Williams wins silver medal in the 100m hurdles

Philadelphia, PA - The JCSU outdoor track and field team began post conference competition this weekend at the Penn Relays at Franklyn Field located on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania. Sophomore Shermaine Williams was on fire again; competing in her second Penn Relays women 100m hurdles. Williams recorded an exceptionally fast time of 13.06 (PB) to finish second in the Championship of America finals. Last season, Williams placed 13th in a time .50 seconds slower.

Freshman Rosemarie Carty faced the pressure of competing in her first Penn Relays as a collegiate hurdled very well. Carty placed 10th out of a field of 30 participants with a time of 13.66; she missed the Championship of America finals by one place.

Sophomore, Nikki Boston (62.75), another first Penn Relay competitor, placed second in her heat of the 400m hurdles time finals. Boston was 29th overall from a field of 59 competitors. The 4x100 team of Carty, Williams, sophomore Lakaevia Tyler and freshman Monique Kelly placed third in their heat in 47.89 seconds.

The men competed in the high jump and the relays. Freshman Cedric Simmons placed fourth in flight one of the high jump clearing 2.0m (6 feet 6.75 inches). The 4x100m team of senior Demetrius Hawkins, sophomore Leford Green, and freshmen Richard Harkness and Alberto DeCosta were unfortunately unable to complete the third exchange and did not finish the relay. The 4x400m team clocked in at 3:17.46 to place third in their heat, but the time was not enough to qualify them for any of the three collegiate men 4x400m finals.

"The objectives were different for each relay team and individual," said head coach Lennox Graham. "Though we hoped for better results the experience was generally a positive one, where the student-athletes got the opportunity to visualize an extremely competitive environment with tense yet friendly rivalry among the top high school, collegiate and international teams. It also served as standard that we must thrive to achieve in the future."

In 2008, the JCSU contingent was two student-athletes. This year, the number of participants expanded to 11 and the Golden Bulls returned home with a silver medal. Under the direction of Coach Graham the program is definitely heading in the right direction.

The Golden Bulls now have a two-week break from competition to prepare for the Georgia Tech Invitational in Atlanta, GA on May 15-16, 2009.