The Lincoln University men accumulated 30 points on day two of the championships to move from a ninth place tie after day one to a tie for fifth place (36 points) with Ashland (Ohio) University.  St. Augustine’s earned a championship sweep by gaining 88 points.  Rounding out the top five were second place Abilene Christian (48.5), followed by North Carolina Central (43) and Adams (Colo.) State (38). 

   For the third consecutive year, Decosma Wright won the 60meter hurdles event.  His time of 7.76 was almost a quarter of a second faster than second place Dior Lowry (8.01) of St. Augustine’s.  Wilbert Walker did not repeat in either jump event for the Blue Tigers.  The sophomore from St. Thomas, Jamaica took second in the triple jump (15.88m) and was third in the long jump (7.45m).  Vladyslav Gorbenko (Abilene Christian) won the triple jump going 53 feet, 3 inches, more than a foot farther than the 52 feet, 1¼ inches from Walker.  The top three finishers in the long jump were within a foot of each other.  The long jump was won by Randall Flimmons of Morehouse (Ga.) College at 25 feet, 4¾ inches; second place went to Tyrone Smith from Missouri-Rolla (24 feet, 10½ inches) and Walker took third (24 feet, 5½ inches).   

   Although fifth place is lower than their fourth place of 2006 more Blue Tigers did receive All-America status in 2007.  The Blue Tigers had eight student-athletes perform at an All-America level.  Leading the Blue Tigers was Walker, a two-time All-America winner with Alie Beauvais, Ricardo Foster, Carlington Marsh, Jody Muschette, Pete Smith, Michael Trusty and Decosma Wright garnering All-America recognition. 

60meter dash

8 Jody Muschette 6.85, Final 8 - 6.92

60meter hurdles

1 Decosma Wright 7.76, Final 1 - 7.78

4 Pete Smith 8.054 (8.06), Final 4 - 8.08

Long Jump

3 Wilber Walker 7.45m, 24 feet-5.5 inches

Triple Jump

2 Wilbert Walker 15.88m, 52 feet-1.25 inches

4x400m relay

3 3:14.04        Alie Beauvais, Carlington Marsh, Michael Trusty, Ricardo Foster

BASEBALL

In a four game weekend the Blue Tigers won twice.  University of Texas of the Permian Basin spoiled a 7-5 Lincoln University lead by scoring two runs in the top of the seventh inning and added a run in the eighth to win the series opener 8-7, March 10 on the Lincoln University Baseball Field.  Mike Overman capped a five run seventh inning with a walk off 3-run home run to give the Blue Tigers a 9-8 victory in the second game.

   Lincoln University notched back-to-back wins for the first time this season winning game one 6-5, March 11.  The Falcons rallied for a series split scoring eight runs in the final three innings as the Blue Tigers coughed up five errors during that span to lose the last game, 9-8.

   The Blue Tigers (4-18) play the Aggies of Oklahoma Panhandle State University at 12:00 p.m. in Heartland Conference action on March 16 in Goodwell, Okla.

SOFTBALL

The Lincoln University softball team began Heartland Conference play with a 2-0 defeat of Montana State University-Billings.  The Blue Tigers (4-7, 1-2 Heartland Conference) scored both runs before rain arrived on March 9 halting the game in the bottom of the third inning.  Pitcher Nikki Nelke allowed only two hits, when the game resumed on March 10 at the Lincoln University Softball Field securing the Blue Tigers victory.

   The Lady Jackets out hit the Blue Tigers 23-5 in the final two games of the series, March 10.  Game four was cancelled due to darkness at the Lincoln University Softball Field, which does not have stadium lights. 

   Lincoln University made four errors in a 7-0 loss.  The Blue Tigers committed four errors in a four run third inning by the Lady Jackets.

   In the last game of the weekend, MSU-Billings plated six runs in the fourth inning.  Two of the eventual runs in the six-run fourth got on base as a result of a pair of Blue Tiger errors.  The Blue Tigers did mount a comeback, but lost 7-3.

   The softball team is playing No. 10 St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas on March 12-13.

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