Hampton's McCorory takes third NCAA title in 400 meters

Hampton University's American and Collegiate Indoor record holder Francena McCorory, won her third NCAA National Championship title in the 400 meters on Friday. The senior All-American is from Bethel High School, Hampton, Virginia.

(photo by Mark Sutton)

EUGENE, Oregon – Hampton University senior Francena McCorory made her final collegiate track meet unforgettable, winning her third NCAA championship by outracing her competitors in the 400-meter dash late Friday night at famed Hayward Field.

McCorory ran a season-best time of 50.69 seconds to take her third title in the event – her first in the outdoor season. The Bethel High graduate also won the indoor 400 in 2009 with a 51.54, before repeating that title in March 2010, setting the American record with a 50.54. McCorory's title is also the fifth NCAA Division I crown in HU history; former Lady Pirate Yvette Lewis, who attended Denbigh High and then Menchville, won a pair of NCAA triple-jump titles, taking the indoor crown in 2006 and the outdoor title in 2007.

The Pirates sophomore sprinter Reggie Dixon ran a 10.39 in the 100-meter dash final to finish seventh. Jeff Demps of Florida won in 9.96. Dixon, from Plainfield, N.J., ran the seventh-fastest preliminary time in the 100-meter dash, turning in a 10.24 to advance to the final. The Hampton men's team finished the meet tied for 60th and the women's team was tied for 26th place with Georgia and Hawaii-Manoa.



Francena McCorory of Hampton Breaks the American and Collegiate Indoor Record with an amazing run of 50.54 at the 2010 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships earlier this year.

Prairie View A&M captures SWAC women's all-sports award

For only the second time in school history, Prairie View A&M University has earned the Barbara Jacket/Sadie Magee Award as the top overall women’s sports program in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

Prairie View A&M, who totaled 80.5 points, finished tied with Jackson State for the award. This past year, the women’s athletic programs at Prairie View boasted several solid performances highlighted by second place finishes in women’s basketball, bowling, soccer and outdoor track and field. The last time Prairie View A&M captured the award occurred during the 1984-85 athletic campaign.

“We’re always excited to see our student-athletes be successful in the classroom and on the playing field,” said Prairie View A&M University Athletic Director Fred Washington. “This award represents the hard work and dedication of our female sports and it was earned by our student-athletes, coaches and support staff as they represent the best of our Panther Spirit.”

“This award is well-deserved for our female student-athletes,” added Assistant Athletic Director for Female Sports Alicia Pete. “Our student-athletes carry their leadership and athleticism on and off the field. We would like to thank all faculty, staff and administrators for helping our female student- athletes achieve their accomplishment on their well-deserved award.”

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Norfolk State and Hampton University win MEAC All-Sports Awards

NSU Spartans Dwight Fluker-Berry avoids North Carolina A&T State University tacklers.

NORFOLK, VA - Norfolk State University has won its sixth straight Talmadge Layman Hill Award, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men's all-sports trophy, the league announced. This marks the first time a MEAC men's program has won six straight all-sports awards since South Carolina State won 11 in a row from 1974-84. The Spartans tallied 70 points to win their seventh Talmadge Layman Hill Award overall, 15 points ahead of runner-up Delaware State. The Spartans first won the award in 2001.

Hampton University (74.5 points) won its ninth straight Mary McLeod Bethune Women's All-Sports Award, with NSU (68 points) finishing a close third. The Lady Pirate programs totaled 74.5 points, besting North Carolina A&T, which finished second with 68.5. Hampton won conference titles in women's basketball and outdoor track and field and finished runner-up in indoor track and field and women's tennis.

“Winning the Mary McLeod Bethune Women’s All-Sports Trophy again is symbolic of Hampton University’s commitment to the welfare of our student-athletes by providing expert coaching, superb training and superior game and practice facilities,” said HU athletic director Lonza Hardy in a release.

5-10 junior forward Quanneisha Perry, from Decatur, Georgia Tower High School continues to make major contributions to the Lady Pirates basketball program.

Each winning school also receives $20,000, meaning NSU has totaled prize winnings of $145,000 over the past six years. Points are awarded in a descending order beginning with 12 points for championships or first-place finishes. Second-place teams get 10 points, third-place teams nine, and so on. Tied teams split the total points.

Highlighting the year for the Spartan men were three more running titles, one each in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track. NSU became the first men's program to sweep the indoor and outdoor MEAC track championships in five consecutive years. The baseball and football teams placed third in the regular-season MEAC standings, and the men's basketball team finished fourth.

The women's teams were led by first-place finishes by the cross country and indoor track teams, and a second-place finish at the outdoor track and field championship. The Spartan bowling team also finished second in the regular-season Southern Division conference standings.

Grambling State claims SWAC all-sports award

Grambling has been honored for its across-the-board achievements in the 2009-10 sports season. The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced on Tuesday that the GSU won the James Frank Award, an all-sports award that assigns points based on performance in each of the conference's 18 varsity sports. GSU's men's and women's sports teams combined for 150.5 points, beating second-place Jackson State, which finished with 143.5 points.
Grambling also won the C.D. Henry (men's all-sports) Award. GSU had 71 points, beating out Arkansas-Pine Bluff (66.5) and Alabama State (64.0).

