Meet Results

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Sophomore Kaydianne McKenzie set a new indoor PR in winning the triple jump and freshman Kiara Howell easily won the shot put in her first meet as a Spartan to highlight NSU's first indoor meet of the season, the CNU Holiday Open on Saturday.

McKenzie's best jump was 38 feet, 4 inches, more than two feet further than her closest competitor and roughly a foot and a half better than her best performance last season. McKenzie also ran a leg on the Spartans' 4x400 relay team that placed fourth in 3 minutes, 58.17 seconds.

Howell, one of the Spartans' top recruits, made a splash in her debut by taking the shot put title. Her best throw was 46-1.50. Her twin sister Navia was sixth in the same event with a top effort of 37-3.75.

Elsewhere in the field events, sophomore Tiara Davis established a new PR in the pole vault. Davis cleared 10 feet, 6 inches to earn a sixth-place finish.

The Howells weren't the only newcomers to fare well in their debut meet with NSU on Saturday. First-year sophomore Brittney McCants won her heat and finished fourth overall in the 200 meters (25.76 seconds). She also placed seventh in the 60 meters, finishing in 7.61 seconds.

In addition, rookie Ra'Shaun Combs was second in her heat and fifth among collegiate entrants in the 800 meters. She posted a time of 2:23.23. She was seventh overall in the event, one spot ahead of fellow newcomer Tori Lewis-Johnson (2:24.71).

The Spartans are off for the semester break before returning to action on Jan. 5 at the Penn State Relays.