BOSTON, MASS. – The UMBC track and
Field teams completed the first day of the two-day America East
Championships at Boston University on Friday. The women
are currently in sixth place (22 points) while the men are seventh
(8 points). Boston University leads both competitions
the men gaining 57 points on day one and the women gaining 58
points.
Freshman Mercedes Jackson (Huntingtown, Md./Huntingtown)
made a splash in her first championships, qualifying first and
setting a BU Facility record in the 60m dash. Her
preliminary time (7.52), is just off her school record time (7.50)
which she set back at the Bison Opener in
December. Classmate Ebonique Jones (New Castle, Del./William
Penn) placed fourth in qualifiers.
Jackson also was the top qualifier in the 200m event (24.00)
with Jones and Briana Young just behind in seventh and
ninth, respectively.
In the 400m dash, Kirsten Jones and Kalane' Abbey (Laurel,
Md./Laurel) are ranked third and fourth, and Briana Young (Bowie, Md./Elizabeth Seton) is
ninth.
Imani Colbert (Upper Marlboro, Md./C.H. Flowers)
is now the favorite in the 60m hurdles after qualifying first with
a time of 8.64.
In the throws, junior Amanda Deller (Aberdeen, Md./Aberdeen) is first in
the weight throw after a personal-best toss of 16.83m (55'
2.75").
For the men, Malte
Bertram (Einbeck, Germany/Goethschule Gymnasium) sits
second in the heptathlon after four events. Eric
Ezenwanne (Columbia, Md.) ranks fourth after winning the
high jump with a leap of 1.93m.
Junior Trae
Proctor (Brandywine, Md./Thomas Stone), last year's 60m
hurdle champion, qualified second in the event with a time of
8.29.
In the 500m run, Josh Hewitson (New Market,
Md./Linganore) sits in second after running a 1:03.72.
The meet continues tomorrow at Boston University with the finals
of the sprint events, in addition to the distance runs and the
completion of the pentathlon and heptathlon.
