GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Quamecha Morrison simply had to let it go to overcome this thing she's had at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
One of the nation's premier high jumpers, Morrison's past … well, it's in the past now. After two years of finishing out of the points, the junior won the event Thursday to highlight Bethune-Cookman's opening day efforts.
Morrison cleared 5 feet, seven and ¾ inches on her first try to take the event from North Carolina A&T's Nazah Reddick. The Lady Wildcats also got points from a fourth place finish from freshman
Moena Battle (5'3 ¾") and
Jonina Brinson tying for seventh (5'1 ¾").
It gives the junior a sweep of the indoor/outdoor championships. And a sense of satisfaction of overcoming previous setbacks.
"In order to get better, I had to let those last two years go," Morrison said. "It was a matter of being mentally prepared and staying calm, knowing it might come down to the third jump."
Morrison couldn't match her season bests, dropping three attempts at 6'0 ¾"
"The win is still the win," Morrison said.
She did have another win Friday -- her 200 meters preliminary heat in which she clocked a 23.87 that has her seeded fifth behind teammate Monae' Nichols, who registered a 23.81.
After the first day, the Lady Wildcats are in third place with 20.5 points, trailing Florida A&M (50.5) and Hampton(22). The Wildcat men are in second with 22 points, trailing Morgan State (29).
"A solid day one for the both the men and women's team," said B-CU Head Coach
Donald Cooper. "We missed out on some opportunities that we shouldn't have. We have to eliminate squandering opportunities in order to reach our goal. I'm expecting a better day from both teams tomorrow."
Other highlights from Day One:
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Kelton Williams took third in the high jump with a personal best of 6'11.
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Jeremiah Peters finished third in the discus (151'3") followed by
Sidney Holston in fifth (148'0").
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Akassja White seventh in the discus (133'7").
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Nyajock Pan seventh in the 10000 meters (43.37.72).
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Xavier Walton (31:35.46) and
Daniel Kiptoo (32:46.70) finished 5-7 in the 10000 meters.
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Lea Tshikaya had the second fastest preliminary time in the women's 400 hurdles (59.63),
Jordan Williams the fourth best in the men's 200 (20.71) and
Caleb Okwaraji fifth in the men's 400 hurdles (53.3).
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Jaquaveon Beachem and
Tyson Wright are 2-4 in the decathlon at the halfway point while
Tiara Williams is third in the heptathlon.
"So pleased to see Quamecha finally get that outdoor title," Cooper said. Peters and Williams podium performances were huge for us today also."
Friday's action starts at 9 a.m. with the conclusion of the women's heptathlon and men's decathlon.
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