Day 2 Results
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LANDOVER, Md. – Norfolk State junior Corey Vinston (Hampton, Va.) broke his own meet record in the long jump, leaping a national-best 25 feet, 9 ½ inches to win his second straight title in that event at the 2009 MEAC Indoor Track & Field Championship at the Prince George's Sports & Learning Complex on Friday.
The Spartans, who are seeking their fourth consecutive conference indoor championship, are in first place through six events, with 55 points. Morgan State is second with 33.
Vinston, who was ranked ninth in the nation coming into the day with a season-best leap of 25-1 ¼, tied the meet record last year by leaping 24-7 ¼. He easily topped that mark Friday, and also bettered LSU's Will Coppage (25-7), who had the nation's top long jump heading into this weekend. Vinston's mark automatically qualifies him for next month's NCAA Indoor Championship.
Teammate Marlon Woods (Norfolk, Va.), who was ranked second in the nation in the long jump heading into the weekend, placed second behind Vinston, at 25-1 ¾.
The Spartans capped the day on the track with a first-place finish in the distance medley relay. The team of Keenan Harris (Norfolk, Va.), Darryl Brickhouse (Suffolk, Va.), Carlton Phipps (Lynchburg, Va.) and Dominic Luka (Marietta, N.Y.) finished in 10:15.37, just more than one second ahead of runner-up Hampton.
NSU's other top finish Friday came via Brett Dodd (San Antonio, Texas) in the pole vault. Dodd, who won the conference indoor title last season, cleared a school-record 14-11 on Friday to take second place.
Luka, the defending MEAC Indoor Most Outstanding Performer, also placed third in the 800 meters. Vincent Rono (Bomet, Kenya) finished fifth in the 5,000 meters.
The Spartan men also fared well in the heats of the sprints and hurdles, advancing two runners back into Saturday's finals in the 60 hurdles, 60 meters and 200 meters, and one in the 400 meters. Also, freshman Darris Shelton (Hampton, Va.) is third in the heptathlon after four events.
The competition resumes at 9 a.m. Saturday with the women's pole vault and pentathlon events.
