The Rams are off and running in this track and field season with high level performances in back to back competitions.
Both men’s and women’s teams placed first in the high jump at the International Friendship and Freedom Games in Greensboro April 18.
Earlier this month, the Rams broke four school records at the Aggie Relays in Greensboro April 4. Both events where held on the Irwin Belk Track on the campus of NC A&T.
In the International Friendship and Freedom Games, Jessica Peaks a junior from Durham and Nathan Summerville a senior from Wilson, N.C. both finished first in the high jump.
Crystal Webley, a freshman from Greensboro, broke her own record in the 100-meter hurdles, a record she had recently set in the Aggie Relay’s earlier this month by recording a 14.56 in the finals.
Freshman Andrew Chebii won the men’s 1500-meter run with a time of 4:00.63 beating out teammate Desmond Wiggan who finished second with a time of 4:03.60. Chebii also finished first in the men’s 800-meter run clocking in at 1:53.49.
Not to be out done, freshman sprinter Denesha Jiles finished in eight place overall as she ran in the first heat of the 200-meter dash.
Jiles ran against four Olympians in Marshevet Hooker, Rachelle Boone-Smith, and Mechelle Lewis of the United States Olympic team, and Bahamian gold medalist Chandra Sturrup. Sturrup won the gold in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
Last year the Rams had an historic day at the Penn Relays. Senior Irene Jeptolo finished 12th in the championship heat of the women’s 3,000 meter steeplechase the highest placement in WSSU history.
In both the International Friendship and Freedom Games and the Aggie Relays attendance was a key factor, according to head coach Halcyon Blake.
“We had a lot of fans come out and cheer for us and it was wonderful that the team came out and performed the way that they did,” she said.