New Orleans- Alabama State University men's and women's track and field teams are back in championship mode as the 2014 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Outdoor Championships are set to begin Friday at Tad Gormley Stadium.
 
The Hornets will begin the three-day meet with some potential milestones within reach. The women will have their sights set on completing the final leg of their second straight SWAC Triple Crown this season – (cross country, indoor and outdoor) and will look to make it their fifth consecutive outdoor championship. As the men will look to improve upon their sixth place finish from last season.       
 
Alabama State lost four seniors from last year's women's championship team, as the men lost three, and will look towards several of their top athletes to have stellar showings in order to come out on top on both sides for their entire weekend.
 
ASU will be leaning on the women's distance and mid-distance groups to have great performances this weekend, including Artrailia Lesane (3000-meter steeplechase,1500m,5000m), Paige Rankine (10,000m, 5,000m,1,500m), Tatiana Etienne (800m) and Shantia Wilson (800m,1500m).   
 
An added boost should come from the Lady Hornet sprinters Alexis Ferebee (100m,200m) Latrice Lee (100m, 200m), and Santina Williams (200m,400m) each of which have performed well for ASU this season.
 
Lori Davis (Javelin), Kadijah Gordon (Triple Jump), Johnetta Williams (Shotput), Quinta Collier (Pole Vault), Alicia Terrell (High Jump) along with the NCAA South regionally ranked 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams will all need to continue their successful performances thus far in order to give the Lady Hornets a shot at achieving a fifth straight championship.   
 
On the men's side, the Hornets will look to Christopher Amisial in the pole vault and Lee Thrasher in the discus throw to repeat their first place performances from last season for ASU to contend for the crown. Byron Kearney (Long Jump, Triple Jump, Javelin), Bryont Brown (800m), Devauntay Brown (High Jump) and Roshaine Byfield (ShotPut, Discus) will need to have great outing in order for the men to improve on their finishes for a season ago.  
 
Friday's events will begin at 8:30 a.m. with the men's javelin throw and the women's 10,000m run.
 
                         
                                                                       #GOHORNETS#