WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Feb. 12) – Led by Shannon Kalawan, Saint Augustine’s University took home the Women’s Runner-Up Trophy at the CIAA Indoor Track & Field Championships at JDL Fast Track on Monday, Feb. 11.
Kalawan was impressive as usual for the Lady Falcons, who stayed in contention during the two-day meet. She won three individual conference titles and anchored the winning 4×400 relay team.
Known for her supreme running skills, Kalawan opened eyes on Sunday, Feb. 10, by winning the high jump after entering the event for the first time as a Lady Falcon. She followed up her victory with two more on Monday in the 200 dash and 400 dash. The SAU All-American scored the second-most points (24.5) among the women in the running events.
Danielle Scantlebury (Fr./St. George, Barbados) produced the other victory for the Lady Falcons. She outraced the competition in the 60 hurdles.
Sparked by Kalawan and Scantlebury, the Lady Falcons nearly rallied from a 22-point first-day deficit. They entered Monday in second behind Virginia State University, but closed the gap quickly in the 400 dash, where four Lady Falcons competed. Sparked by Kalawan’s victory, they scored 23 points in the race. Amanda Crawford (Jr./Brooklyn, NY) finished third, Davia Smith (Jr./Manchester, Jamaica) was fifth and Jaria Hoyte (Fr./St. Phillip, Barbados) placed seventh.
The Lady Falcons then opened a 92-71 lead over Virginia State after four sprinters combined to score 21 points in the 200 dash paced by Kalawan’s win. Crawford was third, Hoyte placed sixth and Smith finished seventh in the race.
The Trojans would eventually come back to win, but the Lady Falcons closed out the meet with a 4×400 victory. The relay team of Crawford, Smith, Hoyte and Kalawan coasted to victory for the Lady Falcons.
Led by the group of sprinters, the Lady Falcons scored 110 points to secure second in the women’s division. Virginia State had 129 points and Fayetteville State University was third with 94 points. Winston-Salem State University finished fourth with 71 points followed by Livingstone College (38), Bowie State University (34), Johnson C. Smith University (33), Claflin University (14), Virginia Union University (12) and Lincoln (Pa.) University (9).
The Lady Falcons gave a valiant effort in the two-day meet. They will set their sights on the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships next month in Pittsburg, Kan.
Below is the list of SAU scorers in the championship meet on Monday. The number is where they finished in the event.
Pentathlon
2. Danielle Scantlebury
400 Dash
1. Shannon Kalawan
3. Amanda Crawford
5. Davia Smith
6. Jaria Hoyte
60 Dash
4. Junine Goodson (So./St. Andrews, Jamaica)
800 Run
5. Florence Fields (So./St. Phillips, Barbados)
60 Hurdles
1. Danielle Scantlebury
200 Dash
1. Shannon Kalawan
3. Amanda Crawford
6. Jaria Hoyte
7. Davia Smith
4×400 Relay
1. Amanda Crawford, Davia Smith, Jaria Hoyte, Shannon Kalawan
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