Lincoln Wins Seven Events at Kansas Relays

LAWRENCE, Kansas -- Facing fields full of NCAA Division I athletes, Lincoln's women's and men's track & field teams combined to win seven events at the Kansas Relays, hosted by the University of Kansas from Thursday through Saturday (April 21-23).

The Lincoln women swept the 4x100m and 4x400m relays, with the foursome of Chrisdale McCarthy, Venicha Baker, Kimberly Bailey and Diana Cauldwell taking the former event in 45.96. In the latter event, the team of Baker, Jhevere Hall, Ebony Roseand Kissi-Ann Brown taking the race with a time of 3:41.68.

Baker was the victor in the 200m, clocking in at 23.75, and Bailey finished fifth in that event with a time of 24.38. Bailey, meanwhile, was the runner-up in the 100m at 11.56, and Cauldwell came in fourth at 11.90. Cauldwell was also the champion of the triple jump, turning in the event's top distance of 12.82m.

The Lincoln women had two other victories, including in the 800m, where Hall was the champ after timing in at 2:11.78. Meanwhile, in the 100m hurdles, McCarthy was the winner with a time of 13.43.

On the men's side, the foursome of Roberto Smith, Miguel Barton, Roger Blake and Stephen Rose won the 4x100m relay in 40.75. In the seeded race of the 800m, Jeromia Riley was the runner-up after clocking in at 1:52.26. Meanwhile, in the unseeded 800m, Kevon Robinson came in eighth at 1:55.15. Smith placed fifth in the 200m (21.53) and Barton placed sixth in the 400m (48.32).

Next week, both Lincoln teams will again test themselves against some of the best athletes in the country as the Blue Tigers compete in the Drake Relays, hosted by Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa from Thursday through Saturday (April 28-30).

Complete Results
 

Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations

COURTESY LINCOLN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

CIAA Champions: JCSU Women Claim Fourth CIAA TItle in Thrilling Fashion

Charlotte, North Carolina – Leading by only seven points entering the final event of the afternoon, the Johnson C. Smith University women's 4x400m relay team returned a 3:39.45, the fastest time recorded this season in all of Division II, to distance itself from perennial power St. Augustine's and win the 2016 CIAA Track and Field Championships on their home track at the Irwin Belk Complex on Saturday.

The title is JCSU's fourth crown in the past nine seasons. All told, JCSU won five events on the day.

In the 400m, Kendra Clarke (Edmonton, Alberta) claimed the title while running a 52.74 while teammate Tovea Jenkins (St. James, Jamaica) finished in second. Crystal Campbell (St. Catherine, Jamaica) also helped score team points by finishing in fifth with a 56.25.

Fellan Ferguson (Trelawny, Jamaica) claimed two CIAA titles, winning the 800m and the 1500m events. In the 800, she posted a 2:07.47 while teammate Domenique Julius-Willaims (Oshawa, Ontario) claimed second place. Jenkins also finished fourth in the 800m.

In the 1500m, Ferguson won with a 4:38.60 while Julius-Williams claimed third place with a 4:45.33. Ferguson also finished third in the 3000m.

In the 4x100 relay, the team of Shamaz Quince (West Palm Beach, Fla.) Mayah Edwards (Kingston, Jamaica), Campbell, and Trudy-Ann Richards (St. Thomas, Jamaica) ran to a second place finish or 45.80.

Rounding out the CIAA winners was senior LaTondra Morrow (Charlotte, N.C.) in the high jump, as the claimed the title with a jump of 1.71m.

For final results, visit TheCIAA.com

Women's Team Standings, Final
1. JCSU 165
2. St. Augustine's 156
3. Winston-Salem St. 138.50
4. Virginia St. 72.50
5. Livingstone 28
6. Lincoln 22
7. Shaw 21
8. Bowie St. 15
9. Virginia Union 5

COURTESY JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

SAU Falcons Win 19th Straight CIAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Title; Lady Falcons Finish Second

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – The Saint Augustine's University men breezed to its 19th straight title and the women took second in the CIAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the Irwin Belk Complex on Saturday, April 23, 2016.

The Falcons cruised to victory in the men's division with 203 points. Virginia Union was second with 139.83 points and Virginia State finished third with 107.33 points.

