North Carolina Central University

INDOOR TRACK & FIELD

     BOSTON - Five North Carolina Central University men's sprinters earned six All-America citations to place sixth at the 2006 NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston, marking the highest finish for the Eagles at an indoor national championship meet.
     The Eagles recorded 29 points to more than double the university's previous best of 14 points, which was good enough for a seventh place tie at the 2000 NCAA indoor championships.
     "We are excited that we can take five young men - all sprinters - to the NCAA championships and finish sixth in the nation," said NCCU head coach Michael Lawson.
     Sophomore Brian Hope (Raleigh, N.C.) led the way for NCCU with two All-America honors. Hope placed second in the 60-meter dash with a time of 6.70 seconds, only three one-hundreths of a second behind the winner, then finished fourth in the 200m dash with a time of 21.54 seconds.
     "Brian had an impressive day," Lawson said.
     The Eagles now have three of the top seven 200m sprinters in NCAA Division II, with Hope, sophomore Maurice Gailey (Pensacola, Fla.) and junior Dorian Turner (Irmo, S.C.) all earning All-America recognition. Gailey placed fifth with a time of 21.60 seconds, while Turner finished seventh in 21.70 seconds.
     NCCU junior Hakeem Mohammed (Winston-Salem, N.C.) captured All-America honors by placing third in the 400m dash with a season-best time of 47.65 seconds, while freshman Christopher Davis (Charlotte, N.C.) became an All-American in his first national event with a fifth place effort in the 60m dash (6.82).
     The highly anticipated 4x400m relay match-up between Saint Augustine's and NCCU, the nation's top two squads entering the meet, ended with controversy as the second place Eagles were disqualified for a lane violation.
     The NCCU women were led by senior Sharonda Arnold (Fayetteville, N.C.), who wrapped-up her indoor career as an individual All-American with a sixth place performance in the 400m dash with a time of 56.97 seconds.
     Arnold then teamed up with freshman Ambria Alexander (Landover, Md.), freshman Tyfia Lee (Virgin Islands), and senior Christina Harris (Charlotte, N.C.) to earn All-America honors in the 4x400m relay by placing eighth with a season-best time of 3:47.53.
     Expectations were high for NCCU freshman Jessica Mills (Thorofare, N.J.), who entered her first national meet as the top-ranked triple jumper in the country. The pressure may have been too much for the rookie, as she settled for a seventh place performance and All-America honors with a triple jump of 11.90-meters (39-00.50). Mills also placed 12th in the long jump (5.46m/17-11.00).
     "In her first national meet, I think nerves got the best of her," Lawson said of Mills. "Still, from competing in high school a year ago to becoming the seventh best triple jumper in the nation is pretty good. I am very proud of Jessica."
     The Lady Eagles finished in a tie for 26th place with six points.

NCCU RESULTS:
Men's 60-Meter Dash
Brian Hope (2nd) 6.70 - All-America 
Christopher Davis (5th) 6.82 - All-America

Men's 200-Meter Dash
Brian Hope (4th) 21.54 - All-America
Maurice Gailey (5th) 21.60 - All-America
Dorian Turner (7th) 21.70 - All-America

Men's 400-Meter Dash
Hakeem Mohammed (3rd) 47.65 - All-America

Men's 4x400-Meter Relay
NCCU (Disqualified)

Women's 400-Meter Dash
Sharonda Arnold (6th) 56.97 - All-America

Women's 4x400-Meter Relay
NCCU (8th) 3:47.53 - All-America
(Sharonda Arnold, Ambria Alexander, Tyfia Lee, Christina Harris)

Women's Long Jump
Jessica Mills (12th) 5.46m/17-11.00

Women's Triple Jump
Jessica Mills (7th) 11.90m/39-00.50 - All-America