Neither award would have been possible without a late-season surge in men's spring sports. First, GSU won a conference title in men's outdoor track and field on May 2. The Tigers were led by Darwin Price, who captured an individual title in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, finished second in the 1,500-meter run, and finished third in the 800.

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On the Move: Players and Coaches

The "Little General" Avery Johnson, new head coach of the New Jersey Nets.

1. Former Southern University and A&M College star Avery Johnson has agreed to coach the NBA's worst team, the New Jersey Nets (12-70). The Nets announced on Thursday that they had reached an agreement in principle with Johnson, with the notice coming less than 24 hours after Johnson text messaged The Associated Press that he was going to become the team’s coach. Rod Thorn, president and general manager, refused to disclose details on the multiyear contract, but he said it should be signed in “a reasonable period of time.” A current ESPN analyst who coached Dallas for three-plus seasons, Johnson had a 194-70 regular-season coaching record and a 23-24 mark in the playoffs. He guided the Mavericks to the NBA finals in 2006, and was fired after a first-round playoff series loss to New Orleans in 2008. Johnson led the Mavericks to the postseason in each of his seasons as a head coach. He has the highest coaching winning percentage in NBA history and set the record for reaching the 150-win plateau the fastest (191 games). In 2005-06, Johnson led the Mavericks to their first ever appearance in the NBA finals en route to earning NBA Coach of the Year honors.
   
   
2. The Baltimore Orioles chose center fielder Jeremy Shelby, Grambling State University with pick number 1,138, 38th round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft. The 6’3, 180 pound senior helped lead the Tigers to the SWAC tournament title and an NCAA berth in 2010. Shelby hit .354 with 6 home runs and 39 RBI while stealing 20 bases. Shelby is the son of former Baltimore Orioles, Dodgers and Tigers center fielder John Shelby.
   
   
3. In the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft, 35th round, pitcher Cody Hall, Southern University was selected by the Detroit Tigers with pick number 1,063 overall. The 6’4, 230 pound Hall is a junior and a former Baton Rouge Community College and Central High player. The hard throwing right-hander Hall was 2-2 with a 5.84 earned run average in 20 relief appearances for the Jaguars.
   
   
4. Rikiah Gatlin has transferred to Savannah State University from University of Miami (FL). Gatlin has been attending classes at SSU since January 2010 and should be eligible to play for the Lady Tigers in December. The 6-2 sophomore center is a native of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Christian County High School. Gatlin is a four time high school letter winner in basketball, three time in track and field (shot put) and twice in volleyball.
   
   
5. Delaware State University softball standout Jordan Reid has been selected to compete for a major Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) team this summer. Reid has earned a spot on the nationally recognized Storm USA fastpitch squad of Corona, California. Storm USA is considered one of the top amateur teams in the nation. he selection is the latest honor for Reid, who was named the 2010 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player-of-the-Year last month. The junior outfielder was also selected to the 2010 Louisville Slugger All Mid-Atlantic team. A native of Accokeek, (Prince George's County)Maryland, Reid was tops in the MEAC, and ninth among all NCAA Division I players, with a .457 batting average during the 2010 regular season. She also led the MEAC in on-base percentage this season (.500). In addition, Reid was 24th in the nation in runs per game (1.0 pg) and 47th in stolen bases (0.51 pg) during the regular year.
   
   
6. Mississippi State women's basketball coach Sharon Fanning-Otis announced Tuesday the hiring of Wanika Owsley to the staff as an assistant coach. Owsley comes to Mississippi State after a one-year stint at Morgan State University where she helped lead the Lady Bears to a 22-13 record and a school-best third-place finish in the MEAC conference. Prior to her stint at Morgan State, Owsley spent three years as the top assistant at Jefferson (Mo.) Community College, going 97-9 during that span. Owsley recruited one national junior college player of the year and four All-Americans. Two of the teams were academic teams of the year which included six academic All-Americans. As a player at Southeast Missouri State, Owsley helped the Redhawks to a 46-16 overall record and their first ever NCAA Tournament appearance during her senior season. Owsley is a native of Indianapolis, Indiana.
   
   
7. From the NFL Niners Nation Blog: What they are saying about Florida A&M University's LeRoy Vann....Will LeRoy Vann make the active roster? | Calling It: N/A | Vann is the "flavor of the month" here at Niners Nation, drawing a following much like Thomas Clayton and Brit Miller. I'll admit, his chances weren't looking good until Singletary stated that 3-to-4 spots would likely be open for special teamers, not counting kickers. It doesn't hurt that Vann also has exceeded expectations as a cornerback in OTAs. Has a decent chance, in my mind.
   
   
8. Michael Merritt, head track and field/cross-country coach at Howard University for the past 10 years, has announced his retirement from coaching. It’s been an unbelievable run,” says Merritt. “When you first take a job you never think of things like years, wins or championships. But then, at the end, you look back and feel good.” Merritt has a lot to feel good about. In his 10 seasons at Howard he was instrumental in the development of David Oliver, Lauren McNary and Landria Buckley. Merritt won three MEAC women's cross-country championships (2002, 2003, 2005) and coached three MEAC individual cross-country champions while earning MEAC cross-country Coach of the Year honors.
   
