SPC Men Win Track National Championship, Women 2nd

The South Plains College men's track and field team won their second-straight National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Outdoor Track and Field Championship Saturday at the NJCAA National Meet held in Levelland.

The SPC men finished with 135 points, while Central Arizona was second with 119 and Rend Lake was third with 70. SPC and Central Arizona shared last year's National title.

For the second straight year on the women's side, Central Arizona finished first and South Plains College was second. Central Arizona had 131 points, while South Plains had 124. Rend Lake came in third with 93.5.

The Texans and Lady Texans combined for 24 All-American performances (19 by individuals and five by relay teams).

South Plains won five national championships by either individuals or relay teams. Saturday got off to a good start as both the SPC men and women finished first in the 4x100 meter relay. The SPC women's team of Renee Shepard, Stephanie Simpson, Karen Thomas and Allysha Wilson placed first with a time of 45.03 seconds. The SPC men's team of Damon Douglas, Thaddeus Gordon, Rodney Campbell and Bryce Brown placed first with a time of 40.05 seconds.

Also on Saturday, Renny Quow placed first in the men's 400 meter dash with a time of 45.54 seconds. In the men's 400 meter hurdles, Bryce Brown placed first with a time of 50.73 seconds. In the men's 5000 meter run, Fred Samoei finished first with a time of 14:34.31.

In the women's 800 meter run, Angelina Williams placed second (2:15.14). In the women's 4x400 meter relay, the SPC team of Edina Brooks, Crystal Wilson, Renee Shepard and Stephanie Simpson placed second (3:45.31). In the women's triple jump, Asiya Iskakova placed second (40-1.25) and Karen Thomas was sixth (38-04). In the women's high jump, Asiya Iskakova was second (5-5) and Marianne Wheeler was third (5-5).

In the men's 800 mter run, Fred Samoei placed second (1:47.72) and Sharif Webb was fifth (1:50.95). In the men's 4x400 meter relay, the SPC team of Bryce Brown, Thaddeus Gordon, Sharif Webb and Renny Quow placed second (3:07.22). In the men's hammer throw, Chris Johnson placed second (178-01). In the men's high jump, Darrell Roddick was second (7-00.5), and Marlon Smith and Kendrick Poullard tied for fifth (6-8.75).

In the women's 4x800 meter relay, the SPC team of Lillian Badaru, Gladys Chumba, Crystal Dickinson and Florence Jepchirchir placed third (9:36.99). In the women's discus throw, Melinda Bendik was third (137-4) and Shatoya Brown was 10th (110-5).

In the women's 10,000 meter run, Lillian Badaru placed third (36:23.22) and Crystal Dickinson was eighth (40:12.32). In the women's 1500 meter run, Florence Jepchirchir placed third (4:44.76) and Gladys Chumba was sixth (4:57.10). In the women's 400 meter dash, Crystal Wilson placed third (55.56) and Edina Brooks was seventh (56.73). In the women's 100 mter dash, Stephanie Simpson placed third (11.54). In the women's 5000 meter run, Lillian Badaru was third (17:28.05), Florence Jepchirchir was fourth (18:00.45) and Crystal Dickinson was 17th (19:55.23).

In the men's 1500 meter run, Fred Samoei placed third (3:48.17). In the men's triple jump, Darrell Roddick placed third (50-8.75), Thaddeus Gordon was fourth (50-00.75) and Kendrick Poullard was sixth (48-8). In the men's discus throw, Zach Morgan was third (144-2).

In the women's 200 meter dash, Stephanie Simpson placed fourth (23.74) and Allysha Wilson was seventh (24.48). In the women's shot put, Shatoya Brown was fourth (45-5) and Destiny Collier was 10th (39-00.50). In the men's long jump, Marlon Smith was fourth (24-9) and Darrell Roddick was 11th (22-11.25). In the men's 400 meter hurdles, Thaddeus Gordon placed fourth (52.70) and Stephon Beckford placed seventh (56.73).

In the women's long jump, Karen Thomas was fifth (18-7.75), Asiya Iskakova was seventh (17-10.75) and Renee Shepard was 12th (17-7).

In the men's 4x800 meter relay, the SPC team of Chicanel Cole, Calvin Dascent, Mitchell Driver and Michael Hernandez placed fifth (7:49.73). In the men's 400 meter dash, Latoy Williams was fifth (47.13). In the men's 110 meter hurdles, Bryce Brown placed fifth (14.33).

In the men's 200 meter dash, Rodney Campbell placed seventh (21.24). In the women's 3000 meter steeplechase, Meagan Willingham finished seventh (12:37.16). In the men's shot put, Chris Johnson placed ninth (46-4).

In the men's 10,000 meter run, Javier Perez finished 11th. In the women's hammer throw, Melinda Bendik was 11th (100-11).

In the women's decathlon, Jasmine Rollins was 13th with 3524 points. In the men's 3000 meter steeplechase, Mitchell Driver finished 15th (10:07.20). In the men's 5000 meter run, Javier Perez was 15th (15:48.39) and Mitchell Driver was 21st (16:10.49).