Skip To Main Content

Alabama State University Athletics

2011 SWAC Outdoor Championship

Men's Track and Field Assistant Sports Information

Track Continues to Produce at SWAC Championship

NEW ORLEANS, La.—Alabama State University's track teams went into day two of the Southwestern Athletic Championship (SWAC) with the women's team looking to expand on their first-day lead, and the men looking to move up in the standings. That is exactly what the women did pushing their lead to 57 points over the nearest competition. The men added several points in today's action and will enter the final day in sixth place.

The day started well for ASU as Tyrisha Chambers completed her heptathlon championship with a long jump that earned her 543 points and a 103 foot javelin throw that earned her another 503 points. In the final event in the heptathlon, the 800 meter run, Chambers secured the championship with a second-place finish in the 800 meter run that earned her 613 points to push her championship total to 4,589 points. Her win added 10 points to the Lady Hornets team score.

Jeffrey Adams
was also looking to win the decathlon in the men's events heading into the final day of action with a slim 82 point lead. Adams lead had been cut to 51 points heading into the final event of the day, the 1500 meter run. It was a lead he was unable to sustain, finishing the run in 5:30.55 to gather 397 points. Last year's decathlon champion Nathan Stephens was able to out distance Adams enough to take over the lead and finish with 6,337 points, giving Adams second place with 6,066 points and the ASU men's team, eight points.

The Lady Hornets were able to pick up 15 points in the shot put as Melissa Romelus finished fifth with a throw of 38:07.75 and Shanice Mells picked up the championship when she threw 43:07.75 on her final attempt of the event.

Asha Tavernier
had a strong showing in the long jump with a second place jump of 18-05.75, earning ASU another eight points.

The Lady Hornets picked up another 16 points in the javelin throw as Melissa Romelus won the event with a throw of 121-07. Shanice Mells picked up six points with her third place finish after a throw of 109-05.

The Lady Hornets ended another strong day in the meet by taking 22 points in the 3,000 meter steeplechase. Kesia Derilus, who won this event last season, also won the steeplechase this season by crossing the finish line in 11:29.27. Raheema Hodges finished second in the event while Courtney Gooch finished sixth and Soyong Smith was eighth.

By the end of the day, the Lady Hornets had pushed their lead from 20 points from the first day to 57 points over second place Prairie View A&M (109-52) heading into the final day of competition.
 
“Overall I think we performed well in today's events,” head coach Ritchie Beene said. “We missed out on a few points, but we were able to build a lead going into tomorrow's action.”

“Everyone is getting better and that really shows in the tough competition. We will be getting everyone's best tomorrow and the team has to be tough enough to withstand it. We need to bend but not break during tomorrow's events. We do have a lot of people in tomorrow's finals so we will have a chance to continue or solid performances.”

Jeffrey Adams
was also looking to win the decathlon in the men's events heading into the final day of action with a slim 82 point lead. Adams lead had been cut to 51 points heading into the final event of the day, the 1500 meter run. It was a lead he was unable to sustain, finishing the run in 5:30.55 to gather 397 points. Last year's decathlon champion Nathan Stephens was able to out distance Adams enough to take over the lead and finish with 6,337 points, giving Adams second place with 6,066 points and the ASU men's team, eight points.

The men's team picked up eight points and remain is sixth place heading into tomorrow's final day of competition.

“With the number of guys we have this year, I think we are doing well,” Beene said. “I still think we can pick up some points tomorrow since we still have a lot of people in the finals of several events. I am hoping we can perform well enough to be among the top four or five teams when it is all over.”

The final day of competition will begin tomorrow at 9 a.m. with the women's events in the discus, triple jump and the men's high jump.

Secoond Day Final Results
-HORNETS-
Print Friendly Version
FOLLOW ALABAMA STATE ATHLETICS
For complete coverage of Alabama State athletics, follow the Hornets on social media at @BamaStateSports (Instagram and X), Alabama State (Facebook), or visit the official home of Alabama State athletics bamastatesports.com