ALBANY, Ga. – The Benedict women successfully conquered a field of eleven teams with a score of 219 points as Morehouse Maroon Tigers captured their first championship title since 2014-15 with a score of 187 at the SIAC Outdoor Track and Field Championship.
Held at the Hugh Mills Stadium in Albany, Ga., Benedict’s win was helped by senior sprinter, Phoebe Johnson who captured four first-place finishes alongside, junior sprinter, Becky Dionisio as she topped three events for the Tigers. Dionosio captured three awards including the Women’s Outstanding Track Performer, Cleve Abbott Award, and the High Point Track Performer with wins in the 10,000 Meter Run (44:07.49), 800 Meter Run (2:22.90), and the 1500 Meter Run (4:59.90). Johnson topped the field in 200 Meter Dash (25.19) {prelim.), 400 Meter Dash (57.85) (prelim.), and the finals for the 200 Meter Dash (24.86) and 400 Meter Dash (57.25).
The Tigers finished with 13 total first-place finishes to defend their championship title and claim two consecutive SIAC Track and Field Championships.
Morehouse’s Maroon Tigers finished first place since the 2014-15 season with 181 points. They were led by junior jumper/sprinter, John Burns, who captured 12 top three finishes. Freshman, Dobbin Bookman and Dedrick Vanover finished with three first-place finishes respectively.
Morehouse finished with 10 first place finishes to claim their way to the championship title.
The runner-up on the women’s side was Albany State who finished with seven first-place finishes and 144 points. Albany State’s Chanelle Wong topped with five top-three finishes to lead the Golden Rams.
On the men’s side, Benedict finished in second place with two first-place finishes. Benedict’s Evans Korir led with three top ten finishes as Lennox Williams finishes with three.
Clark Atlanta (117.50) finishes third while Tuskegee (92) followed in fourth after Claflin (56) who claimed fifth. Central State (45), Miles (30), Paine (22), Kentucky State (16.5), Lane (16), and Fort Valley State (7) rounded out the women’s teams rankings for the 2018 SIAC Track and Field Championship.
For men, Albany State (164) secured a third-place finish as Claflin (72) followed in fourth as Central State (67) claimed fifth place. Tuskegee (32), Kentucky State (31.5), Paine (30), Fort Valley State (16), and Lane (1) finished the men team rankings for the championship event.
TEAM RANKINGS
| Women -Team Rankings – 20 Events Scored | |
| Benedict | 219 |
| Albany State | 144 |
| Clark Atlanta | 117.5 |
| Tuskegee | 92 |
| Claflin | 56 |
| Central State | 45 |
| Miles | 30 |
| Panie | 22 |
| Kentucky State | 16.5 |
| Lane | 16 |
| Fort Valley State | 7 |
| Men – Team Rankings – 20 Events Scored | |
| Morehouse | 187 |
| Benedict | 171.5 |
| Albany State | 164 |
| Claflin | 72 |
| Central State | 67 |
| Tuskegee | 32 |
| Kentucky State | 31.5 |
| Paine | 30 |
| Fort Valley State | 16 |
| Lane | 1 |
2018 SIAC TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP SUPERLATIVES
Men’s Outstanding Field Performer – Cervantes Jackson, ASU
Men’s Outstanding Track Performer – Emmanuel Birgen, Central State
Women’s Outstanding Field Performer – Jazmine Bowser, Clark Atlanta
Women’s Outstanding Track Performer – Becky Dionisio, Benedict
Cleve Abbott Award – Becky Dionisio, Benedict (40 points)
Men’s Runner-Up – Benedict
Men’s Champion – Morehouse
Women’s Runner-Up – Albany State
Women’s Champion – Benedict
High Point Track Performer (Women) – Becky Dionisio, Benedict
High Point Field Performer (Women) – Jazmine Bowser, Clark Atlanta
High Point Track Performer (Men) – Emmanuel Birgen, Central State
High Point Field Performer (Men) – Cervantes Jackson, ASU
