North Carolina Central University

TRACK & FIELD

     DURHAM, NC - Twelve North Carolina Central University student-athletes will compete at the 2007 NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships from May 24-26 at Irwin Belk Complex on the campus of Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, N.C.
     The NCCU men are coming off their most successful NCAA indoor national championship with a third-place finish in March. The Eagles are hoping to become just the sixth men's team in school history to place in the top five at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field National Championships. NCCU placed fifth in 1964 and 2002, fourth in 1965 and 1971, and third in 1963.
     In 2006, the NCCU men placed sixth with 30 points, the highest point total under 18-year head coach Michael Lawson and equaling the third-highest in school history, matching the Eagles of 1964 and 1971. 
     "Coming off a good indoor season has helped pave the way for us to try and reach the top spot during the outdoor nationals," Lawson said. "With 11 qualifiers that have 17 opportunities to earn points, I feel we are set up really well to contend for the national championship. This is the best men's team I have ever put together." 
     NCCU senior Brian Hope (Raleigh, N.C.) is expected to have a busy weekend, competing in four events at the national championship meet. Hope ranks 17th in the 100-meter dash (10.52 seconds) and 19th in the 400m dash (47.65), and will run on NCCU's fourth-ranked 4x100m relay team (40.21) and fifth-ranked 4x400m relay squad (3:10.10).
     Four other Eagles have qualified to compete in two individual events. On the track, senior Hakeem Mohammed (Winston-Salem, N.C.) ranks fourth in the 400m dash (46.51) and 12th in the 200m dash (21.08), and freshman Karjuan Williams (New Bern, N.C.) ranks second in the 800m run (1:49.17) and fifth in the 400m dash (46.64). In the field, freshman Mark Davis (Cape Coral, Fla.) ranks fourth in the high jump (2.21m) and sixth in the long jump (7.48m), while sophomore Eric Smalls (Raleigh, N.C.) ranks 15th in the discus throw (50.10m) and 18th in the shot put (16.35m).
     Other NCCU men's qualifiers are junior Maurice Gailey (Pensacola, Fla.) in the 200m dash (11th, 21.06), sophomore Brandon Jones (Lynchburg, Va./Independence H.S. in Charlotte, N.C.) in the 800m run (11th, 1:51.04), freshman Carrington Queen (Philadelphia, Pa.) in the 110m hurdles (16th, 14.41), senior Shareef Muhammad (Willingboro, N.J.) in the 400m hurdles (19th, 52.67), and sophomore Will Scott (Charlotte, N.C./Harding H.S.) in the triple jump (6th, 15.28m).
     NCCU sophomore Christopher Davis (Charlotte, N.C./Providence H.S.) will join Hope, Mohammed and Gailey on the 4x100m relay squad, while the Eagle foursome of Williams, Hope, Jones and Muhammad will run the 4x400m relay.
     NCCU sophomore Jessica Mills (Thorefare, N.J.) enters this year's national championship meet as the defending women's triple jump champion. As a rookie, Mills recorded the ninth-longest triple jump in NCAA Division II championship history with a leap of 12.97 meters (42-feet, 6.75-inches). She currently ranks fourth in the nation with a season-best effort of 12.53 meters.
     "Whenever you are the reigning champion, you feel the pressure," Lawson said of Mills. "If she goes in hungry enough, she can defend her title. But everyone is going to be gunning for her, so it won't be easy."
     NCCU's 12 student-athletes are among the NCAA championship field of 620 participants, who qualified for the championships by reaching the automatic and provisional standards established for each event.
     This year will mark the third time that the state of North Carolina has hosted the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships since its beginning in 1963. Saint Augustine's College hosted the championship meet in Raleigh in 1994 and 2000.
     Johnson C. Smith University is the third CIAA institution to serve as host of the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Hampton University was the first in 1989 and 1990, followed by St. Augustine's in 1994 and 2000. 

Women's Triple Jump
Jessica Mills (4th) 12.53m

Men's 100-Meter Dash
Brian Hope (17th) 10.52

Men's 200-Meter Dash
Maurice Gailey (11th) 21.06
Hakeem Mohammed (12th) 21.08

Men's 400-Meter Dash
Hakeem Mohammed (4th) 46.51
Karjuan Williams (5th) 46.64
Brian Hope (19th Tie) 47.65

Men's 800-Meter Run
Karjuan Williams (2nd) 1:49.17
Brandon Jones (11th) 1:51.04

Men's 110-Meter Hurdles
Carrington Queen (16th Tie) 14.41

Men's 400-Meter Hurdles
Shareef Muhammad (19th) 52.67

Men's 4x100-Meter Relay
NCCU (4th) 40.21
(Chris Davis, Brian Hope, Hakeem Mohammed, Maurice Gailey)

Men's 4x400-Meter Relay
NCCU (5th) 3:10.10
(Karjuan Williams, Brian Hope, Brandon Jones, Shareef Muhammad)

Men's High Jump
Mark Davis (4th Tie) 2.21m

Men's Long Jump
Mark Davis (6th) 7.48m

Men's Triple Jump
Will Scott (6th Tie) 15.28m

Men's Shot Put
Eric Smalls (18th Tie) 16.35m

Men's Discus Throw
Eric Smalls (15th Tie) 50.10m

QUALIFIERS AND RESULTS: http://www.flashresults.com/flashwest
HOST SITE:  http://www.jcsu.edu/athletics/ncaa/07DIINationals.htm