The Lady Falcons scored 156 points to capture second place. Johnson C. Smith won the women's crown with 165 points and Winston-Salem State placed third with 138.50 points.

Both teams, ranked No. 1 nationally in the men's and women's divisions, performed magnificently in the two-day championship meet as they produced eight national top 10 Division II times and marks. Tia-Adana Belle (Jr./St. George, Barbados) solidified her top-ranking in the women's 400 hurdles with a time of 55.82 which is the fifth-best in the world this year. It is also an Olympic qualifying time.

Team-wise, the Falcons were too much for the rest of the men's teams in the meet. Sparked by CIAA Track MVP Immanuel Hutchinson (Sr./San Jacinto, CA) and CIAA Field MVP Jumonne Exeter (So./St. Vincent), the Falcons won with their usual formula - depth in the sprints, jumps and long distance events. The Falcons started the day in second place with 41 points, but scored 162 points to surge past Virginia Union, who led after the first day with 61.83 points.

"The men did well," Legendary Falcons' Head Coach George Williams said. "I am really happy with 203 points. I hope we can compete at this same level in the NCAA Championships next month."

Hutchinson was victorious in the 800 and 1,500 runs, placed second in Friday's 5,000 run and was part of the 4x400 relay squad which finished second. Exeter captured the triple jump, placed second in Friday's long jump and was fifth in the high jump.

Both Hutchinson and Exeter were among several Falcons who provided highlights Saturday. Burkheart Ellis, Jr. (Sr./Raleigh, NC) was a dual winner, taking both the 100 and 200 dashes. His Division II automatic qualifying time of 20.36 in the 200 placed him No. 1 in Division II. Daniel Jamieson (Sr./Windsor, CT) was second in the 200 dash with an automatic qualifying time of 20.66. He currently ranks second nationally in Division II behind Ellis.

Ellis led a Falcons' sweep in the 100 dash. Jamieson was second and Kendall Kee (Sr./Shelby, NC) placed third while Brent Arceneaux (Sr./Snellville, GA) was sixth. Ellis, Jamieson, Kee and Arceneaux were members of the winning 4x100 relay squad, which ran automatic qualifying time of 39.44 to maintain their top ranking in the event.

The sweep was the second for the Falcons. Exeter placed first, Taylor Eubanks (Jr./Everett, WA) was second and David Shaw (Sr./St. Pauls, NC) was third in the triple jump.

Shawn Rowe (Jr./West Palm Beach, FL) crossed the finish line first in the 400 hurdles and La'Kai Whatley (Fr./Rome, GA) was the winner in the javelin throw. Rowe also was third in the 110 hurdles and Shaw was seventh. Khari Herbert, Jr. (Jr./Coral Springs, FL) was second in the 400 dash. Kee was seventh in the 200 dash and the men's 4x400 squad of Ellis, Jamieson, Hutchinson and Herbert was second.

Shaquille Dill (Fr./Pembroke, Bermuda) finished second behind Hutchinson in the 800 and 1,500 runs. DeQuante McCoy (So./Charlotte, NC) was eighth in the javelin throw.

The women's championship wasn't decided until late in the meet as Saint Augustine's battled Johnson C. Smith down the stretch. Led by the running of Belle and Ornella Livingston (Sr./St. Ann, Jamaica), the Lady Falcons led 148-145 heading into the final two events. The lack of depth caught up with the Lady Falcons as the Golden Bulls surged ahead in the end.

"We didn't have any distance runners," Williams said. "Maybe next year we can get a few distance runners to help us complete the task. Johnson C. Smith competed real well. I am proud of them. I am proud of all the schools in the CIAA. They all competed real well."

Both Belle and Livingston were double-winners – Belle taking the 100 hurdles and 400 hurdles and Livingston sweeping the 100 and 200 dashes. Livingston's time of 23.51 in the 200 ranks her second nationally in Division II. Livingston also teamed up with Shamia Lassiter (Sr./Chesapeake, VA), Leah Barker (So./St. Michael, Barbados) and Shakinah Brooks (Jr./Raleigh, NC) to win the women's 4x100 relay, while Belle placed third in the high jump.

Amenze Uhunmwangho (Sr./Ebo, Nigeria) was victorious in the triple jump. Shamia Lassiter (Sr./Chesapeake, VA) was second behind Belle in the 100 hurdles and Shakera Hall (Jr./Bridgetown, Barbados) placed sixth in the event.

