Spruiel breaks another school record

STATE COLLEGE, Pa., January 27 2008 – The North Carolina A&T indoor track teams continued to show their could be reason for excitement when spring arrives as they competed in the Penn State Indoor National Invitational. There were no first-place finishes on the women’s or men’s side, but the Aggies had several of their competitors finish near the top in a meet that featured the nation’s top track programs such as Tennessee, Penn State, St. Augustine’s and Virginia Tech.

Junior Alexandria Spruiel, fresh off of her MEAC Track and Field Female Athlete of the Week honor, placed third in the 400 meters with a time of 54.62. Spruiel’s time broke another N.C. A&T school record, marking the third time this season she has broken a school record. Spruiel’s time is also the fastest time recorded by an MEAC competitor this season in the indoor 400 meters.

Spruiel’s record-breaking performance was not the only prize the Aggie women obtained. Junior Loreal Smith ran an 8.46 in the women’s 60 meter hurdles to qualify provisionally for the NCAA National Meet in Fayetteville, Ark.

“We competed well again,’’ said sprint coach James Daniels. “We competed with heart against a lot of talented athletes. When we walked away, I think a lot of people were impressed with our athletes.”

The Aggies other top finisher on the women’s side was sophomore jumper Kimona Smith. Smith placed fourth in the triple jump with a best leap of 19-feet, 3 ¼ inches. In the long jump, she had a leap of 40-feet, 7 ½ inches to finish fifth.

On the men’s side, sophomore sprinter Calesio Newman had another impressive showing. He and David McFadgen had the top finishes for the men. Newman ran a 21.59 in the 200 meters to finish third. Meanwhile, McFadgen came in fifth in the 500 meter dash with a time of 1:04.46.

The Aggies compete closer to home on Friday and Saturday as they compete in the Carolina Invitational in Chapel, N.C.