BLACKSBURG, Va. (January 14, 2017) – Senior sprinter Chris Belcher spent only a day with NCAA's No. 1 time in the 60 meters, but that by no means should ruin what was a superb weekend for the New Yorker. After highlighting Day 1 by running a then nation's top time of 6.64 in the 60 meters, Belcher came back on Day 2 and helped the men's 4x400 meter relay team set a new school record.
Sophomore Justin Hamilton, Belcher, senior Caleb Gabriel, and junior Dajuan Harding teamed-up to run a 3:13.80. It was just enough to beat out the previous school record, held by the same athletes, of 3:13.99 which was set last week at Clemson. Belcher's 6.64 now ties him for third in the country with Tennessee's Mustaqeem Williams.
“I think Chris is the best sprinter in the country,” said director of track and field programs, Duane Ross. “By the end of the season we're trying to get him to 6.4. We're not over here doing cartwheels because he ran 6.64 and was No. 1 in the country. That's not going to win at the NCAA. If we try for 6.4 and get 6.5 — 6.5 will win NCAA.”
Belcher also gave great effort in the men's 200m, running a personal-record 21.36 to take second. He lowered his personal best from the 22.99 performed at the 2016 Vince Brown Invitational. Championing the 200m, however, was Hamilton. Hamilton completed a 21.34 sprint that claimed first and lowered his PR from 21. 37 (Clemson Orange & Purple Classic). The men's team also garnered first in the distance medley relay after freshman Marquise McGhee, senior Dorian Claggett, freshman Coy Brown, and senior Corey Aiken gave a group run of 10:31.10. Another strong performance came from junior Nehemiah Lipford. Lipford leapt 6-feet, 7-inches to place third in the high jump.
“We did well,” said Ross of the invitational. “Our thing is to collect as many wins as we can. We don't chase times. We come to win and we believe the fast times will follow.”
Even though the women's side did not collect any wins, the ladies still gave several top-5 performances. Freshman Tori Ray, junior India Brown, freshman Kristoni Barnes, and freshman Taliyah Townsend worked together to run a 3:45.98 for second-place in the 4x400. Barnes debuted in the 400m, running 58.94 to land third. Townsend also had a debut as she sprinted 25.03 to secure third in her first 200m race. Just behind Townsend, junior Morgan Knight came in fourth and lowered her PR from 25.32 (2016 Vulcan Invitational) to 25.19. Finding 10th, freshman Asya Macon pulled off a 25.68 sprint in the event.
“I'm excited to see things flourish in all areas,” Ross said. “We have some good moments that you don't necessarily see in the results.”
Ross pointed out Macon ran a really good race and Ray's leg in the 4x4 was excellent. He even ventured into last week's meet, mentioning Brown stumbled last week at Clemson but still managed to have a good race. Lipford also recovered this week after having a tough outing last week, according to Ross. He also mentioned weight thrower Derrick Wheeler.
“Derrick Wheeler did an excellent job in the weight throw yesterday,” said Ross. “We're showing a lot of balance in all these areas, so we're excited about that.”
In addition to the Virginia Tech invitational, the Aggies also sent a handful of distance runners to Chapel Hill for the Art and Linda Maillet UNC Open. In Chapel Hill, senior Miranda Green garnered sixth in the mile after running a 5:19.71, while freshman Camille Marin placed ninth in the event with a mark of 5:27.69. Steve Stowe completed the mile for the men and placed ninth in 4:37.37.
Freshman Daquan Maddox was sixth in the men's 800m in 2:01.02, and senior Perry Cabean ran 8:55.42 in the 3000m for eighth.
“We felt our distance runners needed an opportunity to work on some individual things,” said Ross. “They were able to stay home, stay local and not have to travel to a two-day event. So they had an extra day of practice. But obviously [Virginia] was the best place for the sprinters this weekend.”
The North Carolina A&T men's and women's indoor track and field teams will be back in Blacksburg, Va., next week as well for the Hokie Invitational. The meet is slated for January 19-21.
