day 3-for-5 at the plate with a double, triple and four RBI.

Kendal Weeks sat the Eagles down in order in the bottom of the 10th inning to pick up his fifth save of the season. Offensively, Brian Davis also went 2-for-5 with a double, RBI and a run scored.

The Rattlers scored first with three runs in the third inning for a 3-0 lead. Marlon Gibbs and Wong drew back-to-back walks with two outs before Davis scored Gibbs from second with an RBI single to center field. Both runners then advanced on a wild pitch andDillard drove in both Wong and Davis with a two-run single to left field.

NC Central answered to take the lead with four runs (two earned) in the bottom of the third inning for a 4-3 lead. Ellington Hopkins dropped in a bloop single to left field to lead off the inning. Trevor Theissen then reached on a fielding error by Ryan Hutson as runners were now on first and second with no outs. James Dey followed with a single to right field to load the bases and Hopkins scored from third on a groundout to second by Carlos Ortiz. Zachary Marszal plated Thiessen with an RBI single into center field and Dey came home on a single to right field by Tom Prospero that tied the game at 3-3. With runners on the corners, Danny Rodriguez came in for relief of starter Chase Jarrell. Marszal would score the then go-ahead run on a sac fly to left field from Conrad Kovalcik. Rodriguez was able to get Christian Triplett to end the inning on a groundout to short.

FAMU tied the game at 4-4 on an RBI double from Dillard in the fifth inning. Gibbs led off with a single into the right center gap and was later out at second as Wong reached on a fielder’s choice. With two outs, Wong moved to second on a balk and then came around to score the tying run on an RBI double into right center from Dillard.

In the 10th inning with one out, Wong doubled down the right line and Dillard crushed an RBI triple over the head of the centerfielder, Ortiz, to give the Rattlers a 5-4 lead.

Justice Sampson (3-3) suffered the loss after giving up the go-ahead run in the 10th inning. Sampson pitched 0.2 innings with one run on two hits.

Florida A&M returns home this week to end the 2016 regular season with a five game home stand. The Rattlers will face Mercer for a pair of mid-week games on Tuesday and Wednesday with first pitch scheduled for 4:00 PM on both days. FAMU will then close out the regular season against North Carolina A&T next weekend at Moore-Kittles Field. There will be a single game on Friday and a doubleheader on Saturday.

As always, fans can follow Rattler Baseball on Twitter @BaseballFAMU and on Facebook. Live Stats are also availableon the baseball schedule page of FAMUAthletics.com.

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Alabama State Wins Seventh Straight Outdoor Track Title

NORMAL, Alabama – For the seventh straight year and the 11^thtime overall, the Alabama State Lady Hornets won the Southwestern Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships continued Saturday at Alabama A&M University’s Louis Crews Stadium. It marks the fifth consecutive season that the Hornet women have won the SWAC Triple Crown (Cross Country, Indoor Track/Field and Outdoor Track/Field).

In second was Grambling State with 127 points. Prairie View was third (103.50). Alabama State’s Sade Lavallias (22 points through three events) shared the Most Outstanding Track Performer award with Grambling’s Halima Chepkwony (22 points through four events), and Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Sireta Roach won the Most Outstanding Field Performer, racking up 25 points through four events.

Ritchie Beene from Alabama State was named Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year. Full standings, results from day three, and all-conference teams are listed below.

FINAL STANDINGS 
1. Alabama State – 176.5
2. Grambling - 127
3. Prairie View – 103.5
4. Texas Southern – 96
5. Southern – 76
6.  Alabama A&M – 62
7. Alcorn State - 53
8. Arkansas-Pine Bluff - 51
9. Jackson State - 45
10. Mississippi Valley - 24

WOMEN’S DAY THREE HIGHLIGHTS

Alabama State’s Kadijah Gordon won her second event of the meet, claiming the victory in the Triple Jump with a distance of 12.25m. Grambling State’s Darlene Desmangles was second (12.10m) and with a distance of 11.52m, Texas Southern’s DaShavonta Kinney finished third.

Latoya Gilding of Jackson State claimed the gold in the Discus, clearing 49.47m. Southern’s Georgeanna Felder and Jamira Russ rounded out the top three, with Felder (48.04m) finishing second and Russ finishing third with 47.04m.

Grambling State’s 4x100m relay team – Takyra Beverly, Chellane Jones, Creshonda Carter, Ja’lyn Simon – won its event with a time of 44.73. In second was Alcorn State (45.77) and Texas Southern finished third with a time of 45.87.

