North Carolina Central University

OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD

     DURHAM, NC -- Eleven North Carolina Central University student-athletes will compete at the 2005 NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships to be held May 26-28, at Elmer Gray Stadium on the campus of Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas.
     Freshman Eric Speer (Tampa, FL) is NCCU's top individual qualifier with the 10th fastest time in the men's 800-meter run (1:51.20). Detric Branch (13th - 21.13 / Garner, NC) and Maurice Gailey (22nd - 21.29 / Pensacola, FL) each qualified in the men's 200m dash, and Hakeem Mohammed (Winston-Salem, NC) will run in the men's 400m dash (20th - 47.65).
     The men's 4x400m relay team, consisting of Austin-Lamar Hogan (Dekalb, GA), Branch, Dorian Turner (Irmo, SC) and Mohammed, enter the championship event with the fourth best time (3:10.11) in Division II. The men's 4x100m relay foursome, consisting of Jason Jowers (Winston-Salem, NC), Branch, Turner and Gailey, qualified with the fifth fastest time (40.50).
     "This is the biggest group we've had to go to the nationals in a long time, but we are going to take it day-by-day because we are dealing with young athletes," said NCCU head track & field coach Michael Lawson. "Our goal is to make it back to the finals and then hope for the best. It will be a good experience for our young athletes."
     Junior Sharonda Arnold (Fayetteville, NC) is NCCU's top female qualifier with the 14th best time in the 400m dash (55.96). Nina Warren (Gaithersburg, MD) is the other individual qualifier for the Lady Eagles as the 20th qualifier in the 200m dash (24.50).
     Arnold and Warren will join teammates Tiffany Mitchell (Philadelphia, PA) and Christina Harris (Charlotte, NC) on the seventh-ranked 4x100m relay squad (46.16).
     "We may not have the four fastest runners (in the 4x100m relay), but they are technically sound with the sticks," said Lawson. "They are going to surprise some people."
     A total of 620 participants will compete in the championships. Student-athletes qualified for the championships by reaching the automatic and provisional standards established for each event. 
     The complete list of qualifiers is available on the following Web sites: 
     Women's - http://www.flashresults.com/flashwest/lists/2005/05d2out-fnl-w.htm
     Men's - http://www.flashresults.com/flashwest/lists/2005/05d2out-fnl-m.htm
     For more information regarding the NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships, log on to www.ncaasports.com and http://www.acu.edu/tracknationals.html.