Results - Through Day 2
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Led by first-time MEAC high jump champion John James, the Norfolk State men's track and field team maintained the lead in the 2011 MEAC Outdoor Championships after day two competition on Saturday at the Irwin Belk track on the campus of North Carolina A&T.
The Spartan men, seeking their sixth straight conference indoor-outdoor sweep, have 56 points after five events through day two. Maryland Eastern Shore is in second with 39.
James, a sophomore, set a new personal-best in winning the high jump. James cleared 7 feet, half an inch to win his first conference title. In the long jump, sophomore Darris Shelton leapt a season outdoor-best 25 feet, 3.25 inches, equaling Florida A&M's Leon Hunt for the top spot. Hunt, however, won the event based on a longer previous jump than Shelton, who was awarded second. Junior Rashad Cannon finished third in the event with a PR of 25 feet, 2.75 inches.
The Spartan men had a strong day on the track as event semifinals were run on Friday. Aramis Massenburg was the top qualifier in the 110-meter hurdles in a personal-best time of 13.63 seconds. That time is nearly three-tenths faster than Massenburg's previous best collegiate time (13.91) and would rank him in the NCAA East Region top five based performances through last weekend. It is also just .04 behind the meet record of 13.59 set by Bethune-Cookman's Ronnie Ash in 2008.
In addition, teammate Keith Nkrumah ran a PR in the 110 hurdles as well, clocking a 13.72 as the third-fastest qualifier for Saturday's final. Also clocking a PR Friday was sophomore Vincent Brown, who was the fastest qualifier in the 800 meters (1:52.73).
Sean Holston was the top qualifier in the 400 meters (46.69) and was second-fastest in the 200m (21.04).
Elsewhere, junior Theo Duncan placed fourth in the shot put with an outdoor personal-best effort of 51 feet.
The final day of competition begins at 9 a.m. Saturday with the women's pole vault final. The men's and women's triple jump and discus competitions start at 10 a.m. For more information, visit www.meacsports.com. Live results are available at www.halfmiletiming.com.