Brandee Ebert of Alabama State won the 1500m run with a time of 4:48.15. Halima Chepkwony was second with a result of 4:55.20 and in third place was Jackson State’s Stherline Silencieux (4:58.84).

Monica Howard of Alabama State (14.17) held off a late charge from Prairie View’s Deonca Bookman (14.57) to win the 100m hurdles. Bookman finished second, and Jackson State’s Khadijah Qualls finished third (14.87).

Prairie View’s Nekiesha Bailey won the women’s high jump with a leap of 1.76m, which was .02m off the conference record. Alicia Terrell (Alabama State) was second (1.67m), and Aaliyah Chatman of Texas Southern was third with a mark of 1.63m.

Creshonda Carter of Grambling (54.95) took the top spot on the podium in the 400m dash, with Taylor Sunkett of Alabama A&M (55.49) finishing second and Texas Southern’s Breana Dockery claiming third with a mark of 55.55.

Grambling State’s Chellane Jones (11.62) won the women’s 100m dash, and Alcorn State’s Jasmine Robinson was second with 11.75. Winning the bronze medal was Grambling State’s Ja’lyn Simon (11.92).

For the third-straight year, Alabama State’s Tatianna Etienne won the 800m conference crown, doing so in 2:07.70. Teammate Shantia Wilson was second at 2:10.91 and Alabama A&M’s Keanna McIntyre finished third at 2:11.70.

Deonca Bookman (Prairie View) won the 400m Hurdles in 59.80 seconds. Mississippi Valley’s LaKeia Hill (1:02.59) was second, and in third was Southern’s Rykeisha Bankhead (1:02.91).

Grambling’s Chellane Jones was crowned the 200m dash SWAC champion with a time of 24.07 seconds. In second was Alcorn State’s Jasmine Robinson (24.31) and Breana Dockery of Texas Southern earned the bronze (24.44).

In the women’s 5000m run, Artrailia Lesane of Alabama State clocked in at 19:28.35 to win the event. Dynasty Williams of Alcorn State (19:34.09) finished second, and coming in third place was Alabama State’s Sade Lavallias (19:41.27).

During the final event of the championships, Grambling State – Ja’lyn Simon, Creshonda Carter, Dana Broadnax, Chellane Jones -- was able to claim the 4x400m Relay (3:42.18), overtaking Alabama State during the first half of the final leg. Prairie View finished second (3:43.24), and Alabama State (3:44.22) was third.

ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
Lori Davis (Alabama State)
Sade Lavallias (Alabama State)
Quinta Collier (Alabama State)
Jamira Russ (Southern)
Sireta Roach (Arkansas-Pine Bluff)
Kadijah Gordon (Alabama State)
Latoya Gilding (Jackson State)
Jada Curbeam (Prairie View)
Keanna McIntyre (Alabama A&M)
Creshonda Carter (Grambling)
Chellane Jones (Grambling)
Takyra Beverly (Grambling)
Ja’lyn Simon (Grambling)
Brandee Ebert (Alabama State)
Monica Howard (Alabama State)
Deonca Bookman (Prairie View)
Tatiana Etienne (Alabama State)
Artrailia Lesane (Alabama State)
Dana Broadnax (Grambling State)

ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
Ashley Shepard (Southern)
Georgeanna Felder (Southern)
Darlene Desmangles (Grambling)
Shakalia Williams (Alabama State)
Christine Powers (Prairie View)
Camirey Jackson (Prairie View)
Kenya Wheeler (Grambling)
Chelsea Prather (Alabama A&M)
Tradeshia Conner (Alcorn State)
Chinyere Mbonu (Alcorn State)
Jada Hunt (Alcorn State)
Jasmine Robinson (Alcorn State)
Halima Chepkwony (Grambling)
Taylor Sunkett (Alabama A&M)
Shantia Wilson (Alabama State)
LaKeia Hill (Mississippi Valley)
Dynasty Williams (Alcorn State)
Husniyyah Rogers (Prairie View)
Takara Coleman (Prairie View)
Brandalyn Williams (Prairie View)

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Texas Southern Claims Outdoor Track and Field Title

NORMAL, Alabama  – The Texas Southern Tigers won the Southwestern Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships continued Saturday at Alabama A&M University’s Louis Crews Stadium. It marks the fourth consecutive season that the Hornet women have won the SWAC Triple Crown (Cross Country, Indoor Track/Field and Outdoor Track/Field).

In second was Jackson State with 106.50 points. Alabama State finished third with 106 points. Jackson State’s Bentrell McGee won the Most Outstanding Track Performer award, winning the 100m Dash, 110m Hurdles and 200m Dash events. Southern’s Reginald Redding won the Most Outstanding Field Performer, racking up 28 points through three events.

