LEVELLAND–With less than a month until the 2017 Outdoor National Championships in Hutchinson, Kansas, the South Plains College track and field teams will head to Abilene on Thursday for the ACU Twilight on the campus of Abilene Christian University.
The Texans and Lady Texans have been as advertised to date, combining for over 70 national qualifying marks while competing against the countries top athletes in nationally recognized meets. For their efforts, the Texans, who are the 10-time defending outdoor national champions, will enter Thursday ranked second in the country in the latest USTFCCCA national rankings. The Lady Texans have progressed and proven worthy of one of the top women's teams in the country, earning a No. 3 ranking by USTFCCCA in the latest polls.
South Plains is fresh off their trip to Norman which saw the two teams compete and prevail against a field of top Div. I programs at the John Jacobs Invitational at the University of Oklahoma last Saturday.
Last time out:
Freshman Laquan Nairn soared 25' 3.25" in the men's long jump to earn to Bahamas native a second place finish. Saahir Bethea also earned a top five finish with a mark of 24' 3.5", good enough for fourth overall. Despite frigid temperatures and an even tougher wind, Adrian Williams earned a third place finish in the men's javelin with a throw of 193' 6".
Junior Charles, Jordan Atkinson, Okeen Williams and Montel Hood used a final time of 3:10.04 in the men's 4x400 relay to take second overall. Rayan Holmes would then post a time of 52.11 in the men's 400 hurdles to earn the freshman a third place finish, while William Watson would take fifth in the men's 110 hurdles with a time of 14.49.
Charles crossed the line at 47.57 in the men's 400 meters to take third, while Robert Downs Jr. earned a sixth place finish in the men's 800 meters with a time of 1:53.42. Atkinson would go on to earn a sixth place finish in the men's 200 meters with his time of 21.38.
The Lady Texans' Natassha McDonald took first in the women's 400 meters with a dazzling time of 53.94. Mauricia Prieto also earned a top five finish in the 400 with her fourth place finish and final time of 55.77. Omotayo Abolaji posted a time of 11.82 in the women's 100 meters to take sixth, while Safia Bright earned a ninth place finish in the women's 200 meters with a time of 24.73.
The Lady Texans' 4x400 relay team comprised of Latriceia Smith, Prieto, McDonald and Agnes Abrocquah took third with their time of 3:45.95. Melody Korie would then earn a second place finish in the long jump with a mark of 20' 4.25".
Sitting on top:
South Plains athletes have earned the top marks in their respected events throughout the year, which include:
Rank: 1st:
Men's Javelin – Adrian Williams – 215' 6"
Men's Long Jump – Laquan Nairn – 25' 8.25"
Men's 400 Hurdles – Okeen Williams – 50.75
Women's 400 meters – Natassha McDonald – 53.57
Rank: 2nd:
Men's Triple Jump – Laquan Nairn – 51' 4.25"
Men's 400 Hurdles – Rayan Holmes – 51.22
Women's 4x100 Relay - Omotayo Abolaji, Mauricia Prieto, Taylor Hill, Safia Bright – 45.26
Women's 4x400 Relay - Latriceia Smith, Mauricia Prieto, Natassha McDonald, Agnes Abrocquah – 3:40.33
Women's 4x800 Relay: Latriceia Smith, Poro Gahekave, Seselia Dala, Hellen Maasotuo - 9:19.26
You can access the full list at the links below:
Women's top marks: https://www.tfrrs.org/lists/1918.html
Men's top marks: https://www.tfrrs.org/lists/1918.html