PRINCESS ANNE, Md. (Oct. 31) - The Florida A&M University Women’s Cross Country Team picked up a 10th place finish in the 2009 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Country Championships held in Princess Anne, Md., on the campus of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Saturday morning.
 
Norfolk State won the 2009 MEAC team crown tallying 49 points, while Jahlisha Smith of Hampton won the individual competition with a time of 18:34.80, to earn first All-MEAC honors.
 
The Lady Rattlers were led by Latoya Wright, who was FAMU’s top finisher with a time of 22:48.45. Other Lady Rattler competitors included Jeanette Hulse (23:08.86),  Samantha Young (23:11.61),  Tiffiny Morrow (24:04.23),  Ann-Marie Francis (24:11.41) and Keelyn Fleming (25:39.62).

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (October 28 ) - The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) will host its 2009 Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championships on Saturday, October 31 on the campus of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, Maryland.

The host and reigning MEAC women’s cross country champion Maryland Eastern Shore Lady Hawks will compete for their third consecutive title and fourth overall.

Junior Tamica Thomas and Senior Celia Whyte have led the way as the top two finishers for the Lady Hawks throughout the season. Thomas won the Delaware State Invite with a time of 19:27.47 while Whyte was a close second with a finish of 19:27.78.

Norfolk State freshman Aurora Scott has the fastest time this season in the MEAC on a 5K course with a time of 18:27 that she posted at the Great American Cross Country Festival-HBCU Challenge.

Leading performers for FAMU coach Darlene Moore include Jeanette Hulse, who was the top finisher in the Bobby Lang Invitational on Oct. 3, running the five-kilometer distance in 22 minutes, 10 seconds, for fifth overall in the individual standings.

Also slated to compete for the Lady Rattler contingent will be Latoya Wright, Samantha Young, Tiffiny Morrow, Keelyn Fleming and Ann-Marie Francis.

The 2009 MEAC Cross Country Championships will begin with the women’s five-kilometer (5K) race at 9:45 a.m. followed by the men’s eight-kilometer (8K) race at 10:30 a.m.  The event is free and open to the public.

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore, which is located on One Backbone Road in Princess Anne, Maryland will also host the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Cross Country Regionals on Saturday, November 14.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Sept. 29) – The Florida A&M University Cross Country program will host the first Bobby Lang Cross Country Invitational this Saturday, October 3 on the university campus, beginning at 10 a.m.

The event is named in honor of the legendary FAMU Track and Field coach, Bobby Lang, who led the program from 1966 to 1999, winning over 30 conference titles in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

FAMU head coach Darlene Moore announced Tuesday that the first-time event will be run entirely on the FAMU campus, with the start and finish on the Pete Griffin Track.

• Men’s competition (8-kilometers/5-miles) will begin at 10 a.m., while the women’s competition (5-kilometer/3-mile) will start at 10:45 a.m.
The running course starts on the FAMU track, winds around the football stadium, goes past the new university teaching gym, down Wahnish Way and up Okaloosa Street past the university fitness center, through the center of the campus (Martin Luther King), past old FAMU High, down FAMU Way back to Wahnish Way and back to the Griffin Track for the finish.

• Joining host FAMU in Saturday’s event will be Albany (Ga.) State University, Edward Waters (Fla.) College, Bethune-Cookman (Fla.) University and Morehouse (Ga.) College.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Sept. 19) - The Florida A&M Women's Cross Country team competed Friday evening in the University of Florida Invitational Meet in Gainesville.

The Lady Rattlers finished 23rd overall against the field, led by Jeanette Hulse (23:20.58), LaToya Wright (24:55.73); Tiffiny Morrow (25:03.93), Samantha Young (27:24.04), Ann-Marie Francis (27:41.91) and Keelyn Fleming (27:45.93).

GREENSBORO. N.C. (May 2) – The Florida A&M Women’s Track team finished ninth in the 2009 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championship at Irwin Belk Track Saturday.

Latoya Wright’s regional qualifying finish in the 400 meter hurdles (3rd at 58.96) helped the Lady Rattlers improve on their 11th place finish in last year’s outdoor meet and this year’s indoor championships, with 36.50 total points.

