Late Surge Vaults FAMU To MEAC Women's Track Title

The FAMU LAdy Rattlers won the 2014-15 Outdoor Championship
Head Coach: Dr. Darlene Moore
Assistant Coach: Tiffiny Morrow
Courtesy: Florida A&M Sports Information

GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- The Florida A&M Women’s Track team used a furious scoring flurry in the final two events to surge past three-time defending champion Hampton University, 111-105, to capture the 2015 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Women’s Outdoor Track And Field Championship at the Irwin Belk Track on the North Carolina A&T campus Saturday afternoon.

Dr. Darlene Moore’s talented crew brought home the school’s 10th MEAC Outdoor title overall and the first since 2000, after trailing the Lady Pirates, 95-93 heading into the final two events: the 3000 meter steeple chase and the 4x400 relay.

But FAMU, which has dominated the league in Cross Country and distance events, used their vaunted Kenyan Connection of freshman Judith Kibii, junior Effiey Kosgei and sophomore Cynthia Chelelgo to tally 12 points to put them ahead of the Lady Pirates, who did not score in the event, 105-95.

Hampton did win the final event, the 4x400 relay, scoring 10 points, but the FAMU quartet of Jasmine Smith, Destiny Johnson, Raven Diggs and Jharna Alston, finished third, adding six points to seal the victory.

Saturday’s triumph was a sweet end to a long journey of rebuilding for FAMU coach Darlene Moore, who inherited a once-proud program which had fallen on hard times when she arrived in the summer of 2009.

Six years later, the Lady Rattler Track Program added a MEAC Outdoor title to its’ three consecutive Cross Country Championships, and with just six upperclassmen on the 20-person squad, the future is bright for Moore and her charges.

Part of the reward for the hard work of her and many others, Moore was selected as the Women’s Track and Field Outstanding Coach on Saturday.

“The girls and the coaching staff were a bit heart broken after indoors when we finished in fourth place,” Moore said. “We made a pact where we wanted to work hard and improve on our positioning and take home the victory at this year’s outdoor track and field championship.”

In addition, seven FAMU Women were named All-Conference for 2015; Judith Kibii, Florida A&M (5000m, 1500m, 3000m SC); Ashley Ivey, Florida A&M (Triple Jump); Andrea Aaron, Florida A&M (discus, javelin); Jasmine Smith, Florida A&M (4x400); Destiny Johnson, Florida A&M (4x400); Raven Diggs, Florida A&M (4x400); Jharna Alston (4x400).

MEAC Outdoor Track Women's Results

Team            Points
1. Florida A&M 111
2. Hampton 105
3. Bethune-Cookman 92.33
4. Norfolk State 76
5. North Carolina A&T State 74
6. Maryland Eastern Shore 72
7. Morgan State 54
8. Howard 42.33
9. Coppin State 33.33
10. South Carolina State 28
T11. Delaware State 20
T11. North Carolina Central 20
12. Savannah State 13

2015 All-MEAC Outdoor First Team

Judith Kibii, Florida A&M (5000m); Kiara Howell, Norfolk State (discus, JT); Deandra Daniel, Coppin State (HJ); Deidra Jordan, Bethune-Cookman (heptathlon); Ke’von Lumb, Morgan State (LJ); Jess St. John, Morgan State (SP); Morgan Knight, North Carolina A&T State (PV, 100mH); India Brown, North Carolina A&T State (4x100); Reneazia Collins, North Carolina A&T State (4x100); Latrese Barker, North Carolina A&T State (4x100); Qizeah Jackson, North Carolina A&T State (4x100); Ce’aira Brown, Hampton (1500m, 800m, 4x400); Malekah Holland, Hampton (400m, 4x400); Tristie Johnson, Bethune-Cookman (100m); Tanaya Yarde, Coppin State (400mH); Ashley Ivey, Florida A&M (TJ); Le’Quisha Parker, Hampton (200m, 4x400); Ishakeema Swain, Morgan State (3000m SC); Tanisha Greene, Hampton (4x400).

