RALEIGH, N.C. (Jan. 14) – Saint Augustine’s University recorded seven victories and 31 top ten finishes in the Spartan Invitational indoor track and field meet at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island, N.Y., on Friday, Jan. 12.
Approximately 2,000 Division I, II and III student-athletes from schools in North Carolina, California and the Northeast competed in the meet hosted by St. Thomas Aquinas College.
The Lady Falcons, led by two victories from Magaly Tshipopo (Jr./France), posted four wins and 13 top ten finishes in the women’s division. Tshipopo won the 60-meter hurdles and the long jump and Shannon Kalawan (So./Westmoreland, Jamaica) captured the 400-meter dash. Kalawanteamed with Amanda Crawford (So./Brooklyn, NY), Marissa Gale (Sr./Trinidad & Tobago) and Ade Hunter (Sr./Philadelphia, PA) to win the 4×400-meter relay.
In the 400-meter dash, Kalawan led five top 10 sprinters for the Lady Falcons. Crawford was second, Gale third, Iris Robinson fourth (Sr./Birmingham, AL) and Hunter sixth. Gale also finished third while Leah Barker (Sr./St. Michaels, Barbados) was second in the 200-meter dash. Florence Fields (Fr./St. Phillip, Barbados) placed second in the 800-meter dash and Shakera Hall (Sr./Bridgetown, Barbados) finished second in the 60 hurdles behind Tshipopo. Janiy Harrington was fifth in the triple jump.
The Falcons posted three victories and 18 top ten finishes in the men’s division. Dontarian Evans (Jr./Gainesville, FL) was the 60 dash winner and Dakara Hightower (Sr./Washington) claimed the high jump with an NCAA DII provisional height of 6-11.5. Jumonne Exeter (Sr./St. Vincent) won the triple jump with a provisional mark of 50-4.75.
The men’s team placed three or more top 10 finishers in four events. In addition to Evans’ 60 dash win, Adrian Kimmons (Sr./Cold Water, MS) was second and Devonte‘ Gardiner (Fr./Turks and Caicos Island) was fourth. In the 200 dash, Evans was second, Damere Gilbert (So./Sharon Hill, PA) was fifth, Gardiner placed seventh and Kimmons was ninth. Kirvano Hanfield (Jr./Turks and Caicos) was second behind Hightower and Anthony Soriono (Fr./Riverside, CA) was fifth in the high jump. Justin Williams (Jr./Long Island, NY) was third with a provisional leap of 48-2 and Sorianowas fourth in Exeter’s triple jump win.
Justin Marsh (So./Laurel, MD) was third and Robert Walker (Fr./Newburgh, NY) finished fourth in the 400-meter dash. Exeter placed second and Williams finished fifth in the long jump while Jose Penalver (Fr./Caracas, Venezuela) was ninth in the 800 dash.
The Falcons and Lady Falcons will compete Monday, Jan. 15, in the HBCU Invitational in Winston-Salem, N.C., on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The field events start at 10 a.m. and the running events begin at 12 p.m. at the JDL Fast Track. Click HERE for live results.
Below are the Falcons’ and Lady Falcons’ top 10 finishers with respective times.
WOMEN
200
2. Leah Barker 25.29
3. Marissa Gale 25.46
400
1. Shannon Kalawan 57.02
2. Amanda Crawford 57.03
3. Marissa Gale 57.72
4. Iris Robinson 58.17
6. Ade Hunter 59.60
800
2. Florence Fields 2:22.20
60 Hurdles
1. Magaly Tshipopo 8.98
2. Shakera Hall 9.02
4×400 Relay
1. Amanda Crawford, Marissa Gale, Ade Hunter, Shannon Kalawan 3:52.87
Long Jump
1. Magaly Tshipopo 5.38m
Triple Jump
5. Janiy Harrington 10.75m
MEN
60 Dash
1. Dontarian Evans 6.91
2. Adrian Kimmons 6.98
4. Devante Gardiner 7.07
200 Dash
2. Dontarian Evans 21.55
5. Damere Gilbert 22.09
7. Devante Gardiner 22.21
9. Adrian Kimmons 22.30
400
3. Justin Marsh 50.18
4. Robert Walker 50.34
800
9. Jose Penalver 2:00.40
High Jump
1. Dakara Hightower 2.12m
2. Kirvano Handfield 2.08m
5. Anthony Soriano 1.96m
Long Jump
2. Jumonne Exeter 6.93m
5. Justin Williams 6.66m
Triple Jump
1. Jumonne Exeter 15.36m
3. Justin Williams 14.68
4. Anthony Soriano 14.37