   
9. Hampton University's sophomore women's basketball swing player, Jasmine (Jazz) Williams-Hayes from Yorktown, Virginia has transferred to Division II, Francis Marion University in Florence, South Carolina. The 5-9 guard will join first year head coach Kate Glusko's 27-5 squad that ended the year ranked 20th nationally and made the program's third consecutive NCAA Division II National Tournament appearance. The former Grafton High School star saw limited action as a Lady Pirate freshman--10 games--for the 20-12 MEAC Tournament Champions, who advanced to the NCAA Division I Women's National Tournament. Jazz will play for the Patriots this fall, who returns eight letter winners.
   
   
10. 2010 Major League Baseball draft -- CIAA, MEAC, SWAC selections..

• Virginia State University John Bivens was taken in the 12th round (at #369 overall) by the Milwaukee Brewers. Bivens batted .293 for VSU with five triples, five homers, 33 RBI and 16 steals.
  
  
• Florida A&M's Derrick Shaw, selected by the Brewers in the 41st round, based on his season stats of 45 runs, 36 RBI, 11 doubles and 67 hits with a .411 average.

• Bethune-Cookman's junior reliever Juan Perez selected at 560 in the 18th round for the Colorado Rockies. Perez notched a school-record 10 saves in a season. He also batted .347 with 13 doubles and 34 RBI, while tallying 68 putouts and 111 assists at second base.

• Burch Smith, Howard -- taken by Cleveland (20th round -- #600)
• Cody Hall, Southern -- selected by Detroit (35th -- #1063)
• Jeremy Shelby, Grambling -- taken by Baltimore (38th -- #1138)
• Ronald Barnes, Howard -- Tampa Bay (48th -- #1451).

Florida A&M University LeRoy Vann is attempting to make the 49'ers roster as an undrafted free agent.

Mississippi Valley signs basketball All-American Ware

Delta Devils coach Sean Woods has signed the #1 ranked class in the MEAC/SWAC for 2010-11. Woods has complied a record 16-48 over his first two seasons including 24 money games scheduled at the other guy's arena.

Mississippi Valley State University Delta Devils basketball coach Sean Woods wrapped up an already impressive signing class with a bang by inking former East Mississippi Community College standout Rodricko "CoCo" Ware. Ware, a 2009-2010 National Junior College Athletic Association All-American first-team selection, ranked among the national leaders in scoring with 19.4 points per game and steals (2.5 spg) for the second straight year. The 6-foot-1 guard helped spark the 27-7 Lions to their school-first NJCAA Tournament appearance after claiming the NJCAA Region 23 championship and capturing the North Division regular-season crown and state runners-up.

Having started all 62 games of his community college career in helping the Lions to a 44-18 record the past two years, Ware totaled 1,196 career points (19.3 ppg), 382 rebounds (6.2 rpg), 168 steals (2.7 spg) and 120 assists (1.9 apg). Ware joins earlier signees Falando Jones (Mississippi Delta Community College/Greenwood), Jerome Harris (Spoon River Community College/Collins (Ill.) HS and Paul Crosby (Navarro Junior College/Holt (Mich.) HS). Valley returns four starters led by Shannon Behling, who averaged 11.6 points and 6.5 rebounds.



Warning: You may want to turn your speakers off! Music may be inappropriate for most viewers! Coco Ware is #23.

Ware chose MVSU over Howard University and Alcorn State University, and his scoring prowess will give the Delta Devils a boost in returning to their Southwest Athletic Conference Tournament winning form of 2008. "CoCo Ware is a great addition to the MVSU program," Woods said. " He brings a wealth of basketball experience and athleticism that will fit in well with our style of basketball."

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NCAA: Hampton University relay team finishes 10th

Hampton University’s 4x100-meter relay team came up a couple spots shy of getting the opportunity to race for a national championship Wednesday evening in the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon. With junior Predist Walker (Lakeland H.S.) as the first leg on the Pirate relay, HU finished 10th in a time of 39.85 seconds. The top eight teams reached the final heat.

The relay team of Walker, Reggie Dixon, Aaron Anderson and Devon Brown is all underclassmen. During the outdoor season, the team set new 4x100 records for Hampton and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The Pirates’ best time this season was 39.55 seconds.

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Florida A&M Rattlers' Shaw drafted by MLB Brewers

Florida A&M outfielder Derrick Shaw started his day wondering if showers in the New England area would hold off long enough for him to play his first game with the Holyoke Blue Sox of the New England Collegiate Baseball League. The rain didn't let up Wednesday, but by the time word came that the game would be washed out, Shaw still had reason to celebrate: He had been drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers picked Shaw, who played baseball and football at FAMU, in the 41st round. His selection makes him the first FAMU player drafted by a major-league team since the Chicago Cubs signed outfielder Dwaine Bacon in 2001.

"Accomplishment, man," said Shaw, explaining his emotions during a telephone interview. "It's a dream come true." Shaw said he will likely spend the next week playing with Holyoke while the Brewers negotiate his contract. Once that is done, he will likely be sent to join the Brewers' rookie team in Arizona or its A-league affiliate in Helena, Montana.



