JCSU Women's 4x400 Team Wins NCAA Championship

BRADENTON, Florida -- The Johnson C. Smith University women's 4x400m relay team captured the NCAA Title in the final race of the third and final day at the IMG Academy Stadium in Bradenton, Florida on Saturday night.

The team of Crystal Campbell (St. Catherine, Jamaica), Fellan Ferguson (Trelawny, Jamaica), Domenique Julius-Williams (Oshawa, Ontario), and Tovea Jenkins (St. James, Jamaica) were able to outdistance the second-place team from Shorter by nearly three seconds on their way to the title.

In other events, JCSU's women claimed two second-place finishes when Ferguson posted a 2:04.46 in the 800m and Jenkins claimed second in the 400m with a 52.42.  Teammate
Kendra Clarke (Edmonton, Alberta) came in fourth in the 400m with a 53.30.  Mayah Edwards (Kingston, Jamaica) finished in 5^th place with an 11.79 in the 100m

In the lone field event for JCSU, recent graduate LaTondra Morrow (Charlotte, N.C.) finished 11^th by jumping to a 1.67m height.

On the men's side, Patrick Campbell (St. Elizabeth, Jamaica) and Kyle Robinson (Levelland, Tex.) finished in 5^th and 8^th place, respectively, in the 400m hurdles.  Campbell posted a 52.01 while Robinson ran to a 54.35.  Teammate Joshua Cunningham (Toronto, Ontario) claimed a 5^th place finish in the 400m with a 46.23.

In the 4x400m relay, the JCSU team of Campbell, Cunningham, Waynee Hyman (Warwick, N.Y.) and Robinson posted a 5^th place time of 46.23 to round out the men's competition.

As a team, the JCSU men finished tied for 21^st place with 12 team points.  The JCSU women finished in a tie for 6^th place with 35 team points.

St. Augustine's won the men's team title while Pittsburg St. claimed the women's team title.

NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships, May 26-28, 2016
Bradenton, Fla. (IMG Academy)

JCSU Participant Schedule/Results

Event	Name	Prelim Results/Event Time	Finals Event Time (Sat)
Men's 400m Hurdles	Patrick Campbell	6th, 51.79 (Q)	5th, 52.01
Men's 400m Hurdles	Kyle Robinson	7th, 51.92 (Q)	8th, 54.35
Men's 400m	Joshua Cunningham Waynee Hyman	10th, 47.10 (Q) 8th, 46.90 (DNQ)	5th, 46.23
Men's 200m	Waynee Hyman	9th, 21.16 (DNQ)	N/A
Men's 4x400	Campbell, Cunningham, Hyman, Robinson	7th, 3:10.29 (Q)	6th, 3:09.84
Women's 100m	Mayah Edwards Trudy-Ann Richards	8th, 11.83 (Q) 21st, 12.69 (DNQ)	5th, 11.79
Women's 400m	Kendra Clarke Tovea Jenkins	4th, 53.95 (Q) 2nd, 53.41 (Q)	4th, 53.30 2nd, 52.42
Women's 800	Fellan Ferguson Domenique Julius-Williams	2nd, 2:08.41 (Q) 10th, 2:10.62	2nd, 2:04.46
Women's High Jump	LaTondra Morrow		11th, 1.67m
Women's 4x100	Campbell, Quince, Edwards, Richards	9th, 46.18 (DNQ)	N/A
Women's 4x400	Julius-Williams, Clarke, Ferguson, Jenkins	1st,  3:37.89 (Q)	1st, 3:35.42

 
COURTESY JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION 

from THE EDITOR Dwight Floyd: Summation of Life & Leadership of FAMU's Past Presidents, Series Part 2: Nathan B. Young [1901-1922]

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Nathan B. Young was born to Susan Smith, an African American who escaped slavery when Young was just three years old. She settled in a home of her own in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and married Frank Young. Nathan assumed Frank’s surname. Susan was determined that Nathan receive a good education. Nathan Young received a teacher’s diploma from Talladega College before attending Oberlin College earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1888 and a Master of Arts degree in 1891. Late in his career, Talladega College and Selma University would award Young honorary degrees of Doctors of Letters.

In 1892, Booker T. Washington employed Young to teach at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. Young stayed at Tuskegee for five years and served as the head of the academic department until conflict developed between Young and Washington over Washington’s emphasis on vocational training. In 1897, Young accepted the position of Director of Teacher Training at Georgia State Industrial College (now Savannah State University). While Young worked at the Georgia State Industrial College he became frustrated with the school’s board of directors’ efforts to limit black education to vocational training. Like FAMU’s first president, Thomas De Saille Tucker, Nathan Young believed in literacy.

At every stop he sought to balance the vocational education programs with liberal arts programs. This continuously placed him at odds with those who sought to limit the education of blacks to vocational training. Even after his days at FAMC, Young faced a similar situation as President of Lincoln University in Missouri. There, his emphasis on literacy led to him being fired, rehired, and not long thereafter resigning in 1931.

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Stillman Tigers Dontavius Wright Wins NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships 400 Meter Race

BRADENTON, Florida -- Dontavius Wright just won the NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP in the 400 Meter with a time of 45.44! #ncaad2tf.

