RESULTS
NORFOLK, Va., May 6, 2024 – Morgan State track & field competed at day one of the 2024 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Dick Price Stadium on Norfolk States University's campus on Monday.
Norfolk State leads the women's team standings after two scored events, racking up 16 points on Monday. Morgan State sits in second place with 15 points, followed by Delaware State with 14.5. North Carolina Central is close behind with 11 points and South Carolina State has 10. Maryland-Eastern Shore has 4.5 points and Howard has 4.
In the men's team standings, North Carolina Central leads with 18 points, 2023 defending champion Norfolk State has 14 points. Coppin State, Delaware State and Howard are tied for third with 10, while Howard and Morgan State are tied with 6 points. Maryland Eastern Shore has 4 points.
In the opening men's decathlon, Coppin State's Andrew Benton leads all opponents with 3,468 points for the day following a first-place tie in the decathlon high jump at the height of 1.92m. Howard sophomore Amon-Ra Watkins led the 100m dash finishing in 10.80 seconds, while Trevin Singleton from South Carolina State lead in the triple jump with a leap of 6.65m. Coppin State's Amiri Goode won the 400m dash in the men's decathlon.
In the women's heptathlon, Jasmyn Hunter's efforts propelled Norfolk State's to the top. Shaw Essence led all athletes in the high jump in the women's heptathlon with a 1.57m leap, and also won the shot put with a 10.30m throw. Coppin State's Kaelyn Woodrum finished first in the women's 200m race in the heptathlon in a time of 25.31.
Morgan's
Johnelle Johnson emerged as the undisputed champion in the discus event. With an impressive throw of 48.28 meters, she secured the gold medal, while. Norfolk State's Leslie Young earned the silver medal with a throw of 45.47 meters. Sophomore
Brylan Carter recorded a toss of 38.76 meters to finish in fourth place.
In the women's high jump, Kennedy Spears of South Carolina State cleared a height of 1.68 meters to take gold, while Norfolk State's Aniah Kennerson recorded a mark of 1.63 meters to take silver.
Howard's Simone Watkins posted the top time in the preliminary heats for the women's 400-meter hurdles, clocking in at 59.50 to win her heat, followed by teammates Aniya Woodruff (59.55) and Cathrina Morris (59.71), who all posted sub-minute times in the field.
Howard also had four qualifiers in the 200 meter dash prelims, including the top three times, with Kailei Collins (23.46), Zoe Turner (23.90) and Ai'yana Gray-Williams (24.05).
Zackery Dillon of Morgan State earned bronze in the men's discus with a distance of 46.99 meters. South Carolina State's Dexter Ratliff claimed gold with a toss of 50.93 meters, while Delaware State's Emperor Campbell finished notched silver with a mark of 48.33 meters.
In the men's high jump, James Bell of Coppin State cleared 2.06 meters to take gold.
In the men's 200 meters, Delaware State's Jalen Booth-Mitchell was the fastest in the prelims, clocking in at 20.81. Norfolk State's Kai Cole was second quickest with a 20.87 and N.C. Central's James Harris clocked in at 20.99.
Mercyline Kimayio of NSU won the women's 10,000m championship finals, breaking the tape in 37:58.67. Howard's Joslyn Crosby placed second, clocking 39:32.62 while Norfolk State's Abigael Chebet finished third in 39:56.30.
Day one concluded with the Men's 10,000m run with Norfolk State's Raphael Kitur winning gold in 30:12.01 minutes. North Carolina Central's Meshack Kuyo earned silver with a time of 30:17.71, and Norfolk State's Gidion Sigei placed third in 30:32.42.
Action on the track resumes at 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning when the men's decathlon and the women's heptathlon resumes.
For more information on the 2023 MEAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, including schedule of events, live results and a link to Thursday's live stream, visit the MEAC's Championship Central page.
About the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) is in its 53rd year of intercollegiate competition with the 2023-24 academic school year. Located in Norfolk, Va., the MEAC is made up of eight outstanding historically black institutions across the Atlantic coastline: Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina Central University and South Carolina State University.