Hampton (119) won the women’s title, followed by Maryland-Eastern Shore (109) and Norfolk State (106).

Other notable FAMU Women’s performances in individual Saturday included: Suelyn Pilliner’s third place in the high jump (5 feet, 5 inches); sixth place finishes by Ashley Gillis in the 200 meters (24.21), Ashante Davis in the triple jump (38 feet, 4 ¾ inches) and LeKendra Cunningham in the 400 meter dash (55.81).

In the relays, the 4x400 combo of Jeanette Hulse, Wright, Gillis and Cunningham ran sixth in 3:46.74, while the 4x100 crew of Gillis, Cunningham, Wright and Ann-Marie Francis finished sixth in 46.22.

GREENSBORO, N.C. (April 30) - The Florida A&M Track teams will be in pursuit of the 2009 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) track championships starting Friday at the Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Irwin Belk Track on the campus of North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Track action began Thursday with the men's decathlon and the women's heptathlon, and competition continues on Friday with the women’s heptathlon and the men’s decathlon events in the morning.

Other field events for day two include the men’s and women’s long jump, the women’s shot put, women’s pole vault, men’s discus and men’s high jump. The afternoon continues on the track with the men’s 110m hurdles and women’s 100m hurdles beginning at 1:50 p.m. Other running events include the 100m, 200m, 400m and 400m hurdles. The men’s and women’s 5000m races will close out the day’s events.
 
The final day of competition starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday, with the men’s and women’s triple jump.  Early afternoon field events include the men’s shot put, pole vault and javelin events. The championships will conclude with the men’s and women’s 4x400m relay races.  A complete schedule of events is available on HYPERLINK "http://www.meacsports.com/?DB_OEM_ID=20800"www.meacsports.com.
 

GREENSBORO, N.C. (May 1) – The Florida A&M Women’s Track team competed during the opening day of 2009 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships Friday at Irwin Belk Track.

The Lady Rattlers had scored three (3) points total after Friday’s opening round, standing in 11th place.

Three Lady Rattlers qualified for Saturday’s finals in four events: Ashley Gillis, who advanced to the finals in the 100 (11.67) and the 200 meters (24.16), along with LaKendra Cunningham in the 400 meters (56.60) and Latoya Wright in the 400 meter hurdles (1:01.72).

In Friday’s finals action, Antoinette Suer finished seventh in the pole vault with a jump of 7 feet, 8 ¾ inches, while Ann-Marie Francis finished eighth in the javelin throw with a toss of 99 feet.

Other notable performers in finals Friday included Takiera Booker, who placed 13th in the shot put (37 feet, 3 ¼ inches); Kelle Ransom, who ran 16th in the 5000 meters (22:29.68), while long jump contestants Tomika Story (15th, 17 feet, 6 inches) and Suelyn Pilliner (16th, 17 feet, 5 ½ inches) finished in the Top 20.

Overall, defending champion Norfolk (Va.) State had piled up 63 points to take the first round lead, followed by Maryland-Eastern Shore (32) in second place.

The final day of competition starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday, with the men’s and women’s triple jump.  

Early afternoon field events include the men’s shot put, pole vault and javelin events. The championships will conclude with the men’s and women’s 4x400m relay races. 

TROY, Ala. (April 25) – The Florida A&M Track teams were in competition Saturday at the Troy (Ala.) University/Coach “O” Invitational.

On the women’s side, the Lady Rattlers had firsts from the 4x100 relay team of LaKendra Cunningham, Ann-Marie Francis, Ashley Gillis and Jeanette Hulse in 47.03, while the 4x400 combo of Nichola Listhrop, Philicia Morgan, Kelle Ransom and Helena Shields finished first in 3:50.74.

Other notable women’s performances included Ashley Gillis winning the 100 meter dash (11.79) and finishing second in the 200 meters (24.53); Latoya Wright winning the 400 meter hurdles (1:02.72); Suelyn Pilliner’s second place finish in the high jump (1.68 meters), along with a second place by Tomika Story in the triple jump (11.91 meters) and a second by LaKendra Cunningham in the 400 meter dash (58.37).