Derrick Shaw, a 6-0 sophomore infielder/outfielder from Orlando, Florida was a 1,239 selection overall in the draft. He finished the season with 67 hits in 163 at-bats for a .411 batting average, scoring 45 runs, while driving in 36 runs. He had 20 hit for extra bases in 11 doubles, three triples and six homers. Shaw was a two-time First Team All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference selection (2009, 2010) and a Louisville Slugger All-American. in 2009. As a freshman, Shaw hit .366 with 9 doubles, 42 RBIs and 9 stolen bases.

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Coppin State signs Bishop McDevitt's Dawan Smith

ATHLETE: Dawan Smith (5-7/160)
SPORT: Baseball
HIGH SCHOOL: Bishop McDevitt, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
COLLEGE: Coppin State University Eagles

THE DETAILS: A quick visit in late April was enough to convince Bishop McDevitt’s swift second baseman that Coppin State would be his next baseball destination. The Crusaders’ lead-off man will join the Eagles of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in the Fall.

THE DECISION: “I met most of the players and they had a real good chemistry, and they have the type of coaches that I need,” said Smith, who was considering Duquesne before the Division I program was terminated. Smith also said interest came from several Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference programs and Virginia Military Institute. “They are the type of coaches that push you to the limit, preach discipline. There are some of the same rules I followed at McDevitt.”

PROJECTED MAJOR: Possibly business management.

THE ATHLETE: Speed is a precious commodity at the next level, so there was little doubt the dangerous Smith would find a spot in the collegiate ranks. After his call-up to the varsity level midway through his sophomore season, Smith gained a ton of attention last summer when he clocked a breezy 6.60 at the American Legion All-East workout. Gaining a “better understanding of the game” this season, Smith rolled up a .380 average from his lead-off position and shared the Mid-Penn Conference lead in stolen bases with 19. “Overall, it’s just the way you think about the game,” said Smith, who tacked on 25 runs for the Crusaders (10-11). “I definitely improved with my bat and defensively.”

PROJECTED MAJOR: Possibly business management.

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CIAA: Bagbey named NCCAA South Region Player of the Year

NCCAA South Region Player of the Year for Baseball -- Chowan University's Justin Bagbey from Virgilina, VA /Halifax County H.S.

Justin ‘Buzzard’ Bagbey continues to succeed at the next level, after another standout season at Chowan University. Bagbey was named National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) South Region Player of the Year for Baseball. Bagbey was named Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association player of the year earlier and first team, 2010 American Baseball Coaches Association Atlantic All-Region (ABCA).

The Hawks first baseman led the conference in home runs (13) this season and hit at a .437 clip. “It’s actually a big honor. When we had the tournament down at our place a couple of weeks ago, I saw a lot of great athletes there, a lot of great baseball players there. For them to name me regional player of the year over all them, it really told me something and it was a big honor,” Bagbey said.

The Chowan University sophomore had added protection in the lineup this year, always a boost for key run producers. The Hawks outstanding freshman Justin Shockley usually got a big hit if pitchers walked Bagbey, giving the former Comet extra help. Shockley was named to the 2010 ABCA Atlantic Region Second Team after hitting at a .452 clip as the Hawks' designated hitter. He collected nine doubles and 22 RBI in his first season of collegiate play.

Bagbey showed extra patience at the plate, a sign of maturity. “I knew after my freshman year, I was going to see a lot of off-speed. I ended up drawing 34 walks this year. Being patient helped a lot, too,” said Bagbey. The Chowan first baseman said he’s getting better, even if he did not produce the same offensive numbers as last year as a freshman. “But if you look at it, I had about ten more walks than I had last year, and other guys in the lineup also hit around me. If they didn’t want to pitch to me, they had trouble to pitch to behind me and everything.

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Note: When Justin 'Buzzard' Badgey career is over a Chowan University, he may be the most famous person in his hometown of Virgilina, Virginia, which has a population of 147 people based on the 2008 census.

Daytona Beach hopes $900,000 turf brings players

Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium, home of the Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats will receive NFL grade synthetic field turf, new roof for the stadium, renovated locker rooms, new elevator, updated electronics that allow better communications for coaches from the field to the press box, as well as Wi-Fi for those working in the press box. Total cost to Wildcats budget--ZERO. $1.2 million cost paid by Volusia County and city of Daytona Beach.

DAYTONA BEACH, FL -- If you install artificial turf, they will come. Not exactly poetry, but that's the philosophy of the city of Daytona Beach behind a $1.2 million renovation of Municipal Stadium -- which houses football games for Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats and Mainland and Seabreeze high schools. The multi-purpose stadium seats 10,000 and was built in 1979 with natural turf. City officials are hoping a new $900,000 state-of-the-art playing surface will bring more business and economic boosts through national high school all-star, lacrosse and state championship games this fall.

"You get later in the year, and the field starts getting worn down," said B-CU Athletics Director Lynn Thompson. "A couple of years we played homecoming in the mud, and there were fans who beat us up because they wanted to move the games to Derbyshire (Field) and all of that. I think (the renovation) is a great idea because that's where it's headed. You look at our (MEAC) conference and we've got five to six schools already that have prescription turf." Field Turf, a maintenance-free synthetic material used by many National Football League teams, will be installed and ready to play on by August (2010).

