Smith collects more gold

Results
LANDOVER, Md., February 16, 2008 – At the outset of the season, director of track programs Roy Thompson said his North Carolina A&T women’s indoor track team had to offset its lack of depth by dominating the events in which the Aggies compete.

Unfortunately for the Aggies at the MEAC Indoor Championships at the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Center, lack of depth got the best of dominance as the Aggie women finished third behind co-champions Maryland-Eastern Shore and Hampton. UMES and Hampton ended the event with 92 points while the Aggies finished with 78 points and three individual championships.

The Aggie men placed fifth with 52 points and came away with one individual champion. “We know going into any championship that if we make a mistake we don’t have much to fall back on,’’ said Thompson at the start of the season. “I feel good about the quality athletes we do have here. With the kind of athletes we have, we always have a chance.”

Kimona Smith gave the Aggies a chance. The sophomore won two events to add to her impressive collection of MEAC gold. Smith won the long jump on Friday and returned on Saturday to claim the triple jump with a leap of 40-feet, 9 ¾ inches. It was Smith’s longest jump of the season, besting her former mark by more than two inches. Teammate Brittany Dixson finished behind her in second with a best jump of 40-feet, 3 ¼ inches to give the Aggies 18 points from the triple jump event.

Loreal Smith, a NCAA provisional qualifier, added another MEAC title to her collection. Loreal Smith collected her third overall MEAC track championship with a win in the 60 meter hurdles. Loreal Smith finished with a time of 8.48. She won two outdoor titles last season. Alexandria Spruiel had a second-place finish in the 400 meters and Loreal Smith finished second in the 60 meters, helping the Aggies finish third.

“Loreal is one of our outstanding juniors who knows what we expect of them,’’ said Thompson before the season. “Loreal has this attitude that she can compete with anyone.”

Lonnie Phifer continued his outstanding career in the shot put. Phifer won the shot put with a best throw of 57-feet, 4 ¾ inches. It was Phifer’s second MEAC title after winning an outdoor title in the shot put in 2006 at N.C. A&T’s Irwin Belk Track. Teammate Robert Boulware finished behind him second with a throw of 51-feet, 11 ¾ inches. The Aggie men had six top five finishes for the event.

The Aggies are scheduled to compete in a last chance meet at Virginia Tech Feb. 22-23. The NCAA Division I Championships are March 14-15 at Fayetteville, Ark.