FAMU RESULTS AT TROY INVITATIONAL
Women’s Javelin Throw: Ann-Marie Francis (5th, 32.24 meters); Antoinette Suer (6th, 17.78 meters).
Men’s Pole Vault: Mike White (1st, 5.68 meters).
Men’s Long Jump: Phillip Washington (11th, 5.95 meters).
Women’s Long Jump: Tomika Story (5th, 5.76 meters); Suelyn Pilliner (9th, 5.55 meters); Ashanti Davis (11th, 5.47 meters).
Women’s High Jump: Suelyn Pilliner (2nd, 1.68 meters).
Men’s High Jump: Bryan Turner (1st, 2.03 meters); Antwone McCloud (2nd, 1.93 meters).
Women’s Triple Jump: Tomika Story (2nd, 11.91 meters); Ashanti Davis (5th, 11.35 meters).
Men’s 4x100 Relay: FAMU (Rennie Carty, LaJarvis Cook, Carl McKinzie, Craig Scott), 3rd, 41.74.
Women’s 4x100 Relay: FAMU (LaKendra Cunningham, Ann-Marie Francis, Ashley Gillis, Jeanette Hulse), 1st, 47.03.
Men’s 1500 Meter Run: Paul Williams (5th, 4:12.77).
Women’s 100 Meter Hurdles: Latoya Wright (4th, 14.83).
Men’s 110 Meter Hurdles: Demarius Carroll (3rd, 14.70); Carl McKenzie (5th, 15.24).
Women’s 400 Meter Dash: LaKendra Cunningham (2nd, 58.37); Jeanette Hulse (3rd, 58.59); Nichola Listhrop (7th, 1:00.42).
Men’s 400 Meter Dash: Stanley Suber (2nd, 49.36); Arthur Kinder (12th, 52.84).
Women’s 100 Meter Dash: Ashley Gillis (1st, 11.79); Jesseka Forbes (5th, 12.52).
Men’s 100 Meter Dash: Carl McKinzie (7th, 10.74); Joe Washington (9th, 10.77)l LaJarvis Cook (16th, 11.22).
Women’s 800 Meter Run: Helena Shields (5th, 2:26.43); Philicia Morgan 917th, 2:50.71).
Men’s 800 Meter Run: Daquam Lee (1st, 1:50.87);
Women’s 400 Meter Hurdles: Latoya Wright (1st, 1:02.72).
Men’s 400 Meter Hurdles: Demarius Carroll (5th, 57.76).
Women’s 200 Meter Dash: Ashley Gillis (2nd, 24.53); Whitney Young (7th, 26.95).
Men’s 200 Meter Dash: Joe Washington (10th, 22.34); Rennie Carty (12th, 22.42); Craig Scott (13th, 22.50).
Women’s 3000 Meter Run: Kelle Ransom (6th, 11:52.71).
Men’s 3000 Meter Run: Shuaib Winters (7th, 9:12.07).
Women’s 4x400 Meter Relay: FAMU (Listhrop, Morgan, Ransom, Shields), 1st, 3:50.74.
Men’s 4x400 Meter Relay: FAMU (Carty, Kinder, Lee, Suber), 2nd, 3:17.95.

AUBURN, Ala. (April 18) - The Florida A&M Women's Track team competed in the Auburn University Invitational here
Saturday, recording seven Top 10 finishes.

Suelyn Pilliner finished second in the women's high jump (5 feet, 5 3/4 inches) for the top FAMU finish of the day, followed by LaToya Wright's fifth place showing in the 400 meter hurdles (1:01.95), and eighth place finishes by Ashley Gillis in the 200 meter dash (24.43) and Tomika Stroy in the triple jump (39 feet, 2 1/2 inches).

In the relays, the 4x400 "A" team of Gillis, Wright, Nichola Listhrop and Jeanette Hulse ran fourth (3:46.67), while the 4x100 "A" team of Gillis, Wright, Jesseka Forbes and Ann-Marie Francis placed seventh (46.91).

GAINESVILLE, FL (April 4) – The Florida A&M Women’s Track team ran an abbreviated schedule at this year’s Pepsi Florida Relays at the University of Florida this weekend, capturing four Top 20 finishes.

