SU track teams run in MD

LANDOVER, MARYLAND – The Southern University Track and Field men and women’s track and field team participated in the First Annual Historically Black College Track Classic on February 8-9 in the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex.  
Southern was the only Southwestern Athletic Conference School in attendance at the meet.  Other schools that attended were Bethune-Cookman University, Clafin University, Wilberforce University, Tennessee State University, Norfolk State University, Howard University, Lincoln University, Morgan State University, Delaware State University, and North Carolina Central. University
“This was a good reflection of the capability of our team as well this meet served as more than just a track meet, it was good public relations for our school with the other schools in the different conferences,” said Johnny Thomas, head track and field coach.
Southern’s men dominated in the none-scoring meet and the women made tremendous improvements.  For the women, LaToya Johnson did well placing ninth in the 200-meter dash clocking in at 25.57seconds and placing seventh in the 60- meter hurdles clocking in at 9.06.  
Rayla Hunt stepped up this week placing eight in both the one-mile run with the time of 5 minutes, 39.97 seconds and the 3000 meter run clocking in at 11:32.52.  In the 800-meter run, Jovanni Anderson did well placing eight and clocking in at 2:30.31. 
Francella Williams gave a respectable performance in the 60-meter hurdles placing fourth clocking in at 8.95.  The women placed well in the field events. Silvers Fultz and Carole Mitchell place first and second in the weight throw with the marks of 13.58 meters and 11.43 meters. Theodoris Thyssen performed well placing sixth in the triple jump with the mark of 11.13 meters and seventh in the high jump with a mark of 1.50 meters.
The men really shined at this meet giving the north a good look at what the south had to offer.  In the 60-meter dash, five men ran in the preliminaries with five progressing to the finals.  Placing second in the finals was junior Brian Johnson clocking in at 6.81, fourth was sophomore Ezra Landry clocking in at 6.96 and placing seventh was Chermond Thomas clocking in at 6.98. 
The men were strong in the 200-meter dash placing fourth was Peppi Underwood clocking in at 22.35, fifth was Thomas clocking at 22.45 and sixth was Jamie McLendon clocking in at 22.46. In the 400-meter dash run four men enter in the preliminaries with three advancing to finals, coming in at second place was Underwood clocking in at 50.39, fourth was Joseph Shelton with the time of 50.58 and fifth was Leon Stewart clocking in at 50.68. 
In the mile run, junior Charles Moon placed third clocking in at 4:24.65 and fifth was Darnell Parker with the time of 4:33.23.  In the 800-meter run Clary Reed placed fifth clocking in at 1:58.66 and Parker placed eight with the time of 2:00.90.  In the 5000-meter run Moon placed fourth clocking in at 16:16.25.  In the 60-meter hurdles, McLendon perform well finishing first in the preliminaries and second in the finals clocking in at 8.06. 
The men’s relay teams finished well placing first in the 4×400 relay clocking in at 3:18.45 and third in the Distance Medley with the time of 10:43.34.  The men took first in four out of six field events.  In the high jump for the first time freshman Jeremy Noah placed first with the jump of 2.02 meters.  In the long jump, Johnson and Henry Frazier took first and second place with the marks of 7.55 meters and 7.50 meters, respectively. Jeremy Pierre placed first in the triple jump with the mark of 15.05 meters.  In the shot put, Kenneth Johnson placed second with the mark of 15.60 meters.  The men went one and two in the weight throw with the marks of 15.01 and 12.67 meters, respectively. 
The Jaguars will compete in their last meet before SWAC championship February 15, in Houston at the University of Houston All-Comers Meet.