North Carolina Central University

INDOOR TRACK

     BOSTON -- North Carolina Central University sophomore Chanda Powell earned All-America honors in the women's long jump during a busy first day of competition at the 2003 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston on Friday (March 14).
     Powell actually began her afternoon on the track, running to victory in the first heat of the 60-meter hurdles preliminaries. She posted her fastest time of the season (8.74) to advance to the 60m hurdles final on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
     The Durham, NC native then leaped 18-feet, 10.75 inches in the long jump pit to claim her second All-America citation. Her first was in the long jump during outdoor season as a freshman.
     "I am proud of her," NCCU head coach Michael Lawson said about Powell's success as a two-event performer. "It's not easy competing on a national level as a 'doubler'."
     NCCU senior sprinter Jason Smoots, who entered the national championships with a meet record of 6.66 seconds in the men's 60m dash, saw his standard topped by Nic Alexander of Abilene Christian with a time of 6.61 in the first heat of the preliminaries. Moments later, however, Smoots reclaimed the meet record by winning the second heat in 6.58 seconds.
     A native of Gadsden, Alabama, Smoots will attempt to capture his third consecutive indoor track national title on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. in the 60m dash finals. If successful, Smoots will become the first three-time winner of the indoor sprint (55m/60m) in NCAA Division II history (dating back to 1985).
     Senior Kennisha Moten ran a 57.25 in the women's 400m dash, but did not qualify for Saturday's final.
 

Last Revised:  March 14, 2003