New Orleans – The 2008 Southwestern Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships kicked off today with Grambling State University taking the lead in both men and women’s competition at Tad Gormley Stadium.
The women’s team held on to a slim one- point lead today with 24 points. Alabama State followed with 23 points and indoor track and field champion Jackson State followed with 21 points.
The G-Men have a total of 36 points, seven more than second place Prairie View A&M. Alabama State rounds out the top three teams with 18 points.
Terrance Brown of Grambling State took home the gold in the men’s javelin throw, with a mark of 57.00 meters. In the women’s 10,000 meter run, Theresa Padilla of Arkansas-Pine Bluff won with a time of 38:34.88 and Robert Gunn of Alabama State took the men’s title in the same category with a time a 32:51.77.
In the men’s hammer throw, Marcus Carter of Prairie View A&M was the victor with a throw of 48.72 meters. Leadrianna White of Jackson State took the women’s hammer throw title with a distance of 46.33m. Women’s pole vault was the last event of the day with Shamonique Mattox of Alabama State winning with a jump of 3.95m (12.96 ft.).
After day one of competition, Nathaniel Hughes of Alcorn State leads the decathlon participants. He is currently in first place with 3678 points, 121 points ahead of his teammate Emmanuel Arceneaux. Jovanni Jenkins of Southern is in third place with 3116.
Alexis Tanner of Prairie View A&M University is leading in the women’s heptathlon with 2,584. Alexandra Afloari of Grambling State is in second place with 2546 and Tanieka Hill of Jackson State is in third place.
Competition begins Sunday, April 20 at 8:00 a.m. with day two of the men’s decathlon.
Women – Team Rankings – 3 Events Scored
1) Grambling State – 24
2) Alabama State – 23
3) Jackson State – 21
4) Arkansas-Pine Bluff – 18
5) Southern University – 7.5
6) Texas Southern – 7
6) Prairie View A&M – 7
8 ) Alcorn State – 4.5
9) Alabama A&M – 4
Men – Team Rankings – 3 Events Scored
1) Grambling State – 36
2) Prairie View A&M – 29
3) Alabama State – 18
4) Southern University – 17
5) Alabama A&M – 8
6) Jackson State – 6
7) Mississippi Valley – 2
8 ) Alcorn State – 1