Suelyn Pilliner turned in the best finish for FAMU with a fourth place showing in the high jump at five feet, seven inches (5’ 7”), while the 1600 sprint medley team of Ashley Gillis, Latoya Wright, LaKendra Cunningham and Nicholas Listhrop placed 11th in 4:01.39.

The 4x200 meter relay crew of Gillis, Wright, Jesseka Forbes and Ann-Marie Francis placed 15th in 1:39.16, while Ashante Davis (37 feet, ½ inch), finished 18th in the triple jump.

LADY RATTLER TRACK NOTABLES AT FLORIDA RELAYS
Women’s 100 Meter Dash: 26-Ashley Gillis (11.97); 54-Ann-Marie Francis (12.48).
Women’s 800 Meter Run: 32-Nichola Listhrop (2:17.08).
Women’s 100 Meter Hurdles: 33-Kierra Holiday (14.66).
Women’s 400 Meter Hurdles: 28-LaToya Wright (1:03.73)
Women’s 4x200 Meter Relay: 15-FAMU “A” (Ashley Gillis, Latoya Wright, Jesseka Forbes, Ann-Marie Francis), 1:39.16.
Women’s 1600 Sprint Medley: 11-FAMU “A” (Ashley Gillis, Latoya Wright, LaKendra Cunningham, Nichola Listhrop), 4:01.39.
Women’s High Jump: 4-Suelyn Pilliner (1.70 meters or 5 feet, 7 inches)
Women’s Triple Jump: 18-Ashante Davis (11.29 meters, or 37 feet, ½ inch).

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (March 28) – The Florida A&M University Women’s and Men’s Track teams took part in the 2009 FSU Relays at Mike Long Track on the Florida State University campus Thursday through Saturday.

Contending teams dodged weather delays and wet grounds over the three days, but managed to complete the competition by Saturday afternoon.

Notable performances for the Lady Rattlers included wins respectively by Latoya Wright in the 400 meters (1:02.05) and Nichola Listhrop in the 800 meters (2:18.59), as well as by the sprint medley team of Ashley Gillis, Ann-Marie Francis, LaKendra Cunningham and Listhrop (4:10.39).

The Rattler thinclads also notched several firsts too, headed by Stanley Suber in the 400 meters (47.56) and Daquam Lee in the 800 (1:53.05), while Mike White finished second in the pole vault (14 feet, 7 ¼ inches) and the men’s 4x200 relay crew ran second (1:28.37).

In the early going, freshman Phillip Washington, scored 3,181 points in the men’s decathlon, after competing in the 100 meter dash (8th), 110 hurdles (6th), long jump (9th), shot put (11th), high jump (7th) and 400 meter dash (8th).

However, injury forced the talented youngster to bow out of the competition with four events remaining on Friday.

WASHINGTON’S DECATHLON RESULTS/FAMU
•100 Meter Dash: Phillip Washington, 8th, 11.91 – 669 pts
•Men’s Long Jump: Phillip Washington, 9th, 5.57 meters (18-03.25) – 496 pts
•Men’s Shot Put: Phillip Washington, 11th, 7.29 meters (23-11.00) – 324 pts
•Men’s High Jump: Phillip Washington, 7th, 1.69 meters (5-06.50) – 536 pts
•Men’s 400 Meter Dash: Phillip Washington, 8th, 57.65 – 497 pts
• Men’s 110 Meter Hurdles: Phillip Washington, 6th, 16.67 – 659 pts

