Smith finishes 10^th in the triple jump

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., May 31, 2008 – For a North Carolina A&T track and field program not rich in depth, what happened Saturday is a pretty big moment. Calesio Newman finished fifth in the 200 meters at the 2008 NCAA Regional at Florida State Saturday to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Nationals at Drake University June 11-14. Newman could also earn an at-large bid to nationals in the 100 meters.

Newman’s trip to Drake, Iowa will mark the fourth straight season an Aggie (men or women) has advanced to the NCAA Nationals. Four seasons ago Everett Bruce earned All-American honors in the triple jump.

“Our young people have put all on the line this year,’’ said assistant track and field coach James Daniels, who coaches the Aggie sprinters. “Calesio is certainly in that category. The amount of improvement he has shown this year has been tremendous. We’re really excited his future. He was a little nervous today, but he overcame that to perform well in the 200.”

Newman ran a 20.79 to finish fifth. Top five finishes earn runners an automatic bid to nationals. It was Newman’s second fastest time of the season falling short of his 20.67 time he ran at the International Friendship and Freedom Games on April 19.

Newman had an eighth place finish in the 100 meters on Saturday. He ran a 10.53, which could still qualify him for nationals. Newman’s best time in the 100 this season was 10.18, which would have qualified him to participate at the NCAA Nationals.

Newman will likely be the only Aggie headed to Iowa. Sophomore Kimona Smith finished 10^th in the women’s triple jump with a leap of 41-feet, 9 ¾ inches. The Aggies 4x400 relay team (Carmenta Mitchell, Alexandria Spruiel, Loreal Smith and Jennifer Jackson) finished 13^th. Men’s triple jumper Ron Buchanan finished 13^th in the triple jump.