By: FVSU Office of Sports Information
As the Fort Valley State University (FVSU) Women and Men's Track & Field Teams prepare for the start of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Championships which begin on Thursday, April 15th, they do so riding a wave of serious momentum. In head-to-head competition with all other SIAC schools, the Lady Wildcats are ranked number one while the men are ranked third. In competition which included NCAA Division I schools, the Lady Wildcats have consistently placed in the top ten in overall scoring.
The following are some key highlights from the 2010 regular season:
March 3-5: University of North Florida (Div.I):
The Lady Wildcats placed sixth overall while Wildcats placed seventh. The men's 4x100 meter team received a provisional qualification to the NCAA Championships. Antoinette Oglesby received an automatic qualification to the NCAA Championships in the triple jump.
March 20: Morehouse Relays:
The Lady Wildcats finished second overall just behind Division I opponent, Troy University.
March 27: University of South Carolina:
Shakari Frazier set a new school record in the hammer throw. Her throw of 122.03ft broke the 2006 record held by Shari Griggs of 112ft. Antoinette Oglesby received an automatic qualification to the NCAA Championships in the long jump. Shankevia Burke received a provisional qualification to the NCAA Championships in the triple jump.
April 2: Albany State University:
The Lady Wildcats finished second overall, only outscored by Division I school, Georgia Southern University. The Wildcats finished third. Freshman Portia Wilson's time of 11.69 in the 100 meter dash tied the FVSU record for that event and also ranks her fourth in the nation on the NCAA Division II level. In addition to receiving a provisional qualification to the NCAA Championships in the 100 meter dash, she also received provisional qualification in the 200 meter race.
Currently ranked fourth in the nation (NCAA Division II), the Lady Wildcats 4x100 meter relay team received a provisional qualification to the NCAA Championships. The Lady Wildcat 4x400 meter relay team is ranked 10th in the nation and received a provisional qualification for their event. Nakela Jackson's performance in the 100 meter hurdles also resulted in a provisional qualification to the NCAA Championships.
For the Wildcats, Roger Chaney qualified, provisionally, for the NCAA Championships in the 100 meter hurdles while Keon Melson did the same in the 440 meter hurdles.
April 4: South Carolina State University (Div.I):
In this NCAA Division I Meet, the Wildcats finished third overall. They won the 4x400 meter relay; Chaney finished second in the 100 meter hurdles and Melson placed second in the 400 meter hurdles.
According to FVSU Head Track & Field Coach Ellakeisha O'Kelley, “This is precisely the kind of momentum we need headed into the conference championship. Given how we performed at meets during the regular involving conference opponents, both teams are in a good position to possibly claim conference crowns.”
The SIAC Track and Field Championships will take place from Thursday, April 15th through Saturday, April 17th at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. Admission to the championships is free of charge.
-Wildcats Athletics-
