Feb. 17, 2008

Complete Results |  Photo Gallery 

LANDOVER, Md. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) men and women's Indoor Track and Field Teams had a great showing at the P.G. Sports and Learning Complex this weekend, which resulted in the women sharing the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) crown and the men battling from sixth place after the first day to end at third. The women accumulated 92 points which tied for first place with long time rival Hampton. The men tallied 61 which just trailed Delaware State (64), and Norfolk State (170).

It is the first track and field title for the UMES women since the 1992 season when they won the Outdoor Championships.

Oustanding Coach, Ernest Barrett

"It was a total team effort, where every point counted," said Head Coach Ernest Barrett. "We came out of the cross-country season with our first championship since the 1987 season and our student-athletes gave us 100 percent to help us win this indoor title."

Racking most of the points for the Lady Hawks was junior Merecia James who posted 35 points winning the 800-meter run (2:16), the one mile run (5:09), and the 3,000-meter run (10:17.50) to earn Outstanding Performer Honors. James also ran a leg on the Lady Hawks 4x400m relay team (3:45.00), and the record breaking Distance Medley Relay (DMR) team (11:41.16). UMES was first in both events.

The DMR team set a new school record and with four Jamaican women on the team, set a new Jamaican record.

MEAC Most Oustanding Performer, Merrecia James

James, Tanisha Wisdom, Celia Whyte and Tamica Thomas made up the championship DMR team while James, Wisdom, Whyte and Sherie Brown were on the winning 4x400-meter relay team.

Wisdom also had a productive day by herself, winning the 200-meters dash (24.32), and 400-meter dash (54.63).

Along with her relay success Whyte also came in at 2:18.96 in the 800-meter run to take sixth place. Other big finishers for the women included Saisha Woodward, Jocelyn Wheeler, Tiona Long and Soledad Maurice who placed third (44-09.75), sixth (41-01.75) seventh (40-11.50) and tenth (11.77 meters) dominating the shot put. Rashida Beckford placed fifth in the high jump with a mark of 5-02.50. Thomas and Betty Chumbe also scored for the Lady Hawks in the 3,000-meter run placing fourth (10:45.50) and eighth (10:51.69) respectively.

On the men's side it was the Fighting Hawks newcomer and sophomore Allodin Fothergill who gave the other MEAC teams something to be fearful of in the future. Fothergill won the 200-meter dash (21.73), the 400-meter dash (48.10) and assisted Clayton James, Paul Jones-Burden, and Dexter Miller to fourth place in the 4x400m relay (3:16.85).

James also scored in the 800-meter run (1:55.43) and one mile run (4:26.78), placing seventh and eighth respectively. James and Jones-Burden teamed up again, this time in the DMR (10:24.98) along with Jerome Pyuzza and Amon Kiprotich for another fourth place finish. Kiprotich along with Peter Sang dominated the 5,000 meter run placing first (15:12.35) and third (15:22.09) respectively. Solomon Kirongo was ninth in the field (16:22.08).

Other top finishers for the men included Charles Elmer in the long jump (22-02.25), and James Moore in the high jump (6-06.75). Both athletes finished seventh in their respected events.

Jamahl Strachan had a great meet as well. Taking sixth in the pole vault (3.94 meters) competing in the heptathlon where he was sixth in the 60-meter dash, fourth in the long jump, tenth in the shot put and 60-meter hurdles, third in the 1,000-meter run and second in the pole vault. He even won the high jump with a leap of 2.04 meters (6'8.25").

While the MEAC Championship may be over the Indoor season is far from it. UMES runs in the Alex Wilson Invitational at Notre Dame on March 7 and 8 and will have some athletes compete in the NCAA Championships in Fayetteville, Ark. March 14 and 15.