Lincoln University of Missouri

http://www.lincolnu.edu

INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

The Lincoln University indoor track and field teams competed in the 22nd Annual 2007 NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships, March 9-10 in Boston, Mass. The Blue Tigers rebounded from 13th place (five points) after day one to place second behind National Champion Saint Augustine’s (N.C.) College. The Falcons racked up 105 points, while the Blue Tigers scored 64. Grand Valley (Mich.) State was third with 39.5 points and Abilene Christian (Texas) placed fourth totaling 32 points.

Davita Prendergast was a repeat winner in the 200 meter dash for Lincoln University. The sophomore from Westmoreland, Jamaica broke her 2006 record in the 200 twice at the championship meet. Prendergast posted a preliminary time of 23.79 on March 9 and lowered the time to 23.56 on March 10 more than a half second (0.56) faster than her 2006 record 24.12 seconds. After recording the top preliminary time in the 400, Prendergast finished second in 53.85, nearly a second behind the 52.94 from champion Johnsie Liles of St. Augustine’s.

Nandelle Cameron was second in the 60meter dash in a time of 7.53, .12 behind the record breaking time of 7.41 by Barbara Pierre of St. Augustine’s. Pierre broke the record of 7.43 shared by former Lincoln University student-athlete Shandria Brown (March 15, 2003) and April Brown of California State-Los Angeles (March 11, 2006).

Carla Thomas came in second in the 60meter hurdles (8.49). Marquita Davis, the 2006 60meter hurdle champion won the event by tying her record time of 8.44 set at the 2006 meet.

Nine Blue Tigers received All-America status: Prendergast (four All-America honors), Meleshia Spencer and Carla Thomas with three All-America times, Cameron and Kaydian Howell two-time All-America performers, while Nessa Paul, Jody-Ann Powell, Karen Robinson and Kerry-Ann Robinson each placed in the top eight of an event.

60m dash

2 Nandelle Cameron 7.48, Final 2 - 7.522 (7.53)

3 Karen Robinson 7.53, Final 4 – 7.57

4 Jody-Ann Powell 7.571 (7.58), Final 3 – 7.528 (7.53)

18 Marcia Woolery 8.03

200m

1 Davita Prendergast 23.79*, Final 1 - 23.56*

4 Carla Thomas 24.31, Final 4 - 24.42

8 Nandelle Cameron 24.64, Final 8 - 24.69

12 Monique Robinson 25.01

13 Karen Robinson 25.17

400m

1 Davita Prendergast 54.07, Final - 2 53.85

5 Meleshia Spencer 55.82, Final - 6 56.01

800m

3 Meleshia Spencer 2:11.96, 9 2:15.77

60m hurdles

2 Carla Thomas 8.52, Final 2 - 8.49

14 Kerry-Ann Robinson 8.92

Triple Jump

8 Kerry-Ann Robinson 11.84m, 38 feet-10.25 inches

Women Distance Medley

4 11:48.64 Meleshia Spencer, Davita Prendergast, Kaydian Howell, Nessa Paul

Women 4x400meter relay

5 3:44.07 Kaydian Howell, Davita Prendergast, Meleshia Spencer, Carla Thomas

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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