The Prairie View A&M men and women’s track and field teams both traveled to New Orleans, La., last weekend to participate in the SWAC Outdoor Championships at Tad Gormley Stadium.
The men won the title with a total of 193 points, outrunning and outthrowing Grambling State and Jackson State for the title. The victory brings another milestone for Prairie View athletics as the Panthers sweep the spring, winning both the Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Prairie View’s Alonzo Thomas was selected as the most outstanding male track performer for the event. Thomas finished first in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:51:28. He also placed second in the 5,000 meter, 10,000 meter, and 5,000 meter runs.
Thomas’ teammate, Marcus Carter, was also appropriately named the event’s most outstanding male field performer. Carter finished first in the hammer throw with a throw of 48.72 meters; and second in the shot put and discus throw at 14.92 meters and 45.53 meters, respectively. The Panthers Johnny Piggee beat out Carter with a throw of 46.78 meters to win discus and Justin Brewer placed second in the pole vault to round up the field events.
Back on the track, the Panthers continued to strive on their way to the overall championship. Jarryd Gray finished second and Chris Taylor nabbed third in the 100-meter dash as Gray came up a tick short of Jackson State’s Justin Vance time of 10.93. However, in the 200 meters, Gray finally got through first with a winning time of 21.67. Alcorn State’s Nathaniel Hughes won the 110-meter hurdles, but Jason Mitchell and Darian Epting had strong performances, finishing third and fourth.
In the relays, Prairie View also had strong showings with a winning time of 40.84 in the 4×100 meter relay and second place time of 3:09.93 in the 4×400 meter relay.
The Prairie View women’s team had plenty of solid performances, but could only muster up 63.50 points for sixth place as Jackson State took the title.
Alexis Tanner stood steadfast, finishing second in the heptathlon with 3,884 points. Grambling State’s Afloari’s 4,370 points beat out Tanner who finished third in the triple jump, leaping 12.16 meters and fourth in the long jump, souring 5.66 meters.
Ashley Magee finished third in the long jump and high jump with a 5.69-meters and 1.62-meter jumps respectively. Latoya Gill participated in the pole vault and placed third posting a great 2.75 meters. Also, Lady Panther Ronda Tucker ran hard and placed second in the 100-meter hurdles.