BOWIE, Md. (May 5) – Saint Augustine’s University (SAU) continued its CIAA dominance in men’s outdoor track and field on Sunday. The Falcons relied on their traditional depth to cruise past Virginia State University 194-101 for its 22nd straight conference crown at the CIAA Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Championships held at Bowie State University. Meanwhile, the Lady Falcons placed fourth in the women’s division.

Williams selected CIAA Men’s Outdoor Coach of the Year

The outdoor title was the 39th in 41 years for the Falcons’ men, led by the legendary George Williams, who was the head coach of all the SAU championship teams. On Sunday, Williams was selected CIAA Men’s Outdoor Coach of the Year for the umpteenth time after his Falcons cruised to victory.

SAU crossed the finish line first in seven of 12 events. Alazae Hester-Taylor (Jr./Homestead, AL) won both the 110 and 400 hurdles and Shaquille Dill (Sr./Pembroke, Bermuda) was the winner in the 800 run. Najair Jackson (So./Spanish Town, Jamaica) won the javelin throw and Darren Alfred (Fr./Bethel, Trinidad & Tobago) was first in the 400 dash.

The Falcons swept the 4×100 and 4×400 relays. The 4×100 squad consisted of Nathan Fergusson (Fr./St. Thomas, Barbados), Brandon Parris (Sr./Sion Hill, St. Vincent), Dontarian Evans (Sr./Gainesville, FL) and Alfred. The 4×400 unit, ranked first nationally in Division II, included Jalen Jones (Fr./Raeford, NC), Dill, Alfred, and Parris.

The tide turned in the Falcons’ favor in the 110 hurdles. Entering the day in fourth place and trailing first-day leader Virginia Union University by 16 points, the Falcons shot up to first after taking the top four spots in the 110 hurdles. Hester-Taylor was the winner in an event that saw Christian Smith (Jr./Atlanta, GA) finish second, Jeremiah Bridges (So./Powder Springs, GA) place third and Annile Williams claim fourth.

The Falcons piled up more points in the 400 dash. Alfred claimed victory in a race where SAU took four of the top five places. Parris was third, Jones fourth and Fergusson fifth.

SAU delivered the knockout blow in the 400 hurdles. They swept the top three places as Hester-Taylor came in first, Smith was second and Robert Walker (Jr./Newburgh, NY) placed third. Fergusson finished sixth in the race.

In the women’s division, the Lady Falcons came up a little short of their championship goal but had some impressive individual performances. Shannon Kalawan (Jr./Westmoreland, Jamaica), ranked first nationally in Division II in the 400 hurdles, finished first in her event. Danielle Scantlebury (Fr./St. George, Barbados) was the 100 hurdles winner and Amanda Crawford (Jr./Brooklyn, NY) won the 400 dash.

Winston-Salem State University was the women’s winner with 113 points followed by Fayetteville State University (107) and Virginia State (106). The Lady Falcons scored 95 points.

Both the Falcons and Lady Falcons will compete in the Mount Olive NCAA Last Chance Qualifier on Friday, May 11, and Saturday, May 12, in Mount Olive, N.C. This is the final meet before the NCAA DII Outdoor Championships, which is set for May 23-25 in Kingsville, Texas.

Below are Sunday’s point scorers for SAU at the CIAA Outdoor Championships.

MEN

Javelin Throw

1. Najair Jackson

Triple Jump

2. Alazae Hester-Taylor

5. Ketrie Pierre

4×100 Relay

1. Nathan Fergusson, Brandon Parris, Dontarian Evans, Darren Alfred

110 Hurdles

1. Alazae Hester-Taylor

2. Christian Smith

3. Jeremiah Bridges

4. Annile Williams

Discus

3. Najair Jackson

400 Dash

1. Darren Alfred

3. Brandon Parris

4. Jalen Jones

5. Nathan Fergusson

100 Dash

3. Damere Gilbert

800 Run

1. Shaquille Dill

8. Jalen Jones

400 Hurdles

1. Alazae Hester-Taylor

2. Christian Smith

3. Robert Walker

6. Nathan Fergusson

200 Dash

3. Brandon Parris

5. Darren Alfred

8. Damere Gilbert

5000 Run

2. Baron Freeman

6. Robert Edwards

4×400 Relay

1. Jalen Jones, Shaquille Dill, Darren Alfred, Brandon Parris

WOMEN

High Jump

2. Shannon Kalawan

4×100 Relay

2. Shannon Kalawan, Danielle Scantlebury, Tashoy Blake, Amanda Crawford

100 Hurdles

1. Danielle Scantlebury

400 Dash

1. Amanda Crawford

3. Shannon Kalawan

4. Davia Smith

5. Jaria Hoyte

800 Run

4. Florence Fields

400 Hurdles

1. Shannon Kalawan

8. Danielle Scantlebury

200 Dash

2. Amanda Crawford

6. Jaria Hoyte

3000 Run

6. Florence Fields

4×400 Relay

2. Nia Erwin, Tashoy Blake, Jaria Hoyte, Davia Smith

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