New Orleans – The Lady Tigers of Jackson State and the Panthers of Prairie View A&M University were the victors on the final day of the 2008 Southwestern Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championship.
The Lady Tigers have won the women’s title with a point total of 182.50, just 2.50 points ahead of second place Grambling State. Southern jumped to third place with 95.50.
Prairie View A&M finished strong with 190 points. Grambling State took second place with 150 and Jackson State finished with 120 points.
The most outstanding female track performer was Vasity Chemweno of Arkansas-Pine Bluff. She won the women 800 meter run and the 1500 meter run. The most outstanding male track performer went to Alonzo Thomas of Prairie View A&M University. Thomas won the men’s 3000 meter steeplechase and placed second in the 10,000 meters, 1500 meters and the 5,000 meter runs.
The most outstanding female field performer went to Leadrianna White of Jackson State. White won the women’s hammer throw, javelin throw and the discus throw. She placed ninth in the women’s shot put. Marcus Carter of Prairie View A&M was the most outstanding male field performer after winning the men’s hammer throw. He placed second in the shot put and the discus throw.
In the 4×100 women’s relay, Jackson State’s Lisa Quinn, Taji Dorsey, Courtney Prentiss and Tayari Clay won the gold with a time of 45.65. Grambling State game in second with a time of 46.10 and Alabama State finished third with 46.41. Grambling State won the women 4×400 meter relays with Javonda Newbold, Ilana Pavin, Brianne Brass and Ashley Vaughn. The Lady Tigers finished with a time 3:42.37 minutes. Jackson State finished second with 3:43.14 and Alabama State took the bronze with a time of 3:46.31
Chris Taylor, Jarryd Gray, Brandon Samples and Jason Fobbs of Prairie View A&M won the men’s 4×100 meter relay with a time of 40.84 seconds. Grambling State came in second with 40.95 while Jackson State finished third with 41.17 seconds.
In the men’s 4×400, Jackson State won with the team of Allen Senegal, Derrick Ray, Debodrick Walton and Sherrer Schafer. The Tigers finished in 3:09.04 minutes while Prairie View came in second with a time of 3:09.93. Southern University placed third with 3:12.84.
Texas Southern’s Francesca Okwaro won the women’s 100 and 200 meter dashes. She finished the 100 meters in 11.74 second and the 200 meters in 23.89 seconds. On the men’s side, Justin Vance of Jackson State took home first place in the 100 meter dash finishing in 10.70 seconds. Jarryd Gray of Prairie View A&M won the 200 meter dash with a time of 21.29 seconds.
Women’s Final Team Scores
| 1) Jackson State | 182.50 |
| 2) Grambling State | 180 |
| 3) Southern University | 95.50 |
| 4) Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 90 |
| 5) Alabama State | 87 |
| 6) Prairie View A&M | 63.50 |
| 7) Texas Southern | 60.50 |
| 8 ) Alcorn State | 29 |
| 9) Alabama A&M | 27 |
| 10) Miss. Valley State | 3 |
Men’s Finals Team Scores
| 1) Prairie View A&M | 193 points |
| 2) Grambling State | 150 |
| 3) Jackson State | 120 |
| 4) Southern University | 98.50 |
| 5 ) Alabama State | 87.50 |
| 6) Alcorn State | 82 |
| 7) Texas Southern | 59 |
| 8 ) Alabama A&M | 20 |
| 9) Miss. Valley State |
