RALEIGH, N.C. (March 10) – Brandon Parris (Sr./Sion Hill, St. Vincent) of Saint Augustine’s University claimed All-America honors in three events on the final day of the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships in Pittsburg, Kan., on Saturday, March 9.
Parris placed fourth in the 200 and 400 dashes, and anchored the men’s 4x400 relay squad to a second-place finish at the Robert W. Plaster Center. The senior sprinter scored half (12) of the Falcons’ 24 points.
His time of 46.98 in the 400 is a personal indoor best for Parris, who also ran 21.29 in the 200. His preliminary 200 time of 21.17 on Friday is a personal indoor best. The foursome of Parris, Nathan Fergusson (Fr./St. Thomas, Barbados), Jalen Jones (Fr./Raeford, NC) and Darren Alfred (Fr./Bethel, Trinidad & Tobago) ran a season-best time of 3:08.39 in the 4x400 relay.
Earlier in the day, Jumonne Exeter (Sr./St. Vincent) placed third in the men’s triple jump with a mark of 51-4½ on the final attempt. His leap in the championship meet was a season best.
In addition to Parris, the SAU contingent of Fergusson, Jones, Alfred and Exeter collected All-America awards for their performances. The top eight individual finishers and relay teams received All-America awards in their respective events.
In the men’s team standings, the Falcons tied Texas A&M University-Commerce with 24 points. Ashland University edged Adams State University 38-37 for the national title and Tiffin University finished third with 34 points. Grand Valley State University was fourth with 33.25 points.
The Falcons start the outdoor track and field season next weekend in the Shamrock Invitational in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The meet will be held at Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium on March 14-16.