FAMU’S NOTABLES IN THE FSU RELAYS
•Women’s High Jump: 3-Suelyn Pilliner (1.60 meters, or 5 feet, 3 inches).
•Men’s High Jump: 3-Bryan Turner (2.00 meters, or 6 feet, 6 ¾ inches); 5-Antwone 
McCloud (1.95 meters, or 6 feet, 4 ¾ inches).
•Men’s Pole Vault: 2-Mike White (4.45 meters, or 14 feet, 7 ¼ inches).
•Women’s Long Jump: 5-Suelyn Pilliner (5.26 meters, or 17 feet, 3 ¼ inches);
8-Tomika Story (5.00 meters, 16 feet, 5 inches); 10-Ashante Davis (4.72 meters, or 15 feet, 6 inches).
•Men’s Long Jump: 6-Anthony Hill (6.31 meters, or 20 feet, 8 ½ inches).
•Women’s Triple Jump: 3-Tomika Story (11.57 meters, or 37 feet, 11 ½ inches).
•Men’s Discus Throw: 7-Frank Scott (39.97 meters, or 131 feet, 2 inches).
•Men’s Shot Put: 3-Frank Scott (13.54 meters, 44 feet, 5 ¼ inches).
•Women’s 100 Meter Dash: 6-Ashley Gillis (12.10); 14-Ann-Marie Francis (12.36); 15-Jesseka Forbes (12.39).
•Men’s 100 Meter Dash: 7-Carl McKenzie (10.71); 8-Joe Washington (10.75); 11-LaJarvis Cook (10.87); 15-Rennie Carty (11.22).
•Women’s 400 Meter Hurdles: 1-Latoya Wright (1:02.05).
•Men’s 400 Meter Hurdles: 5-Demarius Carroll (58.03).
•Women’s 400 Meter Dash: 5-Jeanette Hulse (59.01).
•Men’s 400 Meter Dash: 1-Stanley Suber (47.56); 8-Ronald Bolden (50.62); 11-Alphonso Johnson (51.99).
•Men’s 110 Meter Hurdles:  6-Damarius Carroll (14.55).
•Women’s 4x100 Meter Relay: 3-“A” Team (Jesseka Forbes, Latoya Wright, Ann-Marie Francis, Ashley Gillis), 47.21.
•Men’s 4x100 Meter Relay: 3-“A” Team (41.94).
•Men’s 4x200 Meter Relay: 2-“A” Team (1:28.37).
•Women’s 4x400 Meter Relay: 3-“A” Team (4:03.80).
•Men’s 4x400 Meter Relay: 3-“A” Team (3:20.79).
•Women’s Sprint Medley: 1-“A” Team (Gillis, Francis, LaKendra Cunningham, Nichola Listhrop), 4:10.39.
•Women’s 800 Meter Run: 1-Nichola Listhrop (2:18.59).
•Men’s 800 Meter Run: 1-Daquam Lee (1:53.05).
•Men’s 1500 Meter Run: 7-Paul Williams(4:26.45).
•Women’s 5000 Meter Run: 9-Kelle Ransom (20:24.84); 12-Jennie Desir (21:59.41).
•Men’s 5000 Meter Run: 11-Shuaib Winters (16:02.54).

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (March 13) – The Webster Surgical Center FAMU Relays opened Friday at the Pete Griffin Track with a handful of events in advance of Saturday’s traditional all-day slate.

On  Friday, collegiate finals for women and men were contested in the javelin throw, the 3,000 meter steeplechase and the pole vault, along with a final in the men’s 5,000 meter run.

• Florida A&M’s Ann-Marie Francis placed second in the women’s javelin throw with a toss of 26.22 meters, while Rattlers Mike White (42.68) and Antwaon McCloud (35.60) placed fifth and eighth in the men’s javelin.

• Antoinette Suer placed fifth in the women’s pole vault at 7 feet, 6 inches, while FAMU’s Mike White won the men’s pole vault with a jump of 14 feet 10 ¾ inches, edging out Florida State’s Warren Harper (14 feet, 4 ¾ inches).

• In the women’s 100 meter hurdles, Kierra Holiday (14.49) and Latoya Wright (15.07) qualified for Saturday’s finals (2:45 p.m.), while three Rattlers advanced to the finals of the 110 meter hurdles on Saturday (2:55 p.m.), including Carl McKenzie (14.77), who finished first overall, along with Phillip Washington (17.56) and Demarius Carroll (24.95).

• In the women’s 100 meters, Ashley Gillis (2nd, 11.93) and Jesseka Forbes (12.34) advanced to Saturday’s finals (3:15 p.m.), while the trio of Craig Scott (10.77), Rennie Carty (10.87) and LaJarvis Cook (10.92) advanced to the finals in the men’s 100 meter dash (3:20 p.m.) on Saturday.

There were also qualifying heats for both women and men in the 100 meter dash, the 100 meter hurdles (women) and 110 meter hurdles (men) on Friday.