All-MEAC Second Team

Ishakeema Swain, Morgan State (5000m); Andrea Aaron, Florida A&M (discus, JT); Jailah Mason, Morgan State (HJ); Hanah Billups, Howard (heptathlon); Kaydianne McKenzie, Norfolk State (LJ); Desiree Richardson, Bethune-Cookman (SP); Tiara Davis, Norfolk State (PV); Summer Brown, Bethune-Cookman (4x100); Tristie Johnson, Bethune-Cookman (4x100, 200m); Carlecia Spivey, Bethune-Cookman (4x100); Shalaneya Bryant, Bethune-Cookman (4x100); Judith Kibii, Florida A&M (1500m, 3000m SC); Jasmine Vaughan, Norfolk State (100mH); Tanisha Greene, Hampton (400m); India Brown, North Carolina A&T State (100m); Jheniel Kelly, Maryland Eastern Shore (800m); Kourtney Keller, Hampton (400mH); Shauntel Lucius, Maryland Eastern Shore (TJ); Rayanna Relerford, Delaware State (4x400); KeShaun Davis, Delaware State (4x400); Sabrina Burrell, Delaware State (4x400); Omealla Gordon, Delaware State (4x400.

All-MEAC Third Team

Ce’aira Brown, Hampton (5000m); Kristen Deacon, Coppin State (discus); Kasie Trigg, Bethune-Cookman (HJ); Jaymi White, Savannah State (heptathlon); Darlene Girardeau, North Carolina Central (LJ); Cheyenne Bellerand, Howard (SP); Te’Shaibrah Myles, Norfolk State (PV); Morgan Durham, Delaware State (JT); Kristian Young, Hampton (4x100); Tanisha Green (4x100); Meshala Morton, Hampton (4x100); Le’Quisha Parker, Hampton (4x100, 400m); Jheniel Kelly, Maryland Eastern Shore (1500m); Shelasia Leitch, Maryland Eastern Shore (100mH); Brittany McCants, Norfolk State (100m); Shantol Hemley, Maryland Eastern Shore (800m); Monica Todd, Howard (400mH); Soibhan Ford-Holland, Hampton (TJ); India Brown, North Carolina A&T State (200m); Barbora Blahutova, Maryland Eastern Shore (3000m SC); Jasmine Smith, Florida A&M (4x400); Destiny Johnson, Florida A&M (4x400); Raven Diggs, Florida A&M (4x400); Jharna Alston (4x400).

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Southern sweeps doubleheader at Grambling

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Southern doubled its fun Saturday afternoon at Grambling as the Jaguars swept a doubleheader from their SWAC archrival by identical scores, 11-4 and 11-4.

Having already locked up the second seed for the SWAC tournament, Southern coach Roger Cador shuffled his weekend pitching rotation. Regardless, it was smooth sailing in both games for the Jaguars.

In the first game, Southern (15-22, 12-8) took control early scoring seven runs in the first three innings. It provided more than enough room for Jaguars starter J’Markus George (2-4), who started his sixth game of the season.

George went six innings, giving up four runs on five hits. He had two strikeouts and five walks, recovering from a shaky start in which he hit two of the first three batters her faced.

“He really did get it together,” Cador said. “He found a ...

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REPEAT! B-CU Men's Track Defends MEAC Outdoor Title

GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- Someday, the Bethune-Cookman men’s track team may have a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference meet that doesn’t come to a narrow escape in the 4X400 relay. And if that happens, Head Coach Donald Cooper won’t know to do.

Until then, Cooper’s almost getting to use to these dramatic finishes … because they’re producing championships.

The Wildcats defended their Men’s Outdoor Track championship with a one-point victory (139-138) over North Carolina A&T Saturday at the Irwin Belk Track on the campus of North Carolina A&T. In addition to defending their outdoor title, the Wildcats made it a sweep of both the 2015 indoor and outdoor titles.

Both came to holding off North Carolina A&T in the final event. Both championships were decided by a combined 2.5 points.

“It was indoor all over again,” Cooper said. “And it was just as intense. The blood is rushing, I’m heading under the stands to catch my breath. But what a tremendous accomplishment. I’m very proud of my staff for the work they put in to prepare us for this moment.”

The 4X400 relay team of Tremayne Banks, Donavon Frater, Christopher Jackson and Jonathan Moore delivered the deciding point with its eighth place finish after North Carolina A&T whittled down a 14-point Wildcat advantage after 16 events down to five points. The Aggie relay team came in fourth.

Banks had already scored in three Saturday events – a third in the 110 hurdles, a seventh in the 100 meter dash and a third in the 200, and Ricy Brown delivered with a second in the 1500, a fourth in the 800 and a key sixth place finish in the 300 meter steeplechase that helped slow down North Carolina A&T’s late charge.

“Those guys were the workhorses,” Cooper said of Banks and Brown. “Time and time they stepped up. Treymane went toe-to-toe with [Hampton’s Trey Hollaway] in the 110 hurdles. Ricy’s effort in the steeplechase split North Carolina A&T’s points and was a main contributor to our run.”

