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Track and Field competes in final national tune-up in Daytona
By Matt Green
DAYTONA BEACH -- The Shorter University men and women's track and field teams concluded their build up to the 2012 NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championship by competing at the Embry-Riddle Last Chance Meet hosted by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Shorter's student-athletes peppered the podiums in Florida on Saturday.
In women's action, the Lady Hawks won four events and finished runner-up in five more. Freshman Ayana Walker won the 400 meter dash in a school record time of 55.77. Porsche Holden took first in the 60 meter hurdles in a time of 9.05. Tamala Daley won the triple jump in an NAIA-best distance of 41 feet, 1.5 inches and Shorter's 4x400 meter relay team of Kennisha Holden, Mia Jones, Tia Moreland and Ashlie Stewartson captured first in 3:54.21.
Shorter's runner-up finishes on the women's side were highlighted by Mariah Freeman, who set a new school record and moved into the No. 8 rank nationally in the pentathlon with 3,186 points.
Lakeisha Spikes ran 7.89 in the 60 meter dash to place second, Ashley Ballard (24.93) placed second in the 200 meter dash, Stewartson jumped 18 feet, 7.25 inches to finish as runner-up in the long jump and Dominique Woods finished just behind teammate Daley in the triple jump with her leap of 37 feet, 10 inches.
Other notables included Chelsea Overby, who placed third in the shot put (36-6.75) and fourth in the weight throw (40-7.75). Sarah Massey qualified for nationals by running 10:29.61 in the 3,000 meter run.
On the men's side, Shorter won six events and dominated the sprints. The Hawks went 1-2-3-4 in the 60 meter dash with Nigel Talton winning the event in a school record time of 6.77. Allen Huntley (6.78), Kirk Wilson (6.86) and Bradley Moon (6.97), all national qualifiers, rounded out the sweep.
Shorter went 1-2-3 in the 200 meters. Wilson ran 20.90 to post a new school record and the NAIA's fastest time this season. He placed first and was followed by Randy Dameron (21.12, No. 2 NAIA) and Adika Smith (21.40).
Dameron won the 400 meter dash in 47.76, Peter Limo won the 800 meter run in 1:55.77, Robert Harvey took first in the shot (50-4.75) and the Hawks' 4x400 meter relay team of Terence Scruggs, Cole Rice, Wilson and Malik Fair took first in 3:16.63.
Aside from Huntley in the 60 and Dameron in the 200, Shorter's second place performances included Daniel Alexis in the weight throw (47-2.25) and Sadrac Cherfils in the triple jump (46-8.75).
Shorter will take a week away from competition to gear up for the indoor nationals that will commence in Geneva, Ohio from March 1-3. Shorter's men are looking to repeat after taking the 2011 NAIA Indoor Track and Field national championship while the women are hoping to improve upon a school record fifth place finish at the national championships last year.