Results from the women’s and men’s discus finals were not available at press time.

Saturday’s schedule begins at 8:00 a.m. with the 800 meter run for both collegiate and prep divisions, as well as field events for high school performers.

At 12:30 p.m., the final round of action begins with a middle school 4x100 meter relay, and will feature for the first time senior division level competition in the 100 meter dash at 3:00 p.m. and the 200 meter dash at 5:10 p.m.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (March 14) – The final round of action at the Webster Surgical Center FAMU Relays was contested Saturday at Pete Griffin Track, featuring high school, middle school and collegiate events.
    Listed below are the highlights of the 59th annual Relays for all divisions:

FAMU MEN’S TRACK HIGHLIGHTS
  FAMU’s Bryan Turner qualified for the NCAA Regionals in the high jump (2.10 meters); Carl McKenzie (14.73) won the 110 meter hurdles; Stanley Suber (49.42) won the 400 meter dash and Daquam Lee (1:53.31) and Carlos Franklin (1:59.10), finished 1-2 in the 800 meters and Mike White (4.54 meters) finished first in the pole vault.

  Craig Scott (11.02) and LaJarvis Cook (11.13) ran second and third in the 100 meters, and Demarius Carroll (1:02.66) finished fourth in the 400 hurdles; Mike White (42.68 meters) finished fifth in the javelin; Anthony Hill was fourth in the long jump (6.44 meters).

   In the relays, the 4x100 “A” team (41.52) finished first and the distance medley “A” team finished second (10:40.04).

FAMU WOMEN’S TRACK HIGHLIGHTS
   Headlining the FAMU Women’s top performances were Latoya Wright (1:02.85), who won the 400 meter hurdles; LaKendra Cunningham (57.08), who was the winner of the 400 meter dash, and Tomkia Story (11.39) who won the triple jump.

   The Lady Rattler 1600 sprint medley “A” team ran second (4:23.25); sprinters Ashley Gillis (12.36) and Ann-Marie Francis (12.65) ran second and fourth in the 100 meter dash; Francis ran second (26.22) in the javelin throw; Kierra Holiday (15.09) was third in the 100 meter hurdles; Tomika Story (5.32 meters) and Ashante Davis (5.08 meters) were second and fifth in the long jump.
 
   The trio of Nichola Listhrop (2:23.38), Helena Shields (2:27.86) and Antoinette Suer (2:44.91) ran 2-3-4 in the 800 meter run; Suelyn Pillinier (1.67 meters) was second in the high jump; Listhrop (5:08.99) and Kelle Ransom (5:22.56) were third and fourth in the 1500 meter run; Takeira Booker (10.54 meters) was fifth in the shot put.

   The 4x100 meter “A” team ran second (46.45) and the “B” team finished fourth (48.95); the distance medley “A” team (13:18.18) ran third; the 4x400 “A” team (3:58.43) finished second, with the “B” team (4:05.64) finishing third.

HIGH SCHOOL NOTABLES
   In the high school division, Godby, Rickards, East Gadsden, North Florida Christian, FAMU DRS and Madison County were the local prep schools in the 2009 field.

   Southwest Dekalb (Ga.) High and Stephenson High (Ga.) dominated the competition, winning a combined 21 of the prep events on Saturday.

   Top local girls performers included: Rickards’ Brittany Jones (47.38), who finished first in the 300 meter hurdles; Jasmine Allen (59.68) and Sharla Chavers (1:00.45), of East Gadsden, who finished second and fourth in the 400 meter dash; Rickards girls 4x100 meter relay team (50.60), ran third.

    Godby’s girls 4x800 meter relay team (12:38.03) ran third; East Gadsden’s girls 1600 sprint medley crew (5:20.93) ran fourth and Madison County’s girls (5:39.54) ran fifth; East Gadsden’s girls 4x400 team (4:17.93) finished third; East Gadsden’s Torriah Bell (4.58 meters), ran fourth in the long jump and third in the triple jump (10.27 meters); Godby’s Michelle Edwards (10.95 meters) was second in the shot put and fourth in the discus (28.74 meters).

