Day 1 Results

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Junior John James won his second consecutive MEAC men's high jump title Thursday afternoon as the 2012 MEAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships got underway at the Irwin Belk Track on the campus of North Carolina A&T.

After just two events scored, the Spartans, seeking their seventh straight MEAC outdoor title, lead with 19.5 points. North Carolina Central is second with 16.

James cleared a top height of 7 feet, ¼ inch. That was just a quarter-inch less than his personal-best that he jumped to capture the 2011 conference outdoor high jump title. Both James and Rico Taylor of UMES cleared 7-0.25, but James won the gold medal based on fewer misses. Sophomore Robert Thrasher tied for sixth in the same event with a top height of 6-3.25 to earn NSU another 2.5 points.

In the only other event contested Thursday, freshman Michael Mingo-Dabney notched a career-high throw of 159 feet, 1 inch to place third in the discus. Teammate Ian Copeland was eighth (146-0).

In running events, the Spartans advanced two runners through to Saturday's 200-meter dash final and another to the final of the 400 hurdles, which will also be contested Saturday. In the 200 meters, James Taylor ran a personal-best time of 20.71 seconds, the fastest qualifying time. Sean Holston was the third-fastest qualifier, winning his heat in 20.85 seconds.

In the 400 hurdles, junior Keith Nkrumah was second in his heat and the third-fastest qualifier overall with a time of 52.72 seconds.

On the women's side, the Spartans did not accumulate any points Thursday as they did not have an entrant in the discus throw. Though she did not advance to Saturday's event final, freshman Torie Cunningham ran a PR of 24.32 seconds in the 200 meter dash prelims.

Competition resumes at 9 a.m. Friday with the conclusion of the women's heptathlon and men's decathlon events.