| It was a good day for freshman 200 meter runners running their first collegiate race Tuesday during the opener for the men’s and women’s North Carolina A&T indoor track and field teams at the UNCG 6-Way Invitational at the JDL Fast Track.
Freshman Justin Hamilton opened his career by running a 21.78 in his debut in the men’s 200m to place first, while Yakira Love did the same in the women’s 200m, finishing first with a time of 25.17. The Aggies had six other first-place finishes, including freshman Michael Dickson who finished the men’s 60 meter hurdles in 7.87, breaking the previous 8.05 record set by Todd Townsend.
“He was definitely the highlight of the meet running that fast this early. He obliterated our old school record in his first meet,” said director of track and field programs Duane Ross.
The returners were not too bad, either. Sophomores Morgan Knight and India Brown reached milestones as Brown tied the school record in the women’s 60m with a time of 7.47. Knight took home first-place in the women’s 60m while snapping her previous personal best of 8.56 by running an 8.53. The Aggies showed a little depth in the 60mh as Tiffany Ellick finished second in the event in 8.91.
“Overall it was a solid competition for our first one,” said Ross. “We’re pleased to see our freshmen run this well this early. We are a young team, so I think our performances will get better.”
The other first-place finishes included Nehemiah Lipford in the men’s high jump (6-feet, 6 ½ inches), marking the second straight season Lipford has earned first-place honors in the high jump at the UNCG 6-Way. Miranda Green, fresh off of having another solid cross country season, placed first in the women’s mile in 5:22.20. She improved her time by more than 16 seconds from last year’s 6-Way event where she finished fifth.
Imani McGhee leaped 18-feet, 4-inches in the women’s long jump to earn first place. Behind her was second-place jumper Ellick (17-feet, 6 ½ inches) Kayla White who finished with her best jump marked at 16-feet, 1 ¾ inches. N.C. A&T also showed its dominance with six second-place and four third-place finishes. “For an opening meet it was definitely our best opening since my time here. I’m extremely pleased with some of the performances we saw,” said Ross.
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