North Carolina Central University

OUTDOOR TRACK

     EDWARDSVILLE, IL - North Carolina Central University senior sprinter Jason Smoots, the two-time defending champion in the 100-meter dash, settled for a third place effort during the final meet of his illustrious collegiate career at the 2003 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships in a cold and rainy Edwardsville, Illinois.
     Smoots, a six-time National Champion from Gadsden, Alabama, ran a 10.30 in the 100m finals, finishing behind Nic Alexander of Abilene Christian (10.28) and winner Olan Coleman of Tarleton State (10.23). 
     "He got off to the best start I have ever seen him have, and he was leading the race through 60 meters," said NCCU head track & field coach Michael Lawson, "but they caught him at the end."
     Smoots then laced up his spikes for the last time as an Eagle and finished sixth in the 200m dash with a time of 21.23, bringing the final tally of All-America honors to 10.
     "After the 100, he did not have his heart into it," Lawson said. "All premier sprinters have bad days. This was just one of Jason's bad days. Still, he gave Eagle fans a lot to be proud of the past four years."
     Although his NCCU career is now in the books, Smoots time of 10.15 in the 100m dash preliminaries qualified him for the 2003 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships on June 19-22 at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, as well as the U.S. Olympic Trials.
     Sophomore Chanda Powell (Durham, NC) posted a career-best time of 14.03 in the 100m hurdles to place fifth and earn All-America honors for the first time in the event. 
     Powell then captured her fifth overall All-America citation by finishing fourth in the long jump with a leap of 5.79 meters (19' 0"), improving from a seventh place effort a year ago.
     "I am proud of Chanda because she prepared herself well and stayed very focused," Lawson said. "She is determined to improve so that one day she can realize her dream of winning a national championship, and she is continuing to make strides towards that goal."