Sophomore Michael Tiller delivered B-CU’s lone first place win Saturday with a leap of 51’7” that edged defending champion Keenan Smith of North Carolina A&T.

“That victory starting turning the tide our way,” Cooper said of Tiller.

Sophomore Kenneth Fisher was denied a repeat as long jump champion, but garnered the event’s outstanding field award. He scored 21 points with second places in long jump and high jump and added a fourth Saturday in the triple jump.

“He just wanted to be a guy who helped the team,” Cooper said of Fisher. “He sacrificed his long jump to work on the high and triple jumps. Doing all three is taxing.”

B-CU also got third place finishes from Angelo Cabrera and Chris Collins’ career throw in the javelin.

JOHNSON WINS 100, TAKES SECOND IN 200 FOR LADY WILDCATS

Tristie Johnson highlighted the Lady Wildcats’ third-place finish by winning the 100 meter dash and taking second in the 200 Saturday.

The junior broke her own meet record in the 100 with a time of 11.26 and battled Hampton’s LeQuisha Parker in the 200. Parker, a senior, posted a 23.16 to Johnson’s 23.28.

“Tristie got off to a slow start in the outdoor season, but she came on strong,” Cooper said. “Breaking her own record is a great achievement. Parker was a little too much, but next year’s 200 should belong to Tristie.”

Bethune-Cookman led the team standings entering the final day, but Florida A&M overtook the Lady Wildcats early. Summer Brown, who earlier had a third in the triple jump, helped B-CU close to within two points after the 400 hurdles, but the Rattlers pulled away after the 200 and held off a late Hampton run.

Florida A&M posted 111 points to win their first MEAC Women’s Outdoor title since 2000 and 10th overall. Hampton (105) was second, and Bethune-Cookman finished with 92.33 points.

“You had three tough teams,” Cooper said. “Florida A&M’s always been a powerhouse and they finally put it together. We’ll get it together and make a
nother run next year.”

B-CU now turns its attention to the NCAA Easter Regional May 28-30 in Jacksonville.

COMPLETE RESULTS

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WSSU Rams Roll The Virginia State Trojans 8-3, For 5th Consecutive CIAA Baseball Championship

CARY, North Carlina -- For the fifth time in a row, the Winston-Salem State University Rams are CIAA Champions. The Rams got solid pitching from freshman, Tyler Scearce, and timely hitting throughout the lineup, as the Rams pulled away from Virginia State late for a 8-3 win in the 2015 CIAA Championship Game at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary.

With the win, the Rams improve to 38-13, while the VSU Trojans end their season at 25-18.

Winston-Salem State got on the scoreboard first, as in the bottom of the first inning, as Des Roberts walked to lead off and was moved over on a sac bunt by Gavin Culler. Connor Andrus would bring Roberts home when he singled through the middle, giving the Rams the early 1-0 lead.

Virginia State would answer in the second, when they would be able to plate one run, on two hits, and helped by a WSSU error to tie the game at 1-1.

WSSU would have an answer of their own for the Trojans, and in the bottom of the third inning, they would score two runs on one hit and one VSU error to go back out in front.

Taylor Idol would lead off with a single to right field, and Des Roberts would reach on a bunt and Idol and Roberts would advance when the throw went sailing to right field, with Taylor Idol scoring. Gavin Culler would bring in Des Roberts with a sac fly to deep right field, giving the Rams a 3-1 lead.

The VSU Trojans would get one back in the sixth inning, to pull within one, at 3-2.

But once again the four-time defending CIAA Champions had answer, and in the bottom of the sixth innings, Dylan Dombrowskas and Nathan Steger would come up with big runs batted in to push the Rams lead to 5-2 heading into the final third of the game.

The Virginia State Trojans were not going to go away easily, and would come back in the seventh with another run to pull within two, at 5-3.

The top of the eight would prove to be tense, as a walk and hit batter put runs in scoring position for Virginia State. After a WSSU pitching change, and walk, the bases would be loaded with one out for the Trojans. The next batter would hit a slow roller to third base, where Colby Keene would fire it home for the force out, followed by a ground out to shortstop to get the Rams out of the inning unscathed.

Winston-Salem State would blow the game open in the bottom of the eighth, as Nathan Steger would single home Colby Keene, followed by a two RBI double from Jacob Barber, scoring Connor Andrus and Nathan Steger to give WSSU a commanding 8-3 lead, heading into the final inning.

