CLEMSON, S.C. - North Carolina A&T's indoor track and
field teams took six athletes -- a
mixture of men and women - to the Tiger Paw Invitational over the weekend.
The abbreviated roster of competitors was there to qualify
for this week's upcoming MEAC Indoor Track and Field Championships in Landover,
Md. Mission accomplished.
Seniors Kristin Rush and Janessa Benn qualified in the 800
meter run, while freshman Tiffany Ellick and junior Brittanie Morris qualified
in the 60 meter hurdles. On the men's side, senior Darius Bogertey ran a
1:54.44 in the 800 meters to finish seven and qualify for the conference
championships.
"I thought Kristin ran real well," said Duane Ross, the
Aggies director of track and field championships. "It was encouraging to see
her try to go after it in her senior year. I thought Darius ran pretty well
too."
Morris had the highest finish. She placed second in the 60
meter hurdles in 8.91 after a preliminary time of 9.16. Ellick placed seventh
in 9.24. Three female Aggies placed in the 800 with Rush coming in sixth
(2:17.20), Janay Ferrell finishing 13th (2:21.69) and an 18th-place
finish by Benn (2:23.54).
A&T will be a full strength on Friday when the
conference championships begin. The Aggies head to Maryland Feb. 14-16 with the
understanding that they are in a rebuilding process.
"Right now, we just want to serve notice that if you want to
win the MEAC, you're going to have to take it from A&T," said Ross. "Right
now on the men's side, I would say Norfolk State is too strong, and on the
women's side, it's Hampton. Those programs are a little more established than
we are. But we're coming along."
