North Carolina Central University

OUTDOOR TRACK

     EDWARDSVILLE, IL - North Carolina Central University senior sprinter Jason Smoots was presented with the 2003 NCAA Division II Male Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year award during a banquet at the national championship event in Edwardsville, Illinois.
     Smoots, a six-time National Champion from Gadsden, Alabama, kept his quest for a three-peat in the 100-meter dash alive by qualifying for the finals Thursday. He posted the second-fastest time during the preliminaries with a 10.15.
     NCCU will not have a chance to defend its national championship in the men's 4x100m relay after a failed exchange kept the Eagles from finishing the race.
     Senior Kennisha Moten, a Fayetteville, NC native competing in her eighth and final NCAA Championship meet, did not qualify for the 400m dash finals after crossing the line in 59.12. 
     Sophomore Detric Branch (Garner, NC) also did not qualify for the finals in the 100m dash with a time of 10.83.
     Smoots, Branch and freshman Brian Hope (Raleigh, NC) will compete in the 200m dash preliminaries Friday, as well as sophomore Chanda Powell (Durham, NC) in the 100m hurdles preliminaries.