CIAA Indoor Track Athletes Donate To The Homeless‏
February 16, 2015   CIAA Media
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. –
As part of an effort to continue community involvement, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) donated supplies to The Bethesda Center during the second day of the conference’s Indoor Track & Field Championships on Monday, February 16, 2015. CIAA commissioner Jacqie McWilliams and several track & field student-athletes participating in the championship meet were on hand to give kitchenware and personal items to representatives of The Bethesda Center, the leading provider of shelter and services for homeless men and women in Forsyth County. It is the only day shelter in the community.

Executive director Derwin Montgomery was thrilled to receive items from the CIAA. He hopes to collaborate with the conference on future projects.
The presentation was held as part of a campaign to help the homeless "B Strong 365" days a year.

“This helps us to prepare the packages that we use for individuals as we transition them out of the shelter into permanent houses,” Montgomery said. “We want to start them off with the necessities they need so they won’t have to spend the limited resources they have on getting those items.”

The track & field student-athletes who took part in the presentation were Jonathan Gambrell of Livingstone College, Miles Green of The Lincoln (Pa.) University, Travis Henderson of Virginia State University, Cherrisse Lynch of Saint Augustine’s University, Trudy-Ann Richards of Johnson C. Smith University, Jasmine Ross of Winston-Salem State University, Jonathan White of Virginia Union University and Ayanna Tweedy of Bowie State University.
Commissioner McWilliams says the student-athletes represent the spirit of the CIAA.
“I am extremely thankful that our student-athletes understand that whatever we give makes a difference in the lives of others,” McWilliams said. “This demonstrates who we are collectively as a conference.”
Lynch, one of the student-athletes, was glad to be part of the community service presentation during the championship meet.
“To be able to give back has always been in our family,” Lynch said. “I believe that when you accomplish something you should always give back.”
VUU Men Win Distance Medley Relay at CIAA Championships
2/15/2015 | Men's Track and Field
Virginia Union University's men's distance relay team has captured the crown at the CIAA Indoor Track & Field Championships, held on Sunday, February 15, in Winston-Salem, N.C.

The men's distrance relay team consisted of freshman Donovan Mundy, freshman Jontue McDowell, junior Emmanuel Nelfrard and freshman Luis Nieves.

The team won the championship with a time of 10:49.96.

Bowie State University was second in the event with a time of 10:56.39 with Livingstone College capturing third place with a time of 11:17.96.

Lincoln University was fourth with a time of 11:21.08 and Virginia State University was fifth with a time of 12:03.18.

Saint Augustine's University was sixth with a time of 12:14.64.

The CIAA Indoor Track & Field Championships conclude on Monday, February 16, in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Lady Rams Win 2015 CIAA Indoor Track & Field Championship

WSSU totals 140 points to take first conference title since 2011

Goodwin, Trevin Q.

WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The Winston-Salem State Lady Rams took home the 2015 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Indoor Track & Field Championship with a stellar performance on day two of the two-day meet. After opening the meet with 22 points on the opening day, the Lady Rams piled up 118 points on the second day of the meet to bring home the championship.

The conference championship was a big accomplishment for the Lady Rams’ seniors who have experienced three top three finishes since 2011. “I’ve been waiting for this since my freshman year,” senior sprinter Nya Michaux said. “For us to finish second, and third every year since then and now it’s finally here and I am so proud to be a part of this team.”

The championship was also especially important to fellow senior long jumper Tajanel McNeill, who was named the CIAA Indoor Field MVP for the third straight season. “This feels really good,” McNeill said. “I told them [the team] at the beginning of the year; it’s not about us it’s about the team. So for us to win this championship together means more to me than any individual award.”

The Lady Rams took the championship behind some inspired individual efforts both on and off the track. One of the key performances in the meet came when junior sprinter Raven Covington took first place in the women’s 60m dash with a 7.47 to score 10 key points for the Lady Rams. Another great effort came from freshman distance runner Domtilla Kipsaget who won the women’s 3000m run with a 10:13.2 and second place in the women’s mile run with a 5:17.60. Another key performance came in the women’s 200m dash where senior sprinter Nya Michaux placed second with a 25.19. Freshman Ty-Leah Hampton added a fourth-place finish in the event with a 25.51. Sophomore Raven Hamilton also picked up some key points in the women’s 800m run when she placed second with a 2:16.66.

In field events, senior Tajanel McNeil capped her stellar career with another fine performance at the conference championships. She won the women’s triple jump with a 40’11.75” (12.49m) leap to go along with her second place finish in the women’s long jump, yesterday. She also added a third place finish in the women’s high jump at 5’3” (1.60m). Senior Raven Byrd also had a great performance in the women’s pentathlon with 2,976 points to place third in the multi-event. Senior DaVona Dula also stepped up her efforts with a second place finish in the women’s shot put with a 41’00.25” (12.50m) throw.

With the effort, the Lady Rams close out the conference portion of their schedule and will turn their attentions to national competition as they head to Chapel Hill, N.C. to take part in the Kent Taylor Invitational. For more information on Lady Rams track & field, log on to www.WSSURams.com.

