media_artricles :: 2013

Lendore golden at Conference Championships

Texas A&M athlete, Deon Lendore cemented his reign atop the world indoor 400m rankings yesterday when he produced another blistering gold medal performance at the 2013 South Eastern Conference Championships, which concluded at the Randal Tyson Track Complex, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arizona, yesterday.

The promising national quarter-miler clocked a golden 45.23 seconds to sprint past silver medallist Hugh Graham (45.67s) of Florida and third placed Anton Kokorin (46.38s) of Arkansas.

On Saturday, Lendore returned to pole position on the world indoor rankings when he shattered the globe’s indoor record with a blistering 45.15s performance in the preliminary stages. On January 19, the Texas A&M runner elevated to the top of the world’s list when he sprinted to gold in 45.91s. However, his reign was short-lived as US athlete David Verburg removed him with a 45.83s clocking on February 9. Lendore now resumes his position at the helm.

Meanwhile, Georgia University’s, Hilenn James also received top honours when she launched a golden 16.78m distance in the Women’s shot put.

She defeated Missouri’s silver medallist Jill Rushin (16.67m) and South Carolina’s bronze receiver Breanna Radford (16.47m).

Additionally, Wayne Davis II (Texas A&M) recorded a silver medal finish in the Men’s 60m hurdles event. The national athlete clocked 7.65s and finished behind Florida’s winner Eddie Lovett (7.54s) and ahead of third placed Arkansas hurdler, Caleb Cross (7.72s). Davis II advanced to the finals after he recorded the second fastest time (7.78s) in the qualifying rounds.

Arkansas’ Sparkle McKnight was billed to be among the medals in the Women’s 400m event but had to settle for sixth position in a time of 52.77s. In the qualifiers, McKnight crossed the finish line in 53.74s.

Also on Saturday, Texas A&M athlete, Janeil Bellille finished fourth (54.68s) in the heats and claimed 15th spot overall.

At the same meet, Auburn sprinter Kai Selvon, in the Women’s 60m event, crossed the line in eighth position, in a time of 9.30s. In the preliminary stages, Selvon clocked the second fastest time (7.34s) to advance.

Portland State’s Gerrone Black also copped gold in the Women’s 55m event at the Big Sky Conference Indoor Track and Field Meet in Bozeman, Montana, on Saturday. She defeated Idaho State’s Camille Marchand (7.03s) and Portland State’s Anaiah Rhodes (7.05s) respectively. Black set yet another new meet record in this event when she finished in a golden time of 6.86s. The youngster wiped Christian White’s (Eastern Washington) record time of 6.95s, set in 1996.

Compatriot and Jacksonville field athlete, Akeela Bravo bagged bronze in the Women’s shot put at the Atlantic Sun Conference Indoor Championships in Tennessee on Saturday. Bravo secured her bronze medal throw after her second attempt of 13.09m. Winning gold was Kennesaw State’s Gwenetta Jones (14.14m) while Lipscomb’s April Terry received silver (13.62m).

At the Big Ten indoor Championships on at the Spire Institute in Ohio on Saturday, Aleena Brooks (Minnesota) missed out on medalling with a fifth place finish in the Women’s 600m. She clocked 1:30.44 and 1:30.61 in the qualifiers. At the same meet, Carisa Leacock finished in ninth position of the Women’s Ling Jump. Her distance was 5.79m, distantly behind winner Mara Griva’s (Nebraska) 6.32m effort.

Up to press time yesterday, Kashef Daniel (Arkansas), T’Keyah Dumoy (Florida) and Kendal Bacchus (Tennessee) were scheduled to take part in their respective events at the ongoing Sun Belt Conference Championships in Arkansas. Daniel was expected to line up in the Men’s high jump and long jump; Dumoy in the Women’s 55m; Bacchus in the Men’s 200m.

National athlete, Deborah John (North Dakota) was also scheduled to contest the Women’s 60m flat and hurdles events at the Summit League Championships, but up to press time her result was not yet available.

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