  Top local boys performers included: Rickards’ Darius Jones won the 300 meter hurdles (40.70), while fellow Raiders JaJuan Harley (11.23) and Gerald McDonald (11.49) were fourth and fifth in the 100 meters; Godby’s Eddie St. Hilaire (22.87) ran fourth in the 110 meter hurdles; Godby’s Alexander Barber ran fourth (42.66) in the 400 meter dash.

  North Florida’s Whitney Strickland won the 800 meters (1:58.47); Rickards’ Jaron Poulos (5:10.78) was fourth in the 1600 meter run; Godby’s “A” Team (43.57), East Gadsden’s and Madison County’s (44.97) “A” teams ran third and fourth in the 4x100 meter relay; Rickards’ 1600 Sprint Medley team (4:01.48) finished third and East Gadsden’s team ran fourth (4:07.02); East Gadsden (3:38.70) placed third in the 4x400 relay.

    Godby’s LaVorrie Johnson (6.69 meters) and Donterious Gee of East Gadsden (6.61 meters) finished 1-2 in the long jump; Godby’s Bakari Harris (12.14 meters) finished third in the triple jump, while teammate Chris St. Hilaire (1.77 meters) was third in the high jump.

    Rickards’ Anthony Floyd (12.92 meters) and Madison County’s Reginald Doston (12.92) tied for second in the shot put, while Godby’s Denzel Bonner (12.84) finished fourth.

    In the discus, the top four finishers were local performers, led by Rickards’ Anthony Floyd (44.18 meters), followed by Godby’s Devin Screen (43.16), North Florida’s Keith Carter (42.00m) and Godby’s Tim Stroman (39.52).

MIDDLE SCHOOL 4X100
   The first-ever middle school competition at the FAMU Relays took place Saturday afternoon in the 4x100 meter relay.

   In the girls 4x100 division, Nims Middle School won in 52.66, followed by Swift Creek Middle (52.79) and Griffin Middle (53.73).

   In the boys 4x100 division, Swift Creek Middle was the winning in 47.35, followed by Nims Middle (49.39) and Griffin Middle (50.67).

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (March 8) – The Florida A&M University Track teams turned in strong showings at the first University of North Florida Spring Break Open here Friday and Saturday at Hodges Stadium.

On the women’s side, the Lady Rattlers scored 22 top 10 finishes in the two-day event, led by Suelyn Pilliner’s victory in the high jump, with a leap of 1.70 meters, edging out Florida International’s Laurenie Louissaint.

Ashley Gillis (12.140 ran second in the 100 meter dash, one of four FAMU women to place in the Top 10; LaToya Wright (1:01.51) was second in the 400 hurdles and fourth in the 100 hurdles (14.90), while Tomika Story (11.70 meters) and Ashante Davis (11.25 meters) were third and fourth in the triple jump.

In the relays, the 4x100 “A” Team of Gillis, Jesseka Forbes, LaKendra Cunningham and Ann-Marie Francis, finished second (46.57), while the 4x400 “A” combo of Jeanette Hulse, Philicia Morgan, Panancy Ambroise and Helena Shields, ran fifth (3:59.26).

On the men’s side, FAMU recorded 14 Top 10 finishes, headed by Byran Turner’s second place finish in the high jump (2.10 meters); Demarius Carroll’s third (14.86) and Carl McKinzie’s fourth (14.99) in the 110 hurdles and McKinzie’s fourth in the 100 meter dash (10.85).

In the relays, the 4x100 combo of LaJarvis Cook, Craig Scott, Joe Wahsington and McKinzie, ran second (41.72), while the 4x400 crew of Daquam Lee, Mark Williams, Craig Scott and Stanley Suber finished fourth (3:20.10).

