RALEIGH, N.C. (April 19) – The nationally-ranked Saint Augustine’s University track & field teams head to Columbia, S.C., for the USC Outdoor Open on Saturday, April, 20. The field events start at 9 a.m. and the track events begin at 10:30 a.m. at Cregger Track.
Over 25 teams from the NCAA Division I, II, III, NJCAA and NAIA divisions, including Saint Augustine’s University, will compete in the meet, which is held on the University of South Carolina campus.
The Falcons’ men and Lady Falcons enter the meet ranked seventh and eighth nationally in Division II this week by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). SAU ranks in the top 10 nationally in 13 events.
In the men’s division, Najair Jackson (So./Spanish Town, Jamaica) ranks third in the javelin throw and Nathan Fergusson (Fr./St. Thomas, Barbados) ranks fifth in the 400 hurdles. Brandon Parris (Sr./Sion Hill, St. Vincent) ranks seventh in the 400 dash and Alazae Hester-Taylor (Sr./Homewood, AL) ranks seventh in the 400 hurdles. Christian Smith (Jr./Atlanta, GA) ranks 10th in the 110 hurdles.
The team of Fergusson, Jalen Jones (Fr./Raeford, NC), Darren Alfred (Fr./Bethel, Trinidad & Tobago) and Parris ranks second in the 4×400 relay, and the unit of Fergusson, Parris, Dontarian Evans (Sr./Jacksonville, FL) and Alfred ranks third in the 4×100 relay.
For the women, Shannon Kalawan (Jr./Westmoreland, Jamaica) ranks second in the 400 hurdles and sixth in the 400 dash. Amanda Crawford (Jr./Brooklyn, NY) ranks third in the 400 dash and seventh in the 200 dash.
Danielle Scantlebury (Fr./St. George, Barbados) ranks ninth in the 100 hurdles and the group of Jaria Hoyte (Fr./St. Phillips, Barbados), Crawford, Scantlebury and Kalawan ranks first in the 4×400 relay.
Overall, the SAU men and women have combined to win 39 NCAA Division II national championships during the indoor and outdoor track & field seasons under legendary head coach George Williams. He has won the most NCAA national track and field championships of any coach, regardless of division.
-Office of Sports Information