The city also is investing $300,000 to $400,000 on locker room, lighting, press box and electronics upgrades, including Wi-Fi for reporters and better communications for coaches. There have been discussions about eventually installing a Jumbotron large-screen television.

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S.C. State football expects even more improvement

Coach Buddy Pough's Bulldogs enter the 2010 pre-season ranked seventh in the nation in the FCS standings.

After two years of playing on an elite level, South Carolina State must replace key personnel entering this fall. But with the state of his program, coach Buddy Pough doesn't believe in using the 'R' word. "I don't think we can talk about rebuilding anymore," he said. "Our program's at the point now where we put some guys in some different spots and we continue to move on. We've got to be better. "Every year, regardless of who we lose, we expect to improve."

Pough and men's basketball coach Tim Carter spoke Thursday night to the university's Greater Augusta Alumni Chapter at Cafe 209. Pough has given the alumni reason to proudly wear their garnet and blue. The Bulldogs have won the past two Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championships with a combined 16-0 league mark. The team also went 10-3 and 10-2 the past two years, respectively, with losses to Appalachian State in the first round of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs each year.

The Bulldogs entered the 2009 postseason ranked seventh in the nation in the FCS standings. They also ended the year No. 1 in three polls that rank Historically Black Colleges and Universities. "We want to be one of the top Championship Subdivision programs in the country," Pough said. "We don't necessarily want to be just a top HBCU program. We are working really hard to be with the Appalachian States and Georgia Southerns. Hopefully, we'll continue to improve."

S.C. State must replace its top two running backs, top two wide receivers and top tackler from last season. The Bulldogs return their entire offensive line, entire linebacking corps and senior quarterback Malcolm Long. The team will begin the 2010 season with a challenge. After losing at South Carolina in 2009, the Bulldogs open Sept. 4 at Georgia Tech.

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Albany State Golden Rams: Well done, sir

For more than four decades, Dougherty County Director of Athletics Johnny Seabrooks has been a fixture on the Southwest Georgia sports scene, first as an athlete, then as a coach (28 years) and these days as an administrator. And earlier this week — when Seabrooks was inducted into one of Georgia’s many sports Hall of Fames — he finally received a small piece of recognition for his enormous contributions.

It was quite a sight, the traveling rec center, whirling up and down the back roads of Brooks County, a tiny 1972 Volkswagen Beetle stuffed with balls, bats, volleyball nets and whatever else Johnny Seabrooks could cram into his car. And there was Seabrooks, who looked as tall as a Georgia Pine, crawling out of that little car. It was quite a sight, indeed. More recently, Seabrooks was sitting in his office at Hugh Mills Stadium, smiling and laughing at the memory, his eyes dark and deep as his mind drifts back to that bare bones beginning.

Who would have known that little bug of a car was starting out on a journey that would last a lifetime for Seabrooks? He delivered a one-man gym to the kids in Brooks County more than a generation ago — and then just kept on delivering. He’s the newest member of the Hall of Fame — the one they seem to have built just for Seabrooks, who was inducted into the Track and Cross Country Coaches of Georgia Hall of Fame on Wednesday in Atlanta.

Seabrooks said he was shocked, stunned and overwhelmed when he got the call, but those who know him best feel it was overdue for a man who has spent most of the last four decades teaching, mentoring and giving back to the kids of Georgia. Not a bad legacy for a guy from Florida. Hard to tell now. Seabrooks has dug both of his feet — and his heart — into the Georgia clay, where he spent 28 years coaching in high schools and 37 years in one capacity or another overseeing high school athletes.

He has been the Dougherty County Director of Athletics since 2002 — that’s where that winding road led the young man who took a job as a roving physical education teacher in Quitman 38 years ago after graduating from Albany State University (Ga.). “I had three elementary schools and I rotated between them,’’ remembers Seabrooks. “They didn’t have gyms. We played basketball on a dirt court. But just to see those kids. They were so excited to have a P.E. class. When I showed up it was like I was heaven-sent. I had plenty of energy, and I loved it. I really loved it.’’ That hasn’t changed.

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JCSU Athletes Receive Top Track Awards

JCSU junior sprinter Shermaine Williams was named 2010 Atlantic Region Female Track Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Leford Green and Shermaine Williams, junior student-athletes of NCAA Division II, Johnson C Smith University, were this week named Atlantic Region Male and Female Track Athlete of the Year by the US Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The 23-year-old Green also capped a distinguished season by also being named by the USTFCCCA as National Division II Male Track Athlete of the Year. The 6-3/195 sprinter, Green, is from St. Catherine, Jamaica and is majoring in Information Systems Engineering.

On the Atlantic Region award, the USTFCCCA said: "Green... was the nation's leader in three events heading into the NCAA II Championships. Green clocked 20.68 over 200 metres, 45.88 over 400 metres, and 49.56 in the 400m hurdles." The Bridgeport High and Kingston College former student-athlete also anchored Johnson C Smith Golden Bulls to the second-best mark among 4x400m relay squads. He was also the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) champion in the 400m hurdles earlier this season.

JCSU junior sprinter Leford Green has also been named by USTFCCCA as National Division II Male Track Athlete of the Year.

