NEW ORLEANS -- It was a great day for the host Dillard Bleu Devils and the Xavier Gold Nuggets as the teams celebrated winning the 2014 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Tad Gormley Stadium in New Orleans' City Park. This was the second title in four years for the Bleu Devils on the men's side and the Xavier women earned their second consecutive championship.
The Dillard Men finished with 178 total points in the meet. Edward Waters College followed with 153 points and Voorhees College earned 106 points in their first appearance at the GCAC Championships. Southern University at New Orleans came in fourth place with 101 points as Xavier (34 points) and Talladega College (8 points) rounded out the field.
Dillard athletes earned first place finishes in six events including the 3000 Meter Steeplechase (Jevonte Ezzard), the 4x100 Meter Relay (Wendell Collins, Kermit Buggage, Tobyus Simmons, James Odiboh), 110 Meter Hurdles (Sean Wilson), 400 Meter Dash (Matthew Jones), 800 Meter Run (Emory Nash) and the Triple Jump (Nate Barnett). The Bleu Devils were able to rack up points with their overall consistency across events, as they placed at least two of the top four finishers in two events (100 Meters and Long Jump), three of five in two more (110 Meter Hurdles and 400 Meter Dash) and three of six in two more (200 Meter Dash and 5000 Meter Run) and an impressive four out of the top five in the 3000 Meter Steeplechase.
Voorhees College had an impressive debut at the Championships, claiming four event titles. Stanley Johnson took the 100 Meters while William Suggs earned the Shot Put crown with a GCAC record distance of 13.99 meters. Zaunce Simmons took home a pair of victories in the Long Jump and the High Jump breaking the conference record in the High Jump with a height of 1.96 meters.
Edward Waters tied for second in overall wins with four as well, with Hieden Cummings winning the 200 Meter Dash, Kendal Thompson set a new conference mark in the Hammer Throw with 31.72 meters, and Alonzo Cunningham and Anthony Hannah claiming the Javelin and Discus respectively. Hannah set a new GCAC record with a throw of 44.95 meters.
Southern University at New Orleans won three events. The team of Sanj Powell, Rushain Murray, Sheldon Williams and Alex Saunders set a new GCAC record with a winning time of 8:05.00 in the 4x800 Meter Relay. Powell and Saunders along with Chad Thomas and Bruce McLean claimed the 4x400 Meter Relay championship as well with Thomas scoring and individual title in the 400 Meter Hurdles.
Xavier University finished with two event championships. Brent Kitto made history with his conference record time of 4:13.58 in the 1500 Meter Run and Kwame Jackson won the 5000 Meter Run for the Gold Rush.
The Xavier Women were dominant on their way to back to back Outdoor Championships. Xavier finished the day with 213 points, outpacing runner up Dillard who finished with 168. Edward Waters came in third with 143 points as SUNO (26 points) and Voorhess (19 points) rounded out the standings.
Xavier claimed nine event wins with Catherine Fakler winning three individual titles in impressive fashion. Fakler broke her own record in the 3000 Meter Steeplechase with a time of 12:01.53, set a new mark in the 5000 Meter Run at 19:50.14 and took the 1500 Meter crown as well. Fakler, along with Briana Sims, Ashley Flournoy and Zahri Jackson won the 4x800 Meter Relay title, giving the Xavier standout four total wins. Teammate Devinn Rolland impressed also, breaking her own GCAC record in the 100 Meter Dash, winning with a time of 11.66 and claiming the 200 Meter and Long Jump championships as well. Angelica Alexander broke the conference record in the high jump with a height of 1.53 meters and Terri Cunningham won the 400 Meter Hurdles.
Dillard University finished with six event titles. The Lady Bleu Devils were led by the record breaking performance of Kaitlyn Fortuna, Destinee Showell, India Ware and Courtney Henry in the 4x100 Meter Relay. The quartet finished with a time of 47.15. Henry and Ware, along with Dominique Hardin and Tamara Hundley were also able to win the 4x400 Meter Relay title. Henry picked up her third win of the day in the Women's Triple Jump while Fortuna earned her second victory by taking the 400 Meter Dash. Danielle Glover set the GCAC record with a distance of 28.72 meters in the Hammer Throw and Aaliyah Cumming winning the 100 Meter Hurdle championship.
Edward Waters showed its dominance in the Field in winning three of the seven events there. Lynetta Cook broke the conference record in the Discus with a distance of 44.17 meters. Anissa Martin won two events, capturing titles in the Shot Put and the Javelin Throw.
Mackola Joseph of Southern University at New Orleans won the Women's 800 Meter Run for the Lady Knights only victory.
For all results, click on the following link:
Results
COURTESY GULF COAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (GCAC) MEDIA RELATIONS
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TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The Florida A&M Lady Rattler track team posted several Top 10 finishes, including personal and school records at the FSU Seminole Invitational at the Mike Long Track. 
