NORFOLK, Va. (May 8, 2024) — The Morgan State men's track & field team capped off a successful 2024 MEAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a strong performance on the final day of competition. Competing at Dick Price Stadium on Norfolk State University's campus, the Bears secured several solid results.
Morgan registered a score of 59 points to place seventh in team scoring, while host Norfolk State won the championship with 204 points, completing a yearly sweep of the conference running titles for the Spartans – This year marked NSU's third consecutive yearly sweep of the MEAC cross country, indoor and outdoor titles. It was also the Spartan program's 12th all-time outdoor title.
Howard finished as runners-up with 136 points and Delaware State finished third with 118 points, Coppin State (95) and South Carolina State (78), North Carolina Central (76) and Maryland-Eastern Shore (41) rounded out the team standings.
One of the highlights for Morgan was the outstanding performance of sophomore thrower Zackery Dillon. The Kingston, Jamaica product claimed the bronze medal in the men's discus, finishing with a toss of 46.99 meters. Dexter Ratliff of South Carolina State took gold with a 50.93, while Delaware State's Emperor Campbell claimed silver with a throw of 48.33m. Dillon also placed fourth with a distance oif 15.46 meters in the the shot put.
Morgan's junior Derick Robinson earned a bronze medal for his impressive performance in the long jump. Robinson's jump measured 7.62 meters, placing him just behind Howard's Kyle Fisher, who secured the gold medal with a distance of 7.72 meters. Sean Wray, also from Howard, claimed the silver medal with a jump of 7.67 meters.
In addition to his exceptional performance in the long jump, Robinson showcased his versatility by competing in the javelin throw. Robinson recorded a fifth place finish in the javelin with a heave of 45.14 meters.
Sophomore Omari McKenzie had a strong performance in the triple jump, securing fifth place with a personal best distance of 15.02 meters. Norfolk State's Isaac Haywood took gold with a mark of 15.85 meters, followed closely behind by Maryland Eastern Shore's Malachi Aiken (15.76m) and Howard's Chase Drewery (15.58m).
Morgan State's 4x100-meter relay team, comprised of Antonio Sims, Derick Robinson, Omari McKenzie and Demier Shipley finished in sixth place with a time of 41.19. Coppin State took the gold by winning the relay in 39.58 – besting Howard by just .08 seconds.
Junior Davian Gray ran a time of 4:06.54 to take 10th place in the 1500 meter run. Norfolk State took the top three spots as Victor Jumo took gold for the Spartans and his teammates Raphael Kitur and Brian Rotich took the silver and bronze, respectively.
Junior Tarique Gooden placed sixth in the 400 meter hurdles by crossing the finish line with a time of 56.65. Howard's Noah Langford (50.57) beat out Norfolk State's Premier Wynn (50.72) for the gold.
Junior Perry Bennett turned a sixth place finish in the 1000 meter run with a time of 31:56.91, and placed ninth in the grueling 5000 meter run with a time of 16:11.08.
The Bears' 4x400 meter relay team, comprised of Antonio Sims, Dante Jackson, Demier Shipley and Derick Robinson finished in fifth place with a time of 3:14.19. Norfolk State won gold by breaking the tape in 3:06.64, just ahead of South Carolina State who posted a time of 3:06.91.
Junior Malik Brown added to MSU's medal count on the final day by placing second in the pole vault with a clearance of 4.32 meters.
Adrian Holley faced the formidable challenge of running in lane eight of the 100-meter dash and pushed forward to turn in a time of 10.49 to earn seventh place.
Norfolk State's Kenneth Giles was again named Outstanding Coach, while the Spartan's Victor Jumo, who tallied 28 points for the week, was named Outstanding Runner and South Carolina State's Dexter Ratliff repeated as the Outstanding Field Performer.
The top three finishers in each event were named All-MEAC.
Outstanding Runner: Victor Jumo, Norfolk State
Outstanding Field Performer: Dexter Ratliff, South Carolina State
Outstanding Coach: Kenneth Giles, Norfolk State
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.
