Saint Augustine’s College men claim NCAA Division II indoor track and field title; Falcons’ women place third
March 11, 2006
BOSTON, Mass. – Saint Augustine’s College esteemed
head coach George Williams was proud that his Falcons won the NCAA
Division II men’s indoor track and field championship
Saturday at the Reggie Lewis Center. He was just as proud that the
Falcons placed third in the women’s indoor championships as
well with only six females.
Saint Augustine’s College won its ninth overall NCAA
Division II men’s team title and the first one since 2001
with 66.5 points. Their victory ended second-place Abilene
Christian’s string of four consecutive national titles. Also,
Marquita Davis of the Falcons won the 60-meter hurdles and broke
the national indoor women’s event record in the process by
winning in 8.44 seconds, breaking the mark of 8.54 set by Maisha
Prewitt of Ft. Hays State in 2002.
The Falcons’ women team finished third with 49 points behind
champion Lincoln (87 points) and runner-up Abilene Christian (50.33
points). What’s more amazing is the Falcons were a couple
points shy of placing second.
The Falcons literally sprinted their way to the men’s crown
during the two-day meet. Speedsters Philippe DeRosier, Jamaal
Torrance, and the Falcons’ 4x400 meter relay team won their
respective events to become national champions.
DeRosier sprinted away from the field to capture the 200 meters in
21.36 seconds. Runner-up Michael Lawrence of Minnesota State
finished in 21.43 seconds.
Torrance won the 400-meter dash in 46.89 seconds while Joel
Duffield of Chadron State was second in 47.22. The relay team
consisting of Lurias Eugene, Travon Lee, Tim Riley and Torrance
took the 4x400 relay in a time of 3:12.26. Abilene Christian was
second in a time of 3:12.59.
Several other Falcons gained All-America honors by finishing
eighth or better. In the 60-meter hurdles, Unyime Akpan placed
second in 7.70 seconds, Chris Stephens was fourth in 8.11 and
Jermaine Baker was fifth in 8.13. In the 60-meter dash, Dennis
Boone was fourth in 6.80 and DeRosier was eighth in 6.89. In the
men’s 400-meter dash, Lee placed seventh in 48.52.
In the high jump, Joe Kindred tied for sixth with a height of 6-9.
In the long jump, Fabian Hutchinson was third with a leap of
24-7.25, Boone was seventh with a distance of 23-11, and Dwayne
Greenidge was eighth (23-9).
Though the Falcons’ women didn’t win a title, their
performance was amazing, too. Johnsie Liles led the way by scoring
18 points in individual events including a 400-meter dash victory
in 53.67 seconds. She beat Davita Prendergast of Lincoln who ran a
time of 53.82.
Liles also teamed with Jessica Render, Dana Robinson and Erica
Young to win the 4x400-meter relay in 3:43.09. Lincoln was second
in 3:44.42.
Liles also finished second in the 200-meter dash in 24.44 seconds.
She finished second to Prendergast, who won the event in a national
meet record 24.12.
In the women’s 60-meter dash, Render was fifth in 7.51
seconds and seventh in the 200-meter dash in 24.94. In the
400-meter dash, Young placed eighth in 57.22. In the triple jump,
Kimberly Moore was fifth with a jump of 39-2.50.
Any athlete or relay team who placed eighth or better scored
points and earned All-America honors.