MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Alabama State heads to Birmingham on Thursday and Friday to compete in the 2022 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Birmingham Crossplex.
On the women's side, Alabama State had their streak of 12 consecutive championships stopped last season by Prairie View A&M, while the men are the five-time defending conference champions. The meet begins at 8:30 am with the multis and will roll all day with the last event of the day scheduled for 7:10 pm, and then pick back up on Friday at the same time.
Several student-athletes on the women's side are in contention to reach the medal stand this week including freshman
Shamia Jones (Albany, Ga.) who is in the top six in three different events including the 800-meters where she has the fastest time in the conference at 2:12.53. She also has the fourth-fastest time in the 3000-meters (10:52.55) and sixth in the mile (5:19.82).
Kyana Evans (Detroit, Mich.) is in the top three in a pair of events heading into the week including the top time in the 200-meters (24.29). She also has the third-fastest time in the 60-meters at 7.60 seconds. Meanwhile,
Vinnelle Grant (Amityville, N.Y.) will challenge the medal stand in a pair of events including the 400-meters where has the third-fastest time at 2:18.14. She also has the fourth-fastest time in the 800-meters at 2:18.14.
Meanwhile,
Rebecca Bernardin (Turk and Caicos Island) will challenge for the medal stand in a pair of events including the 800-meters where she has the fifth-fastest time in the conference at 2:21.44. She has also run the fifth-fastest time in the 3000-meters at 10:54.77.
Ulani Toussaint (Miami, Fla.) will also challenge for a medal in the 60-meters where she has the fourth-fastest time at 7.69 seconds.
The 4x400-meter relay team will challenge for medal with the second-fastest time in the conference at 3:49.94. Meanwhile, in the field events,
Taranique Alexander (Miami, Fla.) will look to improve on her distance in the long jump at 5.45 meters (17-10.75).
On the men's side,
Matthew Clarke (Six Roads, Barbados) will look to reach the medal stand in the 200-meters after running the second-fastest time in the conference at 21.57 seconds (just .19 seconds off the best time).
Kevin Smith (Saint Catherine, Jamaica) will challenge in the 800-meters with the second fastest time in the conference at 1:54.24, while the 4x400-meter relay team ran the fifth-fastest time on the season at 3:18.95.
In the field events,
Marcus Cade (Thomaston, Ga.) looks to medal in three events beginning with the long jump where he has the second-best jump of the season at 7.19 meters (23-07.25) and in the high jump where he is tied for sixth at 1.95 meters (6-04.75). He has also recorded a distance of 14.08 meters (46-02.05) in the triple jump.
Meanwhile,
Cedric Jones (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) looks to medal in the pole vault with the second-best jump of the season at 4.17 meters (13-08.25); while
Daniel Bayeshea (Kingston, Jamaica) looks to medal in two events including the shot put (second) with a distance of 14.49 meters (47-06.05). He has also recorded the eighth-best throw in the weight throw at 14.49 meters (47-06.05). Jones has also recorded the most points this season in the Heptathlon.
Follow the Hornets
For complete coverage of Alabama State University track and field, follow the Hornets on social media @BamaStateTFXC (Twitter), /BamaStateSports (Facebook), @BamaStateSports (Instagram) or visit the official home of Alabama State athletics at BamaStateSports.com.
