Aggies have three second-place finishes 

LANDOVER, Md., February 15, 2009 – In what must have been a satisfying if not a redemptive feeling, senior Loreal Smith became the conference’s 60 meter hurdles champion at the MEAC Indoor Track and Field Championships in Landover, Md., over the weekend.

It was Smith’s second straight women’s 60 meter hurdles MEAC indoor title after winning last season with a time of 8.48. The win also came nine months after Smith missed a chance to win the 100 meter hurdles after being injured when she knocked down the third hurdle at the MEAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

“I came over thinking no big deal; I still have two races to run,’’ said Smith in May at the outdoor championships. “When I couldn’t land on my ankle in warm-ups I knew it was over. I’m not a crier, but I cried somewhat.”

There was no sorrow for her in Landover. Smith finished second in the preliminaries before posting a winning time of 8.28. Smith’s injury not only caused her to miss a chance at the 100 meter hurdles last season, but she also couldn’t participate in the 400 meter hurdles and the 400 meter relay. But Smith’s triumphant return to the winner’s circle gave her the fourth overall MEAC title of her career (including outdoor and indoor).

The last time Smith won outdoor MEAC gold came in 2006 when the Aggies hosted the MEAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Those championships are in Greensboro again this season, which means Smith could have strong close to her career.

Smith and her teammates finished with 40 points to come in sixth place behind champion Hampton, Norfolk State, Maryland-Eastern Shore, Morgan State and Howard. The women did have two second-place finishers. Junior Kimona Smith finished second in the long jump with a leap of 19-feet, 2 ¾ inches. Senior Alexandria Spruiel won the 400 meter preliminary before finishing second in the finals with a time of 54.41.

Kimona Smith also scored in the triple jump with a third place finish. A year ago, Kimona Smith won the triple and long jump events.

The men finished fifth at the championships behind champion Norfolk State, Morgan State, Hampton, and Maryland-Eastern Shore. Senior Lonnie Phifer had the highest placement of the weekend for the Aggie men. Phifer placed second in the shot put with a throw of 58-feet, 4 ¾ inches. Phifer was after his third overall conference title in the shot put after coming in with one apiece in outdoor and indoor. Star sprinter Calesio Newman finished third in the 60 meters with a time of 6.73.

Newman received some tough competition from Hampton’s Reggie Dixon who ran a 6.71, and Delaware State’s Larrone Moore he finished with a time of 6.72. The Aggies other two third-place finishes came from Tarrish Alexander in the long jump (25-feet, ¾ inches) and Robert Boulware (46-feet, 11-inches) in the weight throw.