Spruiel will compete in California for a chance to become an All-American

 

Results
GAINESVILLE, Fla., May 26, 2007 – North Carolina A&T sophomore Alexandria Spruiel will make a west coast trip this summer. Spruiel finished fifth in the 400 meters at the 2007 Track and Field East Regional at the University of Florida on Saturday. The top five finish earned a spot in the 2007 NCAA Track Championships in Sacramento, Calif., June 6-9.

 Her time of 52.92 broke the school record in the 400 she set during the MEAC Championships when she won the conference title with a time of 53.05. Spruiel qualified for the final on Friday with the eighth best qualifying time. The sophomore out of Detroit finished behind a senior, two juniors and a sophomore, making for a bright future for Spruiel in the event.

“I think the world of this young lady,’’ said director of track programs Roy Thompson. “She is a fierce competitor. “She worked hard to get to this point and it shows in how she has performed this season. She deserves this opportunity to compete in the nationals. Her success is truly about the team. Everybody helped each other get better in practice, everyone was committed to training and her teammates helped her become a better quarter-miler.”

Spruiel almost had company coming with her to California. She and her 4x100 relay teammates finished sixth. The sophomore foursome of Jennifer Jackson, Loreal Smith, Spruiel and Christina Gray were four-tenths of a second from advancing to nationals, but fellow MEAC participants, Hampton took fifth place with a time of 45.19.

“We had blessed year, the relay teams performed to the best of their ability,’’ said sprinters coach James Daniels, who added that two members competed despite being ill the entire week. “They have been committed to putting in the work that it takes to get to this point. With us just missing out on making nationals, I think they will be much hungrier next year.”

The 4x400 relay team of Gray, Jackson and sophomores Carmenta Mitchell and Loreal Smith finished ninth on Saturday. Another young Aggie had a nice showing in her first regional. Freshman Kimona Smith finished 11^th in the long jump with a leap of 19-feet, 9-inches. Smith didn’t compete in the triple jump on Saturday because of an ankle injury.

Fellow freshman Jerrine Foster finished 21^st in her first regional. The Jamaican native had a best throw of 141-feet, 6-inches.

The Aggie men did not have anyone advance to nationals. Sophomore Lonnie Phifer had his best throw of the season with a 56-foot, 10 ¾-inch toss in the shot put as he finished 12^th. Ron Buchanan finished 16^th in the triple jump. With Cerone Burnette withdrawing from the triple jump, it marked the first time in three seasons the Aggies haven’t had a representative in the men’s triple jump at the NCAA Track Championships.