Lady Rams in Second Place on Opening Day of 2015 CIAA Indoor Track & Field Championships

WSSU wins distance medley relay, sends three to finals of 60m dash

 

WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The Winston-Salem State Lady Rams track & field team had a strong on the opening day of the 2015 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Indoor Track & Field Championships. The team totaled 21 points on the opening day of the event and had several runners to qualify for the finals tomorrow.

 

The Lady Rams’ distance medley relay team capped a great day when they won the event with a 12:19.86. The effort was another in a great day on the track for the Lady Rams, who had some impressive performances in event preliminaries. Three Lady Rams qualified for the finals of the women’s 60m dash with junior Raven Covington, senior Nya Michaux, and sophomore Ty-Leah Hampton all reaching the finals. Covington had the second fastest time of the day when she recorded a 7.56 to win her heat in the preliminaries. Michaux and Hampton kept things going when they qualified for the women’s 200m dash finals as well. Michaux led the way with a 25.08 to win her heat and posted the second best time of the day. Hampton added a 25.43, the sixth best time of the day. A pair of Lady Rams also qualified for the finals of the women’s 800m run with sophomore Tametris Morrison and junior Raven Hamilton both qualified for the finals. Morrison posted a 2:17.51 for the fourth best time of the day while Hamilton added a 2:17.98.

 

Senior Tajanel McNeil led the way in field events for the Lady Rams with a second-place finish in the women’s long jump. She recorded a 19’00.0” (5.79m) jump in the event to place second and earned eight points for the Lady Rams.

 

The Lady Rams will complete the two-day meet tomorrow at the JDL Fast Track. Admission to the meet is free. For more information on Lady Rams track & field,  log on towww.WSSURams.com.

 
SAU Women, VUU Men Lead CIAA Indoor Track & Field Championships After First Day‏

February 16, 2015

Results

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Saint Augustine's University women and the Virginia Union University men are the leaders after the first day of the CIAA Indoor Track & Field Championships at JDL Fast Track on Sunday, February 15, 2015.

Saint Augustine's, the defending champion, is first in the women's standings with 22 points after two events. Winston-Salem State University is second with 19 points and Johnson C. Smith University is third with eight points.

Virginia Union University is first in the men's events with 42 points. Defending champion Saint Augustine's University is second with 29 points and Bowie State University is third with 22 points.

Shakinah Brooks led the Saint Augustine's women with a victory in the long jump. Ranked fourth in Division II, Brooks jumped 20 feet, 3.75 inches to top Tajanel McNeill of Winston-Salem State, who finished second with a leap of 19 feet. Shamia Lassiter and Amenze Uhunmwangho of Saint Augustine's were third and fourth, respectively, as the Lady Falcons scored 20 of their 22 points in the event.

Winston-Salem State was led by its women's distance medley relay team. The foursome of Micalyne Zimmerman, Raven Hamilton, Tametris Morrison and Domtila Kiplagat beat Johnson C. Smith in 12:19.86. Johnson C. Smith was second in 12:39.54.

On the men's side, Virginia Union surged ahead by winning the men's distance medley relay and adding points in three other events. The quartet of Franck Charles, Jontue McDowell, Emmanuel Nelfrard and Donovan Mundy outran Bowie State in the distance medley relay in 10:49.96. Bowie State was second in 10:56.39.

Virginia Union finished third, fourth and fifth in the 5000 meter run and third, fifth and sixth in the long jump for more points. The Panthers placed second and tied for fourth in the pole vault.

Saint Augustine's kept pace on the strength of its victories in the 5000 meter run and the long jump. Immanuel Hutchinson captured the 5000 run in 16:07.97 for the Falcons. Rehma Ndjami of Bowie State was second in 16:16.29.

JaQuan Demiel and David Shaw of Saint Augustine's finished first and second, respectively, in the long jump. Demiel won with a jump of 23 feet, 10.75 inches and Shaw leaped 23 feet, 9.5 inches.

Hildrew McNair of Virginia State took the pole vault. He cleared the bar with a height of 13 feet, 7.25 inches to best Jonathan White of Virginia Union, who placed second with a height of 13 feet, 1.5 inches.

The championship meet concludes Monday, February 16. The field events begin at 9 a.m. and the running events start at 12:05 p.m.

The top teams positioned themselves during Sunday's preliminaries to make a run at the CIAA titles on Monday. Saint Augustine's University qualified 10 women for the finals of the running events. Winston-Salem State qualified eight and Johnson C. Smith qualified five women. Among the men, Saint Augustine's University qualified 14 for Monday's running finals while Virginia State qualified nine and Virginia Union qualified five.

The schedule on Monday features finals in the men's and women's mile run, 400 meter dash, 60 meter dash, 800 meter run, 60 meter hurdles, 200 meter dash and the 4x400 meter relay in addition to the women's 3000 meter run in the running events.

The field events include the men's triple jump, men's shot put, women's high jump, women's triple jump and women's shot put. The women's pentathlon and the men's heptathlon are also on the schedule.