Spruiel breaks school record in 400 for the third time this season

BLACKSBURG, Va., March 9, 2008 – Alexandria Spruiel and Loreal Smith continue to bring the North Carolina A&T track and field program closer to where director of track and field programs Roy Thompson wants it.

The junior duo, which has led resurgence in women’s track and field at N.C. A&T, qualified for the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships on Sunday with strong performances at the Virginia Tech Last Chance Meet. When Spruiel and Smith arrive in Fayetteville, Ark., to compete on March 14-15, they will be the first two women in the history of the N.C. A&T track and field program to compete in the indoor nationals.  

“We want to be a nationally recognized program and this is a step toward that,’’ said Thompson, who has coached seven All-Americans in his career. “Year in and year out we want athletes qualifying for nationals and competing for national championships. That will mean we are doing well in other meets, including winning our (indoor and outdoor) conference championships.”

Both ladies qualified for nationals with record-breaking performances. Spruiel finished first in the 400 meter dash with a time of 53.48. Spruiel’s time marked the third time this season the Detroit native has broken the school indoor record in the 400. Spruiel’s time moves her into the top 10 nationally.

Meanwhile, Smith had a qualifying time of 8.19 in the 60 meter hurdles, which also broke a school record. Before the weekend, Smith was a provisional qualifier. But after the weekend Smith moved into the top 10 nationally. She finished sixth in the 60 meter hurdles finals with a time of 8.54.

Smith is the owner of three MEAC individual titles in outdoor and indoor combined and was a NCAA East Regional qualifier in 2007. Spruiel is a two-time MEAC Champion and was a NCAA Outdoor National qualifier in ‘07.

“They are great representatives of the university,’’ said Thompson. “They have been so vital to our program because they are outstanding leaders and they give our other athletes something to strive toward. They have certainly turned our program in the right direction.”