GREENSBORO, N.C. — As expected, the Norfolk State women’s track team turned in a 1-2-3-4 finish in the pole vault on Friday at the 2010 MEAC Outdoor Track and Field Championship