At the NCAA Division II Championships held at Johnson C Smith University at Charlotte, North Carolina, Green placed second in the 400m in 45.68 seconds, behind defending champion Joshua Scott of St Augustine's College, and ran a blazing 48.67 seconds to win the 400m hurdles. Only 2005 world champion Bershawn Jackson has run faster (48.50) at the NCAA Division II Championships. Given those achievements, Green was also named the National Division II Male Track Athlete of the Year.

For the 20-year-old Shermaine Williams, a World Junior Championships and a World Youth Championships silver medallist, she "won a second-straight NCAA Championship in the 100m hurdles, clutching victory over Adams State's Indira Spence (another Jamaican) by an eyelash in a 13.14 to 13.15 photo finish". The best of Williams is yet to come, with a personal bests in the 60m, 100m, 200m this year. She ran her personal best 13.06 metres in the 100m hurdles last year for a new national junior record.

The 5-8 sprinter, Williams is from St. Andrew, Jamaica and is majoring in Biology.

Kansas State nips Grambling State, 9-8‎

"Everybody loves an underdog," said James Cooper, an interim coach who's been told privately he will be retained as Grambling's skipper next season. "We noticed how they were rooting us on and how they changed the Pig Sooie chant into a Grambling chant."

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The baseball puzzle for Kansas State was seemingly completed Saturday when its leading hitter broke out of an NCAA Regional funk. Nick Martini, extra dry after an 0-for-6 start to begin the regional, got going in a big way. The co-Big 12 player of the year ripped a three-run double to the left-center-field gap to give the Wildcats an eight-run lead in the fifth inning. "I was struggling a little bit at the beginning of this," said the sophomore outfielder, "and that double helped us get ahead. From there on, we just had to stay focused."

Easier said than done.

Grambling, making its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 25 years as one of two teams in the field with a losing record, rallied within a run before Kansas State held on 9-8 in Baum Stadium. K-State will play at 2:05 p.m. Sunday in an elimination game against the loser of Saturday night's game between Arkansas and Washington State.

But momentum shifted in the top of the sixth when the Cats' Kent Urban was thrown out at the plate by Tigers left fielder Mychal Roby. After scoring in each of the first five innings, K-State did not score again. And Grambling caught fire. "The first five innings was the way we were hoping to draw it up," K-State coach Brad Hill said. "It didn't end up the way we wanted it to end up, but I give them a lot of credit. Sufficiently pumped, the Tigers displayed the same offensive clout as in a 19-7 loss against Arkansas the day before.

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It's Over! Grambling State University Tigers had a successful baseball season-- 2010 SWAC Champions, and found a permanent head coach in James Cooper.

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Cats Hold Off Late Rally; Advance in Regional

Kansas State holds off Grambling State 9-8

Box Score

Bethune-Cookman eliminated 12-6 in Gainesville Regional by FAU

GAINESVILLE, FL — Sean Bukovich and Anthony Mesa drove in three runs apiece and Florida Atlantic eliminated Bethune-Cookman from the NCAA tournament with a 12-6 victory. The Owls (36-23) pounded out 18 hits, including eight for extra bases, and advanced to play Oregon State or Florida in the Gainesville regional Sunday. The Wildcats (35-22), back on the field about 12 hours after losing in the opening round, stranded five runners in scoring position and hit into two double plays. They fell to 1-20 in regional play.

After not getting key hits in Friday’s opening 6-4 loss to the Beavers, Saturday everyone was hitting with men on, as eight Owls had at least one RBI in the game. The Owls are now 57-15 all-time versus the Wildcats, and Bethune still has just one win in its 11 regional appearances. Hats off to starter Ryan Garton, who did not wilt in the scorching heat of a 1 p.m. start, going 7 innings and giving up 5 runs on 11 hits to preserve the bullpen for Sunday’s must-win game. Climbing out of loser’s bracket will be tough. If Florida wins, the Owls would need to beat the Beavers and then beat the Gators in two straight games.

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EKU Football Game Against Kentucky State Moved to Oct. 2

RICHMOND, Ky. – The 2010 football game between Eastern Kentucky University and Kentucky State University, which was originally scheduled for Sept. 25, has been moved to Oct. 2 due to a scheduling conflict. The game will serve as the home opener for the Colonels. The Oct. 2 date is the latest EKU has played its home opener since 1964. Eastern Kentucky is 4-0 all-time against Kentucky State with the two in-state schools last meeting in 2000. EKU’s first game of the 2010 fall season is set for Thursday night, Sept. 2 at Missouri State. The Colonels will be aiming for their third OVC title in the last four years.

Kentucky State University has not released their 2010 Football Schedule.

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Coppin State: 40-foot triple jump has Jennifer Mitchell in rarefied air

Jennifer Mitchell, a 16-year old early graduate of Newburgh Free Academy and holder of the school record in the Triple Jump has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Coppin State University in the Fall. Mitchell selected the Eagles over North Carolina A&T State University.

MIDDLETOWN, NY — Jennifer Mitchell of Newburgh Free Academy (Newburgh, NY) has become an assassin on the triple jump runways. At the Section 9 indoor Class A championships, Mitchell edged out Sara Wickes of Monroe-Woodbury for the title on her final jump. At Friday's sectional outdoor state qualifier, Soroya Hudson of Cornwall had already broken the Section 9 outdoor mark when Mitchell unleashed the first 40-foot jump in section history, at 40 and 11/4 inches. That is the second-best jump in the state, trailing only Penn State-bound Marlene Ricketts of Westbury (Nassau County) at 42-4 (tops in the country). Mitchell's jump is 24th in the nation.