Jordan Cummings would shut down the VSU Trojans in the ninth inning, to give WSSU the 8-3 win, and 2015 CIAA Baseball Championship, their fifth consecutive.

Tyler Scearce picked up the win for WSSU, going 6.0 innings, allowing two runs and five hits while striking out four. Eric Corlett went an inning, allowing one run on one hit with a walk and a strikeout and Devin McLemore went 0.1 innings, with a walk and a strikeout. Jordan Cummings went the final 1.2 innings, allowing one hit with a walk and a strikeout.

Nathan Steger finished 2 for 4 with a run scored and two runs batted in, and Jacob Barber picked up two runs batted in as well, as he went 1 for 4 on the afternoon. Colby Keene went 1 for 3 with two runs scored, while Connor Andrus went 1 for 3 with a run scored and one run batted in. Taylor Idol also finished 1 for 3 with a run scored, while Dylan Dombrowskas went 1 for 4 with a run scored and one run batted in. Rashad Webster finished 1 for 4, and Des Roberts scored two runs.

2015 CIAA Baseball All-Tournament Team
Name - Position - School
Colton Gunn - Pitcher - (VSU)
Zachery Jordan - Pitcher - (VSU)
Aaron Flanagan - Catcher - (CU)
Connor Andrus - Catcher - (WSSU)
Kyle Cross - First Base - (CU)
Taylor Idol - Second Base - (WSSU)
Colby Keene - Third Base - (WSSU)
Nate Steger - Short Stop - (WSSU)
Tashaun Taylor - Outfield - (VSU)
Dylan Dombrowkas - Outfield - (WSSU)
Nick Christopher - Pitcher/Short Stop - (VSU)
Jacob Barber - Designated Hitter - (WSSU)

Tournament MVP
Connor Andrus - Catcher - (WSSU)

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Total breakdown: Oakland Raiders draft TSU offensive tackle Anthony Morris in seventh round

OAKLAND, California -- A few quick thoughts on the Oakland Raiders' first seventh-round draft pick.

The pick: Anthony Morris, offensive tackle, Tennessee State

My take: Morris is 6-foot-6, 290 pounds. He is a small-school player, but when offensive linemen are taken this low, it's for developmental reasons.

Stocking up on the offensive line: In the fourth round, Oakland took Miami's Jon Feliciano. He has a chance to compete at right guard. Morris won't compete for a starting job right away. His battle will be to make the 53-man roster.



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NFL draft 2015: Baltimore Ravens pick Tennessee State OG Robert Myers in 5th round

ROBERT MYERS
6'-5" 310
Hometown: LaVergne, Tennessee
LaVergne High School
Courtesy: TSU Athletics

CHICAGO, Illinois -- The Ravens didn't hide their interest in Tennessee State offensive guard Robert Myers.

They met with him at the Senior Bowl and at the NFL scouting combine. Myers visited their team facility in Owings Mills and also had a private workout with Ravens offensive line coach Juan Castillo.

When they were on the clock with the 176th overall pick in the draft and their second selection in the fifth round, the Ravens selected the 6-foot-5, 329-pound guard.

Myers was a three-year starter at the school, and a two-time All-Conference selection. He is a late bloomer as Myers didn't start playing football until he was a junior in high school.

Myers is known as a mauler who plays with nastiness. However, he tends to struggle to maintain his technique.

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Arizona Cardinals trade up for Rodney Gunter, Delaware State, who says he 'potentially could be the next J.J. Watt'

RODNEY GUNTER
6'-5" 305 DL
Hometown: Lake Hamiliton, Florida
Haines City High School
Courtesy: DSU Athletics/Rodney Adams

TEMPE, Arizona -- Who is Rodney Gunter?

He is a defensive end who played at Delaware State. He's 6-foot-5 and 305 lbs. He's a cousin of former Arizona Cardinals tight end D.C. Jefferson. He can supposedly dunk a basketball, and the Cardinals liked him enough to trade away three picks -- 123 (4th round), 198 (6th round) and 241 (7th round) -- for number 116, where they took him in the fourth round.

"I'm very versatile," Gunter said of his game. "I can bring a hard-working guy, and I potentially could be the next J.J. Watt."

Lofty comparison, yes, but Gunter said his goal is to be the best he can be, so that's the goal.

Getting drafted is a start.

Gunter said he expected to be picked sometime in round five or later, but it was "a blessing, a dream come true" to go in the fourth to Arizona.

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