By Jarrett Hoffman
(Source HBCU Sports):
The NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships are set to take place starting Friday with a wealth of HBCU athletes represented.
There will be 17 Black College athletes competing for national championships across seven different events.
Women
200m: Malaysia Johnson Sophomore, St. Augustine’s
Malaysia Johnson is one of two HBCU athletes who qualified for the 200-meter. Johnson qualified for the 200m Indoor Championship after running a season-best 24.24 to clinch the CIAA Indoor Championship. This is the sophomore’s first time qualifying for an NCAA Indoor championship after competing in the Outdoor 200m championship in the 2023 season.
200m: Shantae George Jr, Lincoln (Mo.)
Joining Johnson in the 200m field is junior Lincoln (Mo.) sprinter Shantae George. This is George’s first time qualified for an individual event at either the NCAA Indoor or Outdoor National Championships. She comes into the National Championships having run a season-best time of 24.13 at the Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Indoor Championship final, finishing fourth among the field.
4x400m relay: Lincoln (Mo.)- Shevanae Thomas Jr, Shaneal Clarke-Gidding Fr, Shantae George Jr, Odeshia Nanton Fr
In addition to the 200m, George has qualified to compete as part of Lincoln (Mo.)’s 4×400 meter relay team. She joins junior Shevanae Thomas, freshman Shaneal Clarke-Gidding, and freshman Odeshia Nanton. This unit won the MIAA 4×400 relay championship, finishing at 3:40.84. Thomas and Nanton each qualified for the MIAA Indoor Championship in the individual 400m, running a 55.59 and a 55.68, respectively.
Triple Jump: Annalisa Barclay Jr, Lincoln (Mo.)
Lincoln (Mo.) junior triple jumper Annalisa Barclay is one of two HBCU women athletes to qualify for the championships in field events. This is the third year in a row Barclay has qualified to compete at the Indoor Championships in triple jump, finishing seventh in her first two appearances. The junior jumper comes into the NCAA championships with a season-best measurement of 12.45m in the MIAA championships, finishing fourth in the field.
High Jump: Amarianna Lofton So, Central State
Rounding out the field is the only athlete (man or woman) not representing the CIAA or Lincoln (Mo.), sophomore high jumper Amarianna Lofton. The Central State product enters the championships with a season-high measurement of 1.76m. At the Peach Belt Championships, she finished atop the field in the high jump measuring 1.62 while also finishing third in the long jump with a 5.29.
Men
60m: Terrell Robinson Jr. So, St Augustine’s
Sophomore sprinter Terrell Robinson Jr. is the only men’s or women’s HBCU athlete to qualify for the national championship in the 60m dash. Robinson comes into nationals with a season-best time of 6.64, also the third-best time among HBCU sprinters at all levels. The sophomore claimed the CIAA 60m title by running a 6.68, a full 0.2 seconds better than the second-place time.
400m Leondre Francis So, Lincoln (Mo.)
Lincoln (Mo.) sophomore Leondre Francis will be among the 400-meter dash field at Nationals. Francis holds a season-best time of 47.34 in the 400. He comes into nationals having finished short of the 400m final at the MIAA championships.
4x400m relay: Lincoln (Mo.)- Emmanuel Rwotomiya Fr, Shantamoi Brown Jr, Leondre Francis, Kewani Campbell Jr
Francis will also compete as a member of Lincoln (Mo.)’s 4×400 relay team. Joining him are freshman Emmanuel Rwotomiya, junior Shantamoi Brown, and junior Kewani Campbell. Not including Rwotomiya, this unit finished third in the MIAA championships, recording 3:13.82.
4x400m relay: St. Augustine’s- Sean Kalawan Sr, Amarion Harrell Fr, Isaiah Chapman Jr, Kailen Perry So
The St. Augustine’s 4×400 relay team will also compete for a national title. Senior Sean Kalawan, freshman Amarion Harrell, junior Isaiah Chapman, and sophomore Kailen Perry will represent the Falcons. This team took first place in the 4×400 relay at the CIAA championship at 3:17.48. Perry and Kalawan also finished in second and third place, respectively, in the 400m final at the CIAA championships with times of 48.93 and 49.64.
Long Jump: Jocolbi Morgan Jr, Claflin
Claflin junior Jocolbi Morgan is the first of two CIAA athletes to qualify for the long jump in nationals. In addition to finishing second in the long jump at the CIAA championships, he won high jump and triple jump titles and qualified for the finals in the 60m dash. Morgan recorded his season-best measurement in the long jump at the CIAA championships at 7.46m.
Long Jump: Markus White Fr, Virginia State
Rounding out the field is Virginia State freshman long jump qualifier Markus White. White outpaced Morgan, claiming the CIAA long jump title, measuring 7.47m. The Trojan jumper is one of only two freshmen in the long jump National Championship field.
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