Claflin University Trisana Fairweather Wins 200 Meters at Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships

BRADENTON, Florida — Trisana Fairweather ran a 23.21 en route to capturing the 200 meter title at the 2016 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships.  Fairweather finished third in the 100 meters with a time of 11.51 to earn Divison II Outdoor All-American status in both events.  She was also a 2016 Division II Indoor Track All-American for her third place finish in the 200 meters.
 
The women's 4x100 meter relay consisting of Aliyah Miller, Makayla Jackson, Brenay Brown and Fairweather which finished fourth with a time of 45.60 (45.51 prelims) also earned All-American status.
 
The men's 4x400 meter relay team of Nicholas Williams, You'shi Kirkland, Brandon Valentine-Parris and Odou Hazelearned its All-American status with a fourth place finish in a time of 3:08.42
 
The 2016 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships were contested Thursday-Saturday, May 26-28, at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

COURTESY CLAFLIN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Tuscaloosa valedictorian with 4.56 GPA, millions of dollars in scholarships shamed online; Will Attend Florida A&M University

Filer will attend Florida A&M University in the fall on a full scholarship.  Her father also attended FAMU and was valedictorian at his high school. 

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- Days after Mari Filer graduated as Central High School’s valedictorian, she’s still receiving college acceptance letters.

So far, she’s been accepted to more than 40 colleges and universities. She has a 4.56 GPA and has earned nearly $3 million in scholarships.

“I spent a lot of my time working. You just know when it’s time to work to get it done,” Filer said.

Hours after she graduated, she posted her accomplishments on Twitter and Facebook.

“I started getting like thousands of likes by the minute and it was just crazy,” Filer said.

Filer received a lot of congratulations but some are shaming her saying she’s a fraud.

“A few people were like you can’t get above a 4.0 GPA. She’s lying. $2.8 million in scholarships? I don’t believe that for one minute. One man was like, ‘Where is she going to school? Mars University?’” Filer said.

The teen is taking her 24 college credits to Florida A&M University, where she has a full ride.

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High risk, high reward: New Bern native Shawn Best transferring to JUCO from North Carolina A&T, re-opens recruitment

SHAWN BEST #76

NEW BERN, North Carolina -- Shawn Best knows the risk he’s taking. But like he has most of his life, the 6-foot-6, 322-pound offensive lineman is looking forward to proving doubters wrong.

The former New Bern High standout is transferring from North Carolina A&T to Arizona Western College in Yuma, Arizona. He will play a season of junior college football and re-open his recruitment – and work for a scholarship at a Division-I program for the 2017 class.

“I’m very determined. There are a lot of people who have their opinions of me now because I am transferring,” said Best. “I’m taking a big risk by leaving A&T, but I’m working to better my pastures. “I’m looking forward to proving them wrong.”

His decision is already paying dividends. Best has already received an offer from Iowa State and Idaho, and has heard from others. He leaves for Arizona on June 29. After Best plays a season at Arizona Western, he will have two more seasons of eligibility at another school.

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SUNO Women Earn Two National Championships, Finish 4th Overall

Complete Meet Results

GULF SHORES, Alabama -- Southern University at New Orleans had its most successful trip to the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in more than two decades, finishing fourth overall and producing two national champions.

The Lady Knights were led by senior Orenthia Bennett, who captured the women's 400 meter crown. Bennett was also a member of the national champion 4x400 meter relay team, along with freshman Shantae Green, sophomore Shadae Hylton, and senior Leonie Robinson.

SUNO's women compiled six top-five finishes overall, with Hylton taking third place in the 400 meters,sophomore Oshin Brooks-Gillings finishing fourth in the 100 meters, Green ran fifth in the 400 meter hurdles, and the team of sophomore Chantal Pennie, Hylton, Brooks-Gillings, and Robinson finished second in the 4x100 meter relay.

"This was an outstanding team effort", said SUNO head coach Yhann Plummer. "The team was excited to finish fourth, but they felt like they could have done even better. We left a few points out there on the track this weekend, but overall I can't be anything but proud of the work that they put in this entire season and here at the national championships."

The SUNO men's team produced three All-Americans. Freshman Danielle Richards came in fifth in the 400 meters and senior Chad Thomas finished sixth in the 400 meter hurdles. Alex Saunders was the team's top performer, earning a third place finish in the men's 800 meter run.

"We're going to lose some great athletes and leaders in people like Orenthia (Bennett) and Chad (Thomas), but I think the future is very bright for SUNO track. We'll be back next year and we'll build on this. Right now I'm just excited for our team and our university."

SUNO Outdoor Track & Field All-Americans

Women
Athlete	Yr.	Event
Orenthia Bennett	Sr.	400m*, 4x400m relay*
Oshin Brooks-Gillings	So.	100m, 4x100m relay
Shantae Green	Fr.	400m hurdles, 4x400m relay*
Shadae Hylton	So.	400m, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay*
Chantal Pennie	So.	4x100m relay
Leonie Robinson	Sr.	4x100m relay, 4x400m relay*
Men
Athlete	Yr.	Event
Danielle Richards	Fr.	400m
Alex Saunders	Jr.	800m
Chad Thomas	Sr.	400m hurdles

*National Champion

COURTESY GULF COAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE MEDIA RELATIONS