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

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

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

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

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

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

WOMEN

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

MEN

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

COURTESY SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

ECSU to suspend Baseball Program for next three seasons

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

COURTESY ELIZABETH CITY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Former SSU Tiger McGowin Promoted To Double-A

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

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

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

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

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

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Legendary author Maya Angelou dies at age 86

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

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

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

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

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

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

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St. Aug celebrates second straight outdoor crown

RALEIGH, North Carolina -- Saint Augustine’s University celebrated their second straight men’s outdoor track and field national crown Tuesday.

The Falcons scored 112 points to win by a 45-point margin over the competition at the 2014 NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Grand Valley State Track and Field Stadium Saturday.

“Most of the time we have an older team but this year we had old and young and they all performed very well,” said head coach George Williams Tuesday. “I think that’s what makes this team very special.”

The title was the 12th men’s outdoor title for the Falcons, who also swept the last two men’s indoor national titles. Overall, the Saint Augustine’s University track and field program has won 35 NCAA Division II national championships under Williams.

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XU's Jackson to conduct skills camp for boys June 9-12

NEW ORLEANS — Dannton Jackson, the winningest coach in the history of Xavier University of Louisiana men's basketball, will conduct a skills camp June 9-12 for New Orleans-area boys age 7-16.
   
Xavier's Convocation Center will be the site of the DJ Hoops Skills Academy. Featured guest coaches and speakers will include Brandon Bass of the Boston Celtics, DJ Augustin of the Chicago Bulls and Mo Williams of the Portland Trailblazers.
   
The camp costs $165 and is open to a limited number of participants. To obtain a registration form, visit djhoops.com or call (504) 521-7849.
   
Jackson is 249-107 in 11 seasons at Xavier and was selected Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year each of the past three seasons. He was the Louisiana Association of Basketball Coaches Small College Coach of the Year in 2014. Jackson's teams have won five GCAC regular-season championships and qualified eight times for the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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National seed Ragin' Cajuns opens NCAA tourney with JSU

LAFAYETTE, Louisiana  – Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns will play host to the NCAA Lafayette Regional at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field Friday when the Cajuns meet Jackson State at 6 p.m. in the nightcap of the first day. San Diego State will face Mississippi State at 1 p.m. Friday in the opening game of the four-team regional.

The regional continues Saturday and Sunday and, if necessary, will finish on Monday. The winner of the Lafayette Regional will face the winner of the Oxford Regional in an NCAA Super Regional next weekend.

The Sun Belt Champions have earned a national seed for the first time in program history with a No. 6 seed.

The Ragin' Cajuns are playing host to a regional for the second time in school history, with the first ever regional host coming in 2000. All games of the regional may be viewed on ESPN3.com.

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