Hunter was third and Barker was sixth in the 400 dash. Brooks placed fourth and Jena Alston (So./Blythewood, SC) was seventh in the 100 dash.

Mylene Cannon (Jr./Dallas, TX) was fourth and Hall fifth in the 400 hurdles. Brooks was fourth and Hunter eighth in the 200 dash. The Lady F
alcons' quartet of Hunter, Livingston, Barker and Belle finished second.

The Falcons and Lady Falcons will compete again next weekend in the prestigious Penn Relays at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pa. The dates are Thursday, April 28, through Saturday, April 30.

Final Results

COURTESY SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Alcorn State defense scores 3 TDs in spring win

LORMAN, Mississippi -- Alcorn State ended spring practices feeling good that a McNair is in charge.

Fred McNair succeeding the highly successful Jay Hopson as head coach has kept continuity in the program. He is an Alcorn alum elevated from assistant head coach and his late brother Steve will forever be royalty in the program.

The two-time defending Southwestern Athletic Conference program wrapped up spring practices Saturday with the defense scoring more touchdowns than the offense in a 24-13 win at Spinks-Casem Stadium.

Damien Wilson fell on a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown, while Zavier Johnson and Deion Roberson both scored off interceptions.

The Braves return 11 starters from last year's championship club, which finished 9-4 after it lost to MEAC champ North Carolina A&T in the inaugural Celebration Bowl. Hopson, the first white head football coach in the historically black SWAC, resigned in the offseason to take over at Southern Miss.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE 2016 SPRING FOOTBALL PHOTO GALLERY

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Fobbs gives Grambling a B+ grade for spring practice

GRAMBLING, Louisiana — It may have been hard to tell with a fourth-string quarterback at the helm during Grambling's spring game, but the Tigers have no plans to regress from an offense that averaged 41 points per game in 2015.

In fact, Grambling should be just fine despite losing quarterback Johnathan Williams to graduation and a few additional pieces on offense that helped the program earn a Southwestern Athletic Conference West Division title last year.

Ole Miss transfer DeVante Kincade, the heir apparent to Williams, didn't do much this spring while recovering from a broken foot, and the Tigers were without several offensive linemen who are expected to report in the fall. However, Grambling coach Broderick Fobbs still viewed the 14 practices as productive and gave his team a B+ grade.

"I'm always focused on the guts of our guys, what they're thinking, what their heart is doing, how they are pumping," Fobbs told The News-Star last week. "I thought the way we attacked each day is something it takes in order to be successful."

Ever since Grambling sputtered in last December's SWAC title game against Alcorn State, Fobbs has focused on finishing the race next time around.

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Gautier's Alexis Holloway signs with Alcorn State

GAUTIER, Mississippi -- Gautier High senior Alexis Holloway signed a basketball scholarship with Alcorn State University on Friday.

The 5-foot-10 point guard was averaging almost 21 points a game until tearing the ACL in her right knee last December, ending her season.

Despite the injury, Alcorn continued to recruit Holloway, who averaged 19 points, 8 rebounds, 4 blocked shots, 3 assists and 3 steals as a junior.

"The Alcorn State people always still talked to me and showed an interest in me playing there," Holloway said. "I love the campus up there. There's not much of a teacher/student ratio, but I like that. The coaches communicate well, the teammates are nice and everybody helps you out."

Gautier coach Fred Williams gave most of the credit to Holloway's parents.

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Jenkins: ASU showing improvement

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Alabama State ended its spring practice with what head coach Brian Jenkins called “a good showing” at Saturday’s Black and Gold spring game at ASU Stadium.

Jenkins, who is beginning his second season with the Hornets, said he was excited with what he saw from his team and that the coaching staff prepared the team well all spring.

“I think everyone saw the direction this program is going,” Jenkins said. “Our coaching staff did a wonderful job getting the kids ready in a short period of time. These guys now have a better understanding of our expectations.”

There were four touchdown drives between both offenses, two of them led by junior college transfer Jujuan Young-Battle.

Battle finished off the first drive, traveling 75 yards, with the first of his two touchdown passes to wide receiver Joe Williams IV.

Battle completed 7 of 10 passes for 114 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Jenkins said all of his quarterbacks played well.

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