March 9, 2008

AMES, Iowa - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) put on a show this weekend at Iowa State's Last Chance track meet. Allodin Fothergill, Tanisha Wisdom, and Merrecia James were the athletes representing the Hawks at the last track meet before the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships.

On the men's side, Forthergill showed yet again why he is one of the most feared sprinters in the country by torching the competition in the 400-meter dash on his way to a first place finish. His personal record (PR) time of 46.36 breaks his previous school record by .47 seconds. He continued to impress later running the 200 meter dash in a blistering time of 21.43, breaking yet another school record he crossed the line seventh in that event.

The women were well represented also. Wisdom, arguably the conference's best sprinter, also had a career day running a PR of 52.63 in the 400 meter dash. Her first place finish in the event also puts her in good standings around the nation as she broke her own school record again. The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's (MEAC) Outstanding Performer, Merrecia James, left the track with a new school record of her own running 2:07.18 in the 800-meters, breaking her previous mark by more than a second.

"They've all worked hard and it's good to see them go out and get the job done," said Coach Ernest Barrett. "I'm glad to see them break their school records and with this performance I'm ready to see what they can do at the Championship level."

Both Forthergill and Wisdom have all but punched their ticket to this season's NCAA Championships in the 400-meter dash. Fothergill's time is the fifth fastest in the country while Wisdoms' ranks sixth in the country. James has to wait to see if her provisional time will hold up, she stands 21st in the nation currently and her status for the championships will be confirmed on Monday evening. Teammate Celia Whyte currently stands 44th in the nation in the same 800-meter event with her provisional qualifying time.

The NCAA Indoor Championships will be held in Fayetteville, Arkansas, March 14 and 15 and be the next time that Hawks are in action in the indoor arena.