May 3, 2008

Complete Results

BALTIMORE, Md. - The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Outdoor Track & Field Championships brought different feelings for the Hawk student-athletes. The entire women's team was looking for the triple crown, a sweep of the women's titles from cross-country to indoor to outdoor. It wasn't to be as UMES posted 118 points, five shy of Hampton's 123 who took the title. Individually, for senior Tanisha Wisdom it would be her last conference championship of any kind. While for freshman such as Danai Lendor it would be anticipation for her first of many MEAC Outdoor Championship appearances. Neither disappointed.

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Lady Hawks know all ingredients it takes to win a championship and with Wisdom's last shot at an Outdoor title at stake the women responded. Wisdom had an outstanding evening running event after event as she qualified for regionals in the 100-meter dash prelims with a blistering 11.65. She placed 8th in the finals because of a tight meet schedule that only allowed 15 minutes rest after the women's 400 meters. In the 400-meter finals she ran 52.90 which broke the UMES school record and letter that day she set a new UMES record in the 200-meter dash, running 23.53. She placed second in both the 200 and 400 meters and set personal records (PR) in both. Danai Lendor had an impressive evening as well qualifying for regionals in the 400-meter hurdles. Her time of 1:00.40 placed her 3rd and was her PR. Lendor and Wisdom teamed up with Sherie Brown and Makela Richardson to place 7th in the 4x100-meter relay with a time of 47.55.

Saisha Woodward also had a remarkable weekend placing 6th in the discus where she sets a new UMES record with a throw of 41.68 meters. She continued her success by winning the javelin with a 38.20 meter throw and placing 2nd in the shot put, throwing14.24 meters. Both the Shot Put and Discus throws are personal records for Woodward. Jocelyn Wheeler also had a good outing in the shot put placing 8th with a personal record of 12.65. All three threw a PR. Joceyln Wheeler also had a good outing in the shot put placing 8th with a throw of 12.65. Merrecia James and Celia Whyte dominated the 800-meter run as James unselfishly backed off so that Whyte could claim 1st and a trip to the NCAA Regionals. Whyte had a time of 2:11.08 while James took 2nd running 2:12.36. The same two ladies placed 1st and 3rd in the 1500-meter run with times of 4:39.56 and 4:41.11. Tamica Thomas placed well in the same event running 4:51.41 and placing 7th. The dominance in the distance events became much more defined as James and Thomas along with Betty Chumbe and Janeth Chelangat placed 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 6th. The times being 18:43.60, 18:58.99, 19:10.29, and 19:47.63 respectively. The 4x400 meter relay would decide it all as UMES lined up for the race, knowing they could win MEACs with a first place finish. Unfortunately they came up short placing second to Hampton University in that race and the Championship as Whyte, James, Lendor, and Wisdom ran 3:40.55 just shy of the UMES record set at a few weeks ago at MSU Legacy meet.

The men faired well at MEACs as the distance runners took no prisoners. Peter Sang and Clayton James represented well in the 1500-meter run placing 2nd and 8th running 4:00.31 and 4:04.03. Amon Kiprotich and Sang would compete in the remainder of the distance events. Kiprotich won the 5,000-meter run in 14:53.30, a new MEAC Championship record. Sang also crossed the finish line in 2nd with a time of 14:54.05 that broke the meet record as well. Sang then won the 3,000-meter steeplechase breaking his own MEAC Championship time by twelve seconds, a PR of 9:20.07. Kiprotich placed second running 9:.38.12. James Moore placed 4th in high jump and 7th in the triple jump leaping 2.09 and 13.63 meters. Jamahl Strachan placed second in the decathlon. The all freshman 4x400-meter relay consisting of Dexter Miller, Paul Jones-Burden, Thomas Keane-Dawes, and Corey Alexander placed 5th with a time of 3:13.50. The men, were in second place after the second day of the Championships but saw their lead slip away in the sprints and hurdles and would come away seventh with a total of 64 points. Norfolk Sate took the title with 162 points.

UMES now heads to Georgia Tech on May 16 and 17 for their last chance meet. The hawks will send certain individuals who have a chance to qualify for NCAA Regionals or some who already have and hope to improve their times.