Photo Gallery
Boxscore
HAMPTON, Va. – Saint Augustine's University claimed both the men's and women's league crowns at the CIAA Indoor Track & Field Championships which were held at the Boo Williams Sportsplex on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013.
The Falcons scored 204 points for their 16
th consecutive men's conference championship and 28
th indoor title overall. The Lady Falcons won the last event to capture their 17
th CIAA indoor title and first since 2010. They defeated Winston-Salem State University in the 4x400 women's relay – the Lady Falcons are ranked third nationally in the event – to go home winners. The Lady Falcons trailed the Rams by one point heading into the relay.
“The guys held steady and did what they had to do,” said Head Coach
George Williams, who has guided both men's and women's squads to a combined 31 NCAA Division II indoor and outdoor championships in 37 years. “The women have been running well all year. I am proud of all the kids. Track is an individual sport with a team concept and I am proud of how they came together.”
The men's team, ranked No. 1 in the nation in Division II, was expected to breeze through the two-day meet, and that is what happened. They finished 122 points ahead of Virginia Union, which placed second with 82 points. Virginia State was third with 75 points.
It was much closer on the women's side. The Lady Falcons edged Winston-Salem State 95-92 after winning the 4x400 relay in dominating fashion. Johnson C. Smith was third with 75 points. The Lady Falcon foursome of
Brittany Brown, Cherrissee Lynch, Sherri-Ann Ashman and
Kelly Shaw finished in 3:50.15 in the 4x4 to beat Johnson C. Smith, which placed second in 3:57.99. Winston-Salem State finished third in the event.
Several performers stood out for the Falcons and Lady Falcons. For the men, track MVP honors went to
Marcelis Lynch (Jr./Stone Mountain, Ga.) for winning the 800 meter run and placing second in the mile run. He was also part of the winning men's distance medley team on Saturday which included
Torion Bailey,
Elhadji Mbow and
Jameel Walcott, and the 4x400 relay team which was victorious. The other members of the 4x4 group on Sunday were Mbow,
James Quarles, and Burkhead Ellis, Jr.
Dane Hyatt, the top-ranked Division II sprinter in the 200 and 400, won both events with ease.
DeJon Wilkinson won the triple jump and
Moussa Dembele took the 60 hurdles.
Jermaine Jones was the winner in the 60 dash.
Torion Bailey won the mile run and
Ty'reak Murray was the winner in the heptathlon.
In all, the Falcons were first in 10 of 15 men's events. They took the top four spots in the 200, the top three spots in the mile run, four of the top five spots in the 400, and three of the top five in the 800.
Among the women, the distance medley relay team of
Skyler Wallen,
Brittany Brown, Cherrisse Lynch and
Kelly Shaw crossed the finish line first on Saturday. Wallen followed up with a victory in the 800 on Sunday. Jaivairia Bacote was the pentathlon winner. The Lady Falcons' depth kept them in the chase of the title until the 4x400 team sealed the deal with their convincing win.