Aggies to compete in seven different finals on Saturday

 

Results
GAINESVILLE, Fla., May 25, 2007 – Alexandria Spruiel earned a chance to run again on Saturday at the 2006 NCAA East Regional at the University of Florida. Her performance on Friday makes her one of the few athletes from a Historically Black College or University still competing in the East regional.

Spruiel ran a 53.75 in the 400 meters to qualify for the 400 meter finals on Saturday. Spruiel and teammates Jennifer Jackson, Carmenta Mitchell and Loreal Smith also qualified in the 4x100 meter relay on Friday.

Spruiel was the only athlete from a HBCU to qualify in the 400, and she and her 4x400 relay teammates are the only HBCU team competing in the fast heat on Saturday. Hampton joins N.C. A&T as the only HBCU remaining in the 4x100.  

Smith also competed in the women’s 400 meter hurdles where she failed to qualify for Saturday’s final. Men’s sprinter Calesio Newman also failed to qualify in the men’s 100 meters.

There are other Aggies competing in finals on Saturday, however. Male athletes Lonnie Phifer and Cerone Burnette will compete in field events. Phifer goes after the regional title in the shot put, while Burnette will try to become the fourth straight Aggie to compete in the triple jump at nationals.

Freshman Kimona Smith is the final of the women’s triple jump and fellow freshman Jerrine Foster will compete in women’s discus.