McM men's track finishes 2nd, women third in NCCAA Finals
Updated On: May 04 2013 07:47:32 PM CDT
Men's throws specialist Paul Davis highlighted the day by winning both the shot put and the discus competitions. In his specialty event – the shot put – Davis created some early angst for the War hawk faithful before getting a big victory. After fouling on his first two attempts in preliminaries, and with one final attempt left, Davis had to throw a mark good enough to get him within the top eight and advance to finals (where he would get three more throws).
Rather than go through his spin move and risk fouling again, Davis simply lined up in the ring and heaved the shot 45 feet. That was better than three other competitor's full efforts and placed him sixth going into finals.
Once assured a finals berth, Davis seemed to relax and get down to business. On his first finals toss, he hit 59 feet, which was four feet better than the second place finisher. Davis fouled again on his second throw in finals. On his last attempt of the afternoon, he uncorked his second-longest throw of the year – 64' 6 ½” – and surpassed the NCCAA's meet record by better than two feet.
Davis would then go on to throw the discus 178' 11” to win that event, as well.
In the long jump, McM got two placers in Isaac Hamilton in third (23' 4”) and Dillon Wilkins in fifth (22' 3 ¾”). Desmond Williams, expected to score some points in the event, was unable to compete after injuring his hamstring in the 200 meter dash earlier.
Trevon Odom was fifth in both the 100 meters (10.89) and 200 meters (21.31). Josh Zuy-Bolton placed seventh in the 100 (10.93) and eighth in the 200 (21.71). Victor Cruz was seventh in the 200 (21.52), giving McM three point scorers in the race.
Lance Andrews got the War Hawks ran his way to a sixth place in the 400 meter dash, clocking a 49.40. Willie Poindexter was third in the 400-meter hurdles at 53.60 seconds, a season best effort.
The men's 4x100 relay team, of John Keith, Odom, Williams and Cruz was second overall. The quartet covered the loop in a time of 41.39 seconds.
The 4x400 relay group – consisting of Cruz, Poindexter, Odom and Andrews – was third, after crossing the line at 3:15.65 minutes.
The women's team was paced by the blue-collar efforts of sophomore Tiana Alexander. Alexander was second in the 100 meters (12.30), the 100-meter hurdles (14.48) and the long jump (19' 2 ¾”). Her long jump mark was a 2013 best for Alexander.
Senior Shanita Coleman was seventh in the long jump (18' 6 ½”), after bringing home a championship in the women's 400 meters. Coleman chopped a second-and-a-half off of her previous best in the 400, running 56.93 seconds.
Coleman and Alexander were also a part of the War Hawks winning 4x100 relay team, along with Paradise and Purity Hooper. The quartet ran its best time of the year with a 46.94.
The Hooper sisters, along with Coleman and Jasmine Williams, won the 4x400 relay, as well. McMurry's group ran an NCCAA record time of 3:48.19 minutes.
Purity Hooper was seventh in the 200 meter dash (25.49). Brittany Liggins was fifth in the women's 400 hurdles (1:06.82).
In the women's shot put, Destiny Kesee had her top throw of the season – 44' 1 1'4” – and was rewarded with a second place finish. Teammate LaNissa Burns was eight in the shot at 39' 6”.
Information provided by McMurry athletics department.