Wildcats Indoor Track & Field Team Off to a Record Setting Pace
By: FVSU Office of Sports Information
If the first few indoor meets are any indication, the Fort Valley State University (FVSU) Cross Country & Track & Field Program could not have been placed in better hands than those of first year Head Coach Ellakeisha O’Kelley. After just three meets, her Wildcats Indoor Track & Field team has shattered a total of 12 FVSU indoor records.
Portia Wilson now holds the FVSU Indoor Track & Field record in the 200 meter event. Her time of 25.99 eclipsed the mark set by teammate Shankevia Burke of 26:13 set at the first meet of the season. While Burke broke the previous record set by Nicole Mobley in 2007, Wilson is now the new record holder.
Wilson has also set a new FVSU record in the 55 meter dash. Her time of 7:19 broke the previous record held Antoinette Oglesby of 7:38 which was set last year.
However, don’t feel too badly for Antoinette Oglesby. With a triple jump of 11.95 meters and a long jump of 5.96 meters, she now holds the school record in both events.
For the men’s triple jump, Tyreece Cole is now the school’s leader. Cole’s jump of 13.46 meters at the Clemson Invitational propelled him past Norris Gresham’s previous record set in 1998.
The men’s long jump record at FVSU now resides with Brentnol Baker. His early season jump of 6.69 meters broke the previous record in this event which was held jointly by Pierre Brown (2007) and Dorsett Ward (1998).
Latanya Payne shaved nearly two seconds off of her previous record of 2:18 in the 800 meter event to set a new record of 2:16:42. Payne broke the old record of 2:50:92 set by Zaneta McGhee in 2007 with her first record setting run this year.
Payne also took part setting a FVSU record in the 4 x 400 meter relay. Payne, Nakela Jackson, Shamel Stidwell, and Brittany Mallard combined forces to set a record of 3:55:96. The under four minute performance was almost a full five seconds better than the previous record of 4:00:68 set in the second meet (Clemson University Invitational) of the season.
In the men’s 4 x 400 meter relay, a new record was established Devin “Keon” Montgomery, Quartez Strickland, Keon Melson, and Roger Chaney raced to a time of 3:17:06. Their effort bested the 3:17:96 record set last year.
In addition to his team effort, Roger Chaney has utilized the early part of the indoor track & field season to set a couple of individual school records. Chaney’s time of 7.78 in the men’s 55 meter hurdle event catapults him into record holder status. He also established himself as the new FVSU record holder in the 60 meter hurdles with a time of 8.51.
For the women, Nakela Jackson now reigns as the FVSU record holder in the 55 meter hurdles event. Her new time of 8.48 betters her previous record of 8.49 set in 2009.
And finally, Tiffany Moore set the new FVSU record the 400 meter event with a time of 60.30. Her time beats the previous record of 1:00:93 which was set by Nakela Jackson in the 2009 season.
For more information on the FVSU Track & Field Program, visit www.fvsusports.com.
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