Saint Augustine’s University regained the top spot in the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Men’s National Team Rankings thanks to a strong performance at the Penn State National meet over the weekend. The rankings were released Tuesday, February 4, 2014 by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
The Falcons, ranked second last week, overtook Adams State as the top team after 13 individuals and one relay team improved their times, heights and distances at the Penn State National. Adams State fell to second and Ashland is ranked third in the computer rankings.
“The ranking gives our student-athletes the incentive to do well,” said legendary Head Coach George Williams, who has guided St. Aug to 33 NCAA Division II men’s and women’s titles including the 2013 men’s indoor and outdoor crowns. “But in the end, you still have to perform well at the nationals to keep the top ranking.”
Among the women, Lincoln (Mo.) is the No. 1 ranked team. Grand Valley State is ranked second and Adams State is third. St. Aug moved up nine places to 12th.
Both Joshua Edmonds (Sr./Jacksonville, Fla.) and DeJon Wilkinson (Sr./Summerville, S.C.) are ranked first in their respective events after reaching automatic qualifying marks at Penn State. Edmonds ran 46.94 in the men’s 400 meters and Wilkinson leaped 52-6½ in the men’s triple jump.
Edmonds is also part of the top-ranked 4×400 meter relay squad that posted an automatic qualifying time at Penn State. The foursome ran a converted time of 3:14:07 to maintain their top-ranking. The other 4×400 members are James Quarles (Sr./Washington, D.C.), Burkheart Ellis Jr. (Soph./Raleigh, N.C.) and Roxroy Cato (Sr./Jamaica). Top-ranked and defending 60 meter hurdles champion Moussa Dembele (Sr./Dakar, Senegal) ran a season-best 7.89 in his event.
Seven Lady Falcons and one relay team posted season-best marks at Penn State. The 4×400 meter relay team of Akeisha Dumont (Jr./Brooklyn, N.Y.), Fanta Fofana (Jr./Amiens, France), Tia-Adana Belle (Barbados) and Cherrisse Lynch (Jr./St. Lawrence, Barbados) registered a converted time of 3:49.77 to gain the No. 2 ranking in the event.
Below are the St. Aug individuals ranked in the top 10 of their respective events. The entire team and individual rankings are on ustfccca.org.
WOMEN
1. (Akeisha Dumont, Fanta Fofana, Tia-Adana Belle, Cherrisse Lynch) – 4X400 Meter Relay
5. Shakinah Brooks – Long Jump
6. Brittni Finch – Triple Jump
MEN
1. (Joshua Edmonds, James Quarles, Burkheart Ellis Jr., Roxroy Cato) – 4X400 Meter Relay
1. Joshua Edmonds – 400 Meters
1. Moussa Dembele – 60 Meter Hurdles
1. DeJon Wilkinson – Triple Jump
2. Ty’reak Murray – 60 Meter Hurdles
3. Roxroy Cato – 400 Meters
4. JaQuan Demiel – Long Jump
5. Jermaine Jones – 200 Meters
5. James Quarles – 400 Meters
5. David Shaw Jr. – Long Jump
5. David Shaw Jr. – Triple Jump
7. Burkheart Ellis Jr. – 200 Meters
7. Eddie Shelton – High Jump
8. DeJon Wilkinson – Long Jump
— Sports Information Office
