AGGIES' LEADER WINS 400 METER HURDLES

Results
GREENSBORO, NC, March 24, 2006 -- Senior sprinter/hurdler Courtney Clark is almost 22 years old. She has four MEAC titles to her credit and she is headed for a degree in graphic communication systems.

But when the Norristown, Pa., native looks around at the athletes she calls teammates she sees some who are still teenagers, others who are still trying to find their niche on a Division I college track team and perhaps some who do not know what they want their college degree in.

Two-thirds of the North Carolina A&T women's outdoor track and field team are freshmen. It has given Clark the initiative to be a leader and a mentor to her youthful teammates.

On Friday, during the first day of the Aggie Relays, Clark led by example. She won the 400 meter hurdles, an event she took a break from a year ago.

"I think her leadership has been important in helping our freshmen understand what our systems are all about and what you need to do to be successful,'' said N.C. A&T sprinters and hurdles coach James Daniels. "She had a successful indoor season. She is involved with a lot of activities. I believe Courtney  came into this year knowing she had an opportunity to have some great memories about her college career."

During the indoor season, Clark won the 200 meters at the Penn State Invitational. At the MEAC Indoor Men's and Women's Championships, Clark finished third in the 400 meters, sixth in the 200 meters and the team of Clark, Carmenta Mitchell, PhyKesha Blackmon and Alexandria Spruiel placed second in the 4x400 relay with a time of 3:45.26.

Last week at the Aggie Team Challenge at Irwin Belk Track, she placed first in the 400 meter hurdles and second in the 200 meters.

"The goals she set for herself, she is right on line to achieve,'' said Daniels. "She worked very hard during the fall and it showed during indoor. I feel that she is in transition. She hasn’t run the 400 hurdles in over a year, so she is getting her steps down to the point where she can run a smoother race. She is doing an incredible job this year. "

Kendra Bryant and Lauren Taylor also did well in a hurdles event. Bryant and Taylor finished second and third respectively in the 100 meter hurdles. Taylor also finished third in the long jump, while Alexandria Spruiel finished third in the 400 meters.

On the men's side, the trio of Ron Buchanan, Tarrish Alexander and Ceron Burnette finished second, third and fourth in the long jump. Gordon Smith finished third in the 400 meter hurdles and fifth in the men's high jump. Teammate Dominique Camm finished fourth in the high jump.

The Aggie Relays continue tomorrow with the first event -- the men's javelin -- starting at 8:30 a.m.