Jaguars right on track

The Southern University Men and Women’s track and field teams started their indoor track season off participating in two meets prior to the start of school.
“It (McNesse Track meet) was a very different atmosphere and at this meet we were looking for different things,” said Johnny Thomas head track coach. ” At the first meet, I put all the better people in one group to see how well we would proform at McNesse. I rearranged people for replacements to gain depth and that’s what wins championships.”
The Ed Temple Classic held by Tennessee State University on January 12, 2003 was a great success for both the Men and Women. There were 13 schools attending the meet in Nashville, including six teams from the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
The overall performance of the team was that of SWAC Champions. The men were quick in speed and ability showing what events they are going to take rank in.  In the 55-meter dash, three members of the Jaguars men’s teams advanced from the preliminaries to finals. Taking second and third place was senior Jonathan Robinson clocking in at 6.38 seconds and senior Noel Parnell clocking in at 6.44. In the 200 -meter dash, junior Leon Stewart placed second clocking in at 22.71. Freshman Darnell Parker and sophomore Cary Reed took second and third place respectively in the 1-mile run. In the 3000-meter run, junior Charles Moon placed third clocking in at 9:24.48.
“My main goal is to stay focus and qualify for national championships. As the season progress with more track meets and better competition, I will only get better,” said senior hurdler Jamie McClendon.
McClendon continues to shine taking first in the 55- meter hurdles, clocking in at 7.53. Southern’s B and A team relay team placed second and third in the4x400 meter relay and in the 4×200, A and B team placed first and second. The men’s distance medley relay team took first. In field events, sophomore Michael McKinney placed first in the high jump, senior Jeremy Pierre placed third in the triple jump and junior Arnold Sims placed second in the Weight throw.
The women showed a lot of improvement coming into this season.  The women freshmen are still adjusting and the upper classmen are getting stronger. Junior Erica Lattin placed first in the 55-meter dash clocking in at 7.22 and sophomore Erikka Thomas placed third in the1-mile run clocking in at 5:40.42. Sophomore Francella Williams placed second in the 55 -meter hurdles clocking in at8.27.  The women’s relay team placed second in the 4×400 and in the field, junior Silvers Fultz placed second in the weight throw.
On January 18, the men and women attended their second meet and both teams placed fifth out of 12 in attendance.  
The Jaguars will be competing again on Saturday at the Houston Indoor Opener at the University of Houston.