"That's amazing,'' Mitchell said of her feat. "I couldn't ask for anything more.''

The triple jump is perhaps the most competitive of all girls' events this season with four athletes ranked in the top 13 in the state, and all over 37 feet. Hudson will also advance to next week's state meet at 39-6 (three inches better than former record holder Dana Weeks of Washingtonville) but Wickes gets nothing for her 38-8 effort.

Mitchell jumped 38-8 in the indoor Class A meet and won the state indoor public school title (she was second in the Federation) at 38-51/2. Mitchell thought she would be able to carry that over to outdoors but she started the season in the 33-34-foot range. Before the championship season, her best marks had only reached 37 while Hudson was soaring, making Mitchell a little nervous.

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Note: Jennifer Mitchell's record 40 feet, 11/4 inch Triple Jump is better than Florida A&M's incoming freshman Cynia Clark of Lithonia, Georgia Redan High School. The 18 year old Clark is the Georgia Division 5A-- 2009 State Champion in the Triple Jump with a distance of 38-03.

Florida downs Bethune-Cookman, 7-3

Coach Mervyl Melendez and the Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats fall to 1-19 all-time in NCAA Tournament play.

Gainesville, FL -- Freshman right-hander Hudson Randall (Atlanta, Ga.) notched a career-high 10 strikeouts over 7.1 innings as top-seeded Florida (43-15) defeated fourth-seeded Bethune-Cookman (35-21), 7-3, on Friday night at McKethan Stadium. In his NCAA Regional debut, the rookie (8-3) did not allow a hit until the fifth inning in picking up his sixth-straight victory. The fourth-ranked Gators will meet third-seeded Oregon State (32-22) in a winner’s bracket game at 7 p.m. tomorrow live on Sun Sports, while the Wildcats face second-seeded Florida Atlantic (35-23) in an elimination game at 1 p.m. The Beavers edged the Owls, 6-4, earlier this afternoon.

“Hudson Randall was outstanding on the mound,” third-year head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “We knew Bethune-Cookman would be a tough opponent. We jumped out to a 4-0 lead, but like we expected, they battled and gave it everything they had. It was hard to pull away from them. Bethune is always tough and they proved it again tonight.” The Wildcats used a two-out RBI single by sophomore Alejandro Sanchez (2-for-4) to narrow the gap to 4-1 in the fifth. Leonard had come through with Bethune-Cookman’s first hit with a one-out double just out of the reach of senior center fielder Matt den Dekker (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.). Although Randall had junior Emmanuel Castro fly out, Sanchez lined a single into left field that eluded a diving Pigott to score Leonard.

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Arkansas Hogs crush ball, Grambling in record-setting win

FAYETTEVILLE, AK — Brett Eibner and Zack Cox returned to the lineup, and Arkansas' offense came alive Friday in a 19-7 victory against Grambling in the first game of the Fayetteville Regional. Eibner was 4-for-5 at the plate with three home runs, which tied a school record set by Tim Smalling in 2008. Eibner also recorded a double and 7 RBIs in his return from a hairline fracture in his right hand as Arkansas pounded a school-record nine home runs in the win.

Arkansas advances to play the winner of Kansas State-Washington State, which is set for a 7:05 p.m. start today. The Razorbacks will return Saturday in the winner's bracket at 7:05 p.m. Arkansas' offense had struggled since early May as Eibner and Cox rested injuries and their availability was spotty. The Razorbacks hadn't reached double figures in runs since an 11-4 win against Ole Miss on May 7. It was the same series Eibner hurt his hand after being hit by a pitch.

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A Tale of Two Conference: SWAC supports Legacy Bowl; MEAC schools against it

Unlike most SWAC schools, MEAC powers Florida A&M University Rattlers and South Carolina State University Bulldogs like to play Football Bowl Championship Subdivision schools like Miami, Georgia Tech, South Florida, South Carolina, Florida, Clemson and others for both the high payouts and competition.

On paper, it seemed brilliant and simple. The Legacy Bowl would pit the champions of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and the Southwestern Athletic Conference -- against each other. Airing on ESPN, it would guarantee a $3 million payout to be split by the conferences. It would also end the arguments, such as when South Carolina State edged out Prairie View A&M for the Sheridan Broadcasting Network's Black National Championship -- neither team played each other (in fact, the MEAC and SWAC rarely play each other).

Ever since reports about the proposed bowl began to leak out -- first from the Jaguar Journal radio show, then TSPNSports.com and, finally, College Sporting News -- it has seemed like a done deal. Reports say the various presidents of the SWAC and MEAC are 100 percent behind the deal. But, hold on. The proposal has hit a big snag. The game is slated for Dec. 17, 2011, right in the middle of the FCS playoffs. While the SWAC does not participate in the Football Championship Series playoffs, the MEAC has an automatic berth. In fact, the first FCS (formerly known as Division 1-AA) championship game in 1978 was won by Florida A&M over UMass).

