2016 Indoor Track and Field Championships - Day One Recaps
SWAC.org
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The 2016 Southwestern Athletic Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships kicked off Saturday morning from the Birmingham Crossplex Finals for the field events, shot put, long jump and high jump were completed today along with the 3,000 Meter Run and the Distance Medley Relay. The remaining of the events with be completed on Sunday.
STANDINGS AFTER DAY 1 (5 EVENTS)
1. Alabama State – 38
2. Texas Southern – 31
T-3. Grambling - 26
T-3. Prairie View - 26
5. Jackson State – 25
6. Mississippi Valley - 19
7. Southern - 13
8. Alcorn State – 11
9. Arkansas-Pine Bluff – 6
HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE DAY
Jackson State’s Bentrell McGee set a new Southwestern Athletic Conference record in the Men’s 60-meter Hurdles during preliminaries. McGee’s time was 7.83, shattering the nearly 11-year old mark set by Jackson State’s Michael Tinsley (7.91 in 2005).
For the second consecutive year, a Grambling State runner claimed the 3,000 meter run title as Hassan Chepkwony won it with a time of 8:49.70. Placing second was Ecelcius Franklin of Jackson State (8:53.35), and Mississippi Valley State’s Aaron Albert (8:53.90) earned third place.
Southern’s Reginald Redding prevailed in the shot put with a toss of 49-11.00, one inch further than second-place finisher Roshaine Byfield (Alabama State), who put up a heave of 49-10.00 feet. Alabama State’s Harry Rhodes earned third place with a distance of 47-03.75.
After finishing third in last season’s long jump event, Prairie View A&M’s Keon Campbell claimed the top spot on the podium in 2016, winning it with a mark of 23-07.25. Alcorn State’s Darryl Jones finished second with a leap of 23-06.75, and Maurice Buchanan of Alabama State finished third (23-06.00).
Jackson State finished as the SWAC Distance Medley Relay champions with a time of 10:31.44 James Curtis, Darrion Hampton, Eclecius Franklin and William Carrolll made up the Tigers’ quartet. Coming in second place was Mississippi Valley State with a time of 10:32.642. Finishing in third place was Texas Southern with a time of 10:32.644.
On the heels of a second-place finish last season, Travis Sanders of Texas Southern outdueled Alabama State's Devaunty Brown to win the men’s high jump event. Sanders earned first by virtue of having less unsuccessful attempts at 2.02m than Brown, who finished second with the same measurement. Prairie View’s Quin-Tarius Crenshaw was third with a height of 2.02m.