RATTLER WOMEN’S RESULTS
Long Jump: Ashante Davis, 8th, 5.07 meters; Suelyn Pilliner, 9th, 5.01 meters; Antoinette Suer, 16th, 4.70 meters.
Javelin: Ann-Marie Francis, 12th, 30.72.
Discus: Takeira Booker, 22nd, 26.40 meters.
100 Meter Hurdles (Prelims): LaToya Wright, 9th, 15.26Q; Kierra Holiday, 10th, 15.36; Oluchukwu Oknokwo, 23rd, 16.82.
100 Meter Dash (Prelims): Ashley Gillis, 3rd, 12.23Q; Sansea Johnson, 4th, 12.33Q; LaKendra Cunningham, 8th, 12.42Q; Ann-Marie Francis, 10th, 12.45; Jesseka Forbes, 12th, 12.51; Whitney Young, 17th, 12.77; Tomika Story, 20th, 13.03.
400 Meter Run: Jeanette Hulse, 7th, 58.33; Nichola Listhrop, 12th, 59.36; Helena Shields, 17th, 1:00.95; Philicia Morgan, 18th, 1:01.67.
800 Meter Run: Kelle Ransom, 20th, 2:27.00; Helena Shields, 25th, 2:31.23; Philicia Morgan, 29th, 2:43.72.
4x100 Relay: “A” Team (Forbes, Cunningham, Gillis, Francis), 2nd, 46.57; “B” Team (Story, Johnson, Young, Wright), 5th, 48.71.
100 Meter Hurdles (Final): LaToya Wright, 4th, 14.90.
100 Meter Dash (Final): Ashley Gillis, 2nd, 12.14; Ann-Marie Francis, 4th, 12.30; LaKendra Cunningham, 7th, 12:52; Sansea Johnson, 8th, 12.55.
1500 Meter Run: Kelle Ransom, 25th, 5:15.62.
200 Meter Dash: LaKendra Cunningham, 7th, 25.37; Ashley Gillis, 8th, 25.38; Jesseka Forbes, 21st, 26.25; Sansea Johnson, 22nd, 26.29; Whitney Young, 25th, 26.41; Kierra Holiday, 37th, 27.56.
400 Meter Hurdles (Final): LaToya Wright, 2nd, 1:01.51; Oluchukwu Oknokwo, 11th, 1:09.72.
Shot Put
4x400 Relay: FAMU “A” (Jeanette Hulse, Philicia Morgan, Panancy Ambroise, Helena Shields), 5th, 3:59.26; FAMU “B” (Johnson, Young, Jennie Desir, Forbes), 9th, 4:15:74.
High Jump: Suelyn Pilliner, 1st, 1.70 meters.
Triple Jump: Tomika Story, 3rd, 11.70 meters; Ashante Davis, 4th, 11.25m; Antoinette Suer, 13th, 9.73m.
Shot Put: Takiera Booker, 14th, 11.08 meters.

RATTLER MEN’S RESULTS
Long Jump: Anthony Hill, 14th, 5.90 meters.
Pole Vault: Mike White, 7th, 4.15 meters.
Discus: Craig Scott, 8th, 41.96 meters.
110 Meter Hurdles (Prelims): Demarius Carroll, 4th, 14.83Q; Carl McKinzie, 5th, 14.97Q.
100 Meter Dash (Prelims): Carl McKinzie, 5th, 10.78Q; Craig Scott, 10th, 11.06; Joe Washington, 15th. 11.13.
400 Meter Run: Stanley Suber, 6th, 48.38; Mark Williams, 9th, 49.08; Arthur Kinder, 21st, 51.44.
4x100 Relay: “A” Team (LaJarvis Cook, Craig Scott, Joe Washington, Carl McKinzie), 2nd, 41.72.
5000 Meters: Shuaib Winters, 15th, 15:41.21; Carlos Franklin, 24th, 15:53.38.
110 Meter Hurdles (Final): Demarius Carroll, 3rd, 14.86; Carl McKinzie, 4th, 14.99.
100 Meter Dash (Final): Carl McKinzie, 4th, 10.85; Craig Scott, 7th, 10.89.
High Jump: Bryan Turner, 2nd, 2.10 meters; Anthony Hill, 8th, 1.85 meters.
Javelin: Mike White, 23rd, 36.52 meters.
Shot Put: Frank Scott, 9th, 12.89 meters.
200 Meter Dash: Rennie Carty, 7th, 22.23; LaJarvis Cook, 14th, 22.46; Joe Washington, 15th, 22.47.
4x400 Meter Relay: FAMU “A” (Daquam Lee, Mark Williams, Craig Scott, Stanley Suber), 4th, 3:20.10.