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FAN POLL: Question 2: How should MEAC Presidents vote on Legacy Bowl game? Question 1: Should the NCAA require ALL Division I, FCS football conferences, like the SWAC, to participate in NCAA football playoffs to remain at the Division I level in football?

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Things looking up at Texas Southern University

Texas Southern University athletic director Charles McClelland has released a statement that Texas Southern and Prairie View A&M will play the 2010 Labor Day Classic at 4 p.m. Sept. 5 at Reliant Stadium. The game had been originally set for Sept. 4.

If the 2009-10 sports season is an indication, the turnaround of Texas Southern's athletic program is gaining steam. TSU's campaign officially ended last week when the baseball team fell in the semifinals of the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament. The Tigers set a school record for total wins (30) and conference wins (18) en route to capturing the SWAC's Western Division title.

The baseball team's season capped a year full of notable accomplishments for TSU. The football squad finished 6-5 for its first winning season since 2000. The men's basketball program improved to 17-16 from 7-25 the year before, advancing to the SWAC tournament final and falling one win short of its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2003. The softball team went 21-20 for its first winning season since 2002 and first Western Division title since 2000.

The Tigers faltered in some areas, notably women's soccer and the track and field programs, but Charles McClelland sees encouraging signs heading into his third year as athletic director. “The ironic theme is that approximately 90 percent of our student-athletes will be returning for next year's competition, so we're a young athletic program and a program that has made tremendous strides,” McClelland said. “We're extremely happy and positive about the direction that (we're heading in) after only two years.”

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CIAA: Run on the Right Track‎

Maybe it’s time to reassess the pecking order in black college sports. I know most of us will argue until we’re blue in the face that it should be what I refer to as the “barber shop sports” of football and basketball. Those are the games folks talk about at the shop, as in, “My team is gonna stomp your alma mater, and we’ll smoke your band at halftime, too.” It makes for animated debates, but HBCUs, don’t produce hoops and football national champions, let alone a consistent pipeline of NBA or NFL talent any more. Track and field does.

Saint Augustine’s College dominated the sprints to claim the NCAA Division II men’s track and field title last week at Johnson C. Smith University, the 31st national title in the school’s history. “The kids were on point,” Falcons head coach George Williams said. “Everything was just so smooth. We didn’t give up anything. I got good performance from all my kids. You don’t win championships with one guy, you win championships with everybody.”

That’s why black college track and field has been able to hold its own since southern white colleges were desegregated in the late 1960s while blue-chip football and basketball players opted for pro farm clubs in the ACC, SEC and Pac-10. Saint Augustine’s is the platinum standard and can hang with the best of Division I, but the Falcons have company. Lincoln University (Mo.) is a Division II national power; Lincoln University(Pa.) is one of the best programs in Division III and joins the CIAA next year. That league will be loaded, to say the least, with St. Aug’s and JCSU on the upswing.

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Lakeland alum gets Hampton University Pirates out of the blocks

Predist Walker, Position: Hurdles/Relays, Height: 5-11, Weight: 158, Class: Junior, Hometown: Suffolk, VA, High School: Lakeland HS.

HAMPTON, VA — Anyone who thinks track isn’t really a team sport should chat with Hampton’s Predist Walker. Walker, a junior for the Pirates and a Lakeland graduate, is the first leg of Hampton University’s 4x100-meter relay team and what a team it’s been during this outdoor season. The Pirates set a new school record and a new MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) record (39.71 seconds) in winning the conference crown in early May.

Last weekend, in the NCAA East Regional in Greensboro, N.C., the Pirates took more time off their new school record with a time of 39.55 seconds. More importantly, HU’s relay team qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Ore. June 9-12. Hampton’s time is the ninth-best time in NCAA Div. I this season. In addition to the outstanding, and steadily improving, times for the Pirate sprinters, the team is as unified as any sports squad around. In fact, it’s part of why they’re having success. “We’ve been together since our freshman year, so we’ve built a real connection. We’re pretty much like brothers,” Walker said.

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Cador ready to recruit, rebuild SU baseball

The Southwestern Athletic Conference handed out a championship trophy Sunday. The Southern baseball team wasn’t there to see it, much less accept it. The trophy instead rested in the hands of James Cooper, the coach at archrival Grambling, which earned the league’s automatic berth in the NCAA tournament. Monday, while the Tigers waited to learn their NCAA regional destination, the Jaguars were back home, contemplating a season that started with promise but ended in disappointment. Like most of its SWAC counterparts, Southern had talent but also its fair share of flaws.

The Jaguars still had a shot to win last week’s SWAC tournament because no other team was dominant. Jackson State, the Eastern Division champion, crashed and burned with two quick losses. Texas Southern, the West champion, lost its first game and flamed out Friday, two days before the title game. But the same flaws Southern displayed all season — among them, sloppy defense, poor situational hitting and a suspect starting rotation — ultimately doomed the Jaguars in an 8-7 tournament loss to Alcorn State. As a result, their season ended prematurely.

In a sense, Roger Cador’s 26th season as the SU baseball coach had ended long before that. Thanks to a since-fixed glitch in his pacemaker, Cador left his team in the hands of assistant coach Fernando Puebla over the final three weeks — and while Cador watched the tournament from the dugout, he made no in-game decisions. Now, Cador said, doctors have green-lighted his offseason workload, and he intends to get back to business.

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