March 18, 2012
Reach T&F Contact Michael Stambaugh for more details by E-Mail stambaughm@cookman.ed -
CORAL GABLES, Fla. - The Wildcats traveled south this weekend to match up with a southeastern field at Miami's Cobb Stadium in the Hurricane Invitational. Led by Stephon Pamilton's 400m performance, Bethune-Cookman placed nearly the entire select group among the top tier in each event, while adding six qualifiers for the MEAC Outdoor Championships.
“We had a good weekend,” said Head Coach Donald Cooper. “We accomplished our mission in getting more athletes qualified for outdoor MEAC.”
Though several Wildcats placed among the lead packs in their respective events, Pamilton topped all B-CU finishers, earning first place in the 400m dash with a time of 46.52 seconds. In the women's 400m, LaShondra Wilbon came in 10th with a time of 56.91. Both long sprinters qualified for the outdoor MEAC Championships with their performances.
Kadian Dunkley earned the honor of leading the women's performers at the meet, claiming third place in the 5000m run with a time of 18:26.23 to meet the MEAC standard.
Ricy Brown was B-CU's lone middle distance runner, setting a new personal record in the 800m run with a time of 1:54.55, placing him in third in the event and giving him a MEAC qualifying mark.
The Wildcats were very active in the short sprint events at the Hurricane Invitational, logging seven top-ten finishes, topped by the men's leader Angelo Cabrera. Cabrera earned third place in the 100m dash with a time of 10.70 seconds. He also collected a seventh place finish and a personal record in the 200m dash at 21.63, behind teammate Kemar Clarke, who PR'd in fourth at 21.53, Chris Jackson in fifth with a PR of 21.30, and ahead of Joshua Perkins (10th, 21.70).
In the women's sprints, Shakira Garner turned in two solid performances, with PR's in the 100m and 200m. In the 100m, Garner ran a time of 12.09 to finish in fourth, while her 25.08 in the 200m was in for ninth.
Latorria Grier (1:05.14) and Sandricka Simmons (1:05.63) represented the Wildcats in the 400m hurdles, finishing sixth and seventh respectively.
Representing B-CU field events, Akeem Barthol collected a third place finish in the pole vault, hitting a mark of 4.10m (13-05.25 ft.).
The Wildcats brought out several to the meet in multi-events, led by Martin Embry collected 4,988 for fifth, after getting second in the javelin (41.34m – 135-07 ft.). Davis and Riggins met the marks to head to MEAC as well.
The Wildcats will take on a more local field in the upcoming week, grabbing a chance to perform in front of a hometown crowd, competing at the Embry-Riddle Spikes Classic on March 23-24.
“We will rest some people next week as we are up the street at Embry-Riddle, supporting our neighbor,” Cooper noted.
###
