Aggies prepare for MEAC indoors in New York

NEW YORK, February 8, 2009 – Junior Calesio Newman broke the school indoor record in the 60 meters over the weekend as the North Carolina A&T track and field indoor men’s and women’s teams got a chance to visit the Big Apple over the weekend and had impressive showings in some of the heats at the very competitive New Balance Collegiate Invitational.

Newman ran a 6.68 in the 60 meters to qualify for the 60 meter finals. Newman then finished fifth in the finals with a time of 6.71. Both times were better than the 6.72 he ran a week earlier at Penn State.

This weekend was a great tune-up for the Aggies heading into this weekend’s MEAC Indoor Championships in Landover, Md., because of the talent the Aggies faced. Some of the Aggie favorites to win individual championships in Landover had strong showings. Newman, who is hoping to win titles in the 60 and 200 meters, had his best showing in the 200 so far this seasoinn.

Newman ran a 21.73 in the 200 preliminary, finishing third in his heat, and he just missed qualifying. Junior Kimona Smith, who is the MEAC indoor champion in the women’s triple and long jumps, had a fifth place finish in her flight in the triple. Smith jumped 40-feet, 2 ¾ inches for the finish.

Even some of the younger Aggies stepped in and looked prepared for the MEAC championships. Freshmen Krystin Lawson and Ruth Hunt both finished first in their respective 200 meter dash heats. Hunt finished first in heat No. 27 with a time of 24.63. Lawson came in first with a time of 24.93 in heat No. 28.

Another Aggies athlete who has an excellent chance to take gold this weekend is David McFadgen. McFadgen placed sixth in his men’s flight for the triple jump. He jumped 50-feet, 2 ¾ inches.