WINSON-SALEM, N.C. – Norfolk State sophomore Kiara Grant tied a meet record and set a new personal record when she won the 60-meter dash on Saturday at the JDL Invitational.

In the Spartans' final tuneup before the MEAC Championships this coming week, Grant improved upon her 60m personal best twice. She clocked a time of 7.35 seconds in the heats before matching the meet record of 7.31 in the finals. That moved her into the top 25 nationally and second in the MEAC in that event.

Grant's win in the 60 meters was one of two for the Spartans over the weekend. Senior Taejah Robertson recorded a season-best time of 8.53 seconds to win the 60-meter hurdles.

Two other Spartans posted personal bests in the meet. Sophomore Malika Pride ran her fastest-ever indoor collegiate 400-meter time, clocking a 56.14 in her runner-up finish. The time was converted to a banked-track time of 55.41, which ranks her fourth in the conference entering the indoor championship.

Junior Martha Bissah set a PR in the mile, placing third in 4 minutes, 43.34 seconds. That was also converted, to a 4:40.57, best in the MEAC this year.

In the field events, two freshmen also set season bests in the throws. Arieana Parker finished seventh in the shot put with a top throw of 39 feet, 1.25 inches, and PreAsia Salley notched an eighth-place finish in the weight throw with a best effort of 47-9.75.

The Spartans return to the track this week at the 2019 MEAC Indoor Championships at the Prince George's Sports & Learning Complex this Thursday through Saturday in Landover, Maryland.