Clyde Duncan from Alabama State was named Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year. Full standings, results from day three, and all-conference teams are listed below.

FINAL STANDINGS
1. Texas Southern – 150.5

2. Jackson State – 106.50

3. Alabama State - 106

4. Southern - 102

5. Grambling State  - 89

6. Prairie View A&M - 80

7. Arkansas-Pine Bluff - 60

8. Alabama A&M – 55

9. Mississippi Valley - 48

10. Alcorn State - 12

MEN’S DAY THREE HIGHLIGHTS

Travis Sanders of Texas Southern prevailed in the men’s high jump, as he cleared 7-00.25 feet in the event (2.14m) in less tries than Grambling’s David Parker to earn the gold. Parker was second, and coming in third place was Dyrez Ribero of Alabama State (2.10m).

Jawalyn Brooks (Texas Southern) earned the victory in the pole vault with a clearance of 4.80m. In second was Southern’s Desmond Thomas with a height of 4.45m, and Texas Southern’s Cassius King passed 4.25m to earn third.

D’Andre Lewis of Texas Southern ran a 3:58.91 in the 1500m run to win the gold, and Jackson State took the remaining two spots went to Jackson State. Raheem Skinner (4:01.63) was second, and James Curtis (4:04.85) was third.

Terrance Jenkins, Justin Davis, Ryan Hall and Kevin Spraggins (Alabama State) won the 4x100m relay with a mark of 40.47 seconds. Southern finished second (40.65) and with a time of 40.77, Alabama A&M finished third.

With a toss of 48.05m, Jackson State’s Deshaun Allen won the gold medal in the Discus. Finishing second was Southern’s Reginald Redding (46.89m) and Roshaine Byfield of Alabama State was third with a throw of 42.74m.

Texas Southern swept the men’s triple jump, with Tevin Kimble (15.09m) winning the event. Harvey Kendall Jr. finished second with a leap of 14.94m, and Ian Williams Jr. (14.87m) was third.

Bentrell McGee of Jackson State clocked in at 14.08 seconds to claim the win in the 110m Hurdles. Shane Martin (Mississippi Valley State) was second at 14.33 seconds, and in third was Prairie View’s Logan Williams (14.47).

Jamael McTear (Grambling State) overtook Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Jerrel Wilson down the stretch to win the 400m dash. McTear won with a mark of 46.50, and Wilson was second with a time of 47.11. Texas Southern’s Darius Birden (47.24) was third.

Bentrell McGee was .05 away from a new conference record, winning the 100m dash in 10.19. Southern took the next two spots on the medal stand, with Tylor Lighten (10.42) in second and Darell Nettles (10.49) coming in third.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Malique Smith (1:53.30) was the winner of the men’s 800m run, with Bryont Brown of Alabama State (1:55.67) was the silver medalist, and in third place was Grambling’s Montieco Harris (1:57.82).

Justin Cooper (UAPB) was able to withstand a late surge from Prairie View’s Logan Williams to claim the gold in the 400m Hurdles. Cooper won with a time of 52.10 seconds. Williams finished second at 52.29, and in third was Alabama State’s Terrance Adams (53.50).

Bentrell McGee of Jackson State’s also won the 200m dash with a time of 20.57, Prairie View’s Samuel Omoera (20.93) was second, and in third was Grambling’s Jamael McTear (20.94).

Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s 4x400m Relay team – Jerrel Wilson, Justin Cooper, Malique Smith, Juwan Parker – won its event with a time of 3:10.11. Prairie View was second (3:13.12) and Alabama State finished third (3:14.00)

ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
Hassan Chepkwony (Grambling)

Lawrence Williams (Southern)

Reginald Redding (Southern)

Maurice Jones (Alabama A&M)

Drayton Rolle (Texas Southern)

Romello Nalepa (Mississippi Valley)

Travis Sanders (Texas Southern)

Tevin Kimble (Texas Southern)

Bentrell McGee (Jackson State)

Deshaun Allen (Jackson State)

D’Andre Lewis (Texas Southern)

Justin Cooper (Arkansas-Pine Bluff)

Malique Smith (Arkansas-Pine Bluff)

Jamael McTear (Grambling)

Jawalyn Brooks (Texas Southern)

Jerrel Wilson (Arkansas-Pine Bluff)

Juwan Parker (Arkansas-Pine Bluff)

ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
Aaron Albert (Mississippi Valley)

Miles Dortch (Arkansas-Pine Bluff)

Terrell Perry (Texas Southern)

O’Shane Shaw (Alabama State)

William Gordon (Alcorn State)

Harvey Kendall Jr. (Texas Southern)

Akil Bennett (Southern)

Aaron Austin (Prairie View)

David Parker (Grambling)

Samuel Omoera (Prairie View)

Logan Williams (Prairie View)

Bryont Brown (Alabama State)

Tylor Lighten (Southern)

Jerrel Wilson (Arkansas-Pine Bluff)

Shane Martin (Mississippi Valley)

Raheem Skinner (Jackson State)

Yanik Duffus (Southern)

Jaylin Thomas (Southern)

Darrell Nettles (Southern)

Desmond Thomas (Southern)

Darwin Allen (Prairie View)

Brandon Kirby (Prairie View)

William Polley (Prairie View)

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Runners-Up! Lincoln Blue Tigers Takes 2nd at MIAA Championship! Lincoln Men Takes Third

MARYVILLE, Missiouri  --  Diana Cauldwell claimed the High Point Scorer Award after helping the Lincoln women's outdoor track & field team take second at the MIAA Championships. The three-day meet was hosted by Northwest Missouri State University from Friday through Sunday (May 6-8).

Cauldwell won both the triple jump (12.42m) and the long jump (6.19m), and was a member of LU's winning 4x100m relay team. Joining with Chrisdale McCarthy, Kimberly Bailey and Venicha Baker, Cauldwell helped Lincoln win the relay in 45.39. Cauldwell also took fifth in the 100m (12.12).

Bailey won the 100m (11.81) and McCarthy took sixth (12.40). Tina Coombs took fourth in the long jump (5.88m) and seventh in the triple jump (11.84m). In the latter event, Jonelle Campbell finished second with a distance of 12.39m.

Baker won the 200m in 23.80 while Bailey was the runner-up in 24.25. McCarthy, meanwhile, won the 100m hurdles with a time of 13.38. Nadia Harriott took third in the 100m hurdles (14.22), and Kimona Shaw claimed third in the 400m hurdles with a time of 1:00.81.

Jhevere Hall was the winner of the 800m (2:11.50) and placed second in the 1500m (4:37.90). Baker had Lincoln's other victory of the day, as she took first in the 400m in 53.60. Kissi-Ann Brown was the runner-up in that event, timing in at 53.98.

Lincoln scored 138 points to finish behind only Pittsburg State (170 points) at the league title meet. Central Missouri (127) rounded out the top-three, and Fort Hays State (83.6) and Missouri Southern (72.5) respectively finished fourth and fifth. Northwest Missouri (53.2) came in sixth, followed by Nebraska-Kearney (41.1), Southwest Baptist (39.5), Emporia State (36), Central Oklahoma (31.6) and Lindenwood (25.5).

The Lincoln men's outdoor track & field team won four events en route to a third place finish at the 2016 MIAA Championships, hosted by Northwest Missouri State University from Friday through Sunday (May 6-8).

The Blue Tigers opened the final day of the meet by winning the 4x100m relay, as the foursome of Jakiel David, Stephen Rose,Roger Blake and Roberto Smith timed in at 40.74. Smith later won the 100m dash, timing in at 10.40.

Darran Hunter was the victor of the 400m hurdles, finishing in 52.67, while Winston Edwards came in second at 53.34. Alva Henry, meanwhile, clocked in at 54.87 to place fifth in that event.

LU's other win came in the long jump, as Sedeekie Edie turned in the event's longest mark of 7.76m. In the triple jump, Orneldo Thomas placed second with a leap of 14.89m. Owen Smith finished sevneth in the latter event with a distance of 14.27m.

Hunter was the runner-up in the 110m hurdles at 14.58, with Stallone Watson taking third with a time of 14.84. Miguel Bartonplaced eighth in the 400m (58.63) and seventh in the 200m (31.24). In the latter event, Blake placed third (21.54) and Rose came in fourth (21.55).

Lincoln also turned in a third-place finish in the 4x400m relay, with the team of Edwards, Jeromia Riley, Kevon Robinson and Blake clocking in at 3:14.45. Riley rounded out LU's notable finishes with a sixth-place result in the 800m (1:56.14).

Missouri Southern scored 145 team points to win the MIAA Championship, with Pittsburg State (134) and Lincoln (104) rounding out the top-three. Central Missouri (94) took fourth and Northwest Missouri (78) placed fifth. Nebraska-Kearney (62.5) came in sixth, followed by Lindenwood (56), Emporia State (54), Southwest Baptist (47) and Fort Hays State (43.5). 

Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
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