MANHATTAN, KANSAS— The South Plains College men's and women's track and field teams began their 2016 Indoor season with an impressive showing at the Deloss Dodds Invitational at Kansas State University against numerous division one schools from across the country.
On the men's side, DeVante Lacy placed first with a time of 47.79 in the men's 400 meters, while Fletcher Sherrard placed fifth with an overall time of 52.19. Robert DownsJr. took first in the men's 600-yard dash with a time of 1:11.66, and Okeen Williamsplaced eighth with a final time of 1:14.44. Williams also placed fourth overall in the men's 60 meters with a time of 6.88, while Kwaume McGee placed sixth in the men's high jump with a distance of 2.05 meters.
Hassan Abdi placed first overall in the men's 3000 meters with a time of 8:38.30, and finished seventh in the men's 1-mile run with a time of 4:22.03. Fabian Edoki placed first in the men's triple jump with a distance of 14.40 meters, and first overall in the men's long jump with a distance of 7.51 metrers. The men's 4x400 team made up of Lacy, Williams, Downs Jr. and Dedrian Windham took first overall with a final time of 3:14.94.
The Lady Texans also held their own against an elite field, with Aaliyah Telesford placing first overall in the women's 60 meters with a final time of 7.61. Also placing in the top 10 in the 60 meters was Taylor Hill and Alexis Hyshaw, who finished with times of 7.69, and 7.80, respectively.
Mauricia Prieto took first overall in the women's 200 meters with a final time of 25.04 for the Lady Texans, and Hill placed fifth overall with a time of 25.62. In the women's 400 meters, Medinah Spencer took the top spot with a time of 56.07, and Waller Lewis placed third with a final time of 59.77. Deja Harrison took the fourth spot in the women's 600-yard dash with a time of 1:27.17.
Kassidi Jones and Mya Perez placed ninth and 10th overall in the women's 3000 meters with times of 11:27.17, and 11:41.39, respectively. In the women's 60 meter hurdles, Shanice Lewis and Spencer placed second and third overall, with final times of 8.80 and 8.99, respectively.
Defending NJCAA national title holder Morgan Hartsell placed first overall in the women's pole vault event, with a final mark of 3.50 meters. Anyi Garcia-Solis placed third overall in the women's high jump competition with a distance of 1.63 meters, while Felicia Frimpong took first in the women's triple jump with a distance of 11.88 meters.
In the women's long jump, Ciearah Harriston and Melody Korie placed second and fourth overall, with distances of 5.62 and 5.19 meters, respectively. Tasha Crosse placed fifth overall in the women's shot put competition with a mark of 12.12 meters, while the women's 4x400 team, made up of Saquikine Cameron, Aaliyah Telesford, Mauricia Prieto and Deja Harrison took third with a final time of 3:53.78.
Following their outstanding performances over the weekend, DeVante Lacy (400 meters) and Robert Downs Jr. (600 meters) currently hold the top times in the NJCAA in their respected events. Also worthy of notation is Hassan Abdi's 8:30.30 mark in the men's 3000 meters, which currently sits as the fourth best time in the country.
After posting 32 national qualifying marks in Manhattan, the Texans and Lady Texas will be back in action on February 5 when they travel to College Station for the Texas A&M Invitational.