Spruiel qualifies for NCAA Regionals

Results      Saturday's Results
GREENSBORO, April 7, 2007 – Sophomore sprinter Alexandria Spruiel has run hundreds of races, but there is something different about competing at North Carolina A&T’s Irwin Belk Track. She becomes nervous when she looks in the stands and sees all the Aggie apparel being worn by current and former teammates and alumni.

Friday at the annual Aggie Relays, there was another element added that made her even more nervous. She had to compete in the same 400 meter final with 2006 NCAA Nationals qualifier, former teammate and mentor Courtney Clark who ran unattached. 

“That was so hard for me,’’ said Spruiel. “Courtney has always been there for me and I look up to her so much. Competing against her was difficult.”

Spruiel took on the challenge and excelled by winning the 400 with a time of 54.60, finishing ahead of the second-place Clark. Spruiel not only beat her mentor, but she qualified for the NCAA Regionals at the University of Florida, becoming the fifth Aggie to do so this season. Clark, who was competing so she can get back into competitive shape for future races, had a message for her former teammate.

“She was joking with me and said: ‘You didn’t have to beat me like that,’ “said Spruiel. “I had to beat her some day, but it’s always strange and surprising to beat someone you look up to.”

The other Aggies to qualify for regionals are Kimona Smith (women’s triple jump), Lonnie Phifer (men’s shot put), Cerone Burnett (men’s triple jump) and Ron Buchanan (men’s triple jump).

Spruiel was not the only Aggie winner on Friday. Loreal Smith won the 400 meter hurdles in 1:01.03, the same event Clark qualified for in 2006. Jerrine Foster, who just earned recognition for having a 4.0 GPA, celebrated by winning the women’s discuss with a best throw of 130-feet, 6-inches. She finished ahead of teammate of Katherine Forrester who finished in second with a throw of 125-feet, 5-inches.

Foster also finished second in the shot put with a throw of 40-feet, 5 ½ inches, while Smith finished second in the long jump with a leap of 18-feet, 10-inches.

Lonnie Phifer was the only winner on the men’s side Friday. Phifer threw the shot put 55-feet, 3 ¾ inches to earn a first-place finish. Reggie McAfee finished second in the 1500 meters. The Aggie relays continue Saturday as there will be finals ran in such events as the 100 and 200 meters and the women’s 100 hurdles and the men’s 110 hurdles. Spruiel will compete in the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relays.

“She is a fierce competitor,’’ said director of track program Roy Thompson. “She worked hard to get to this point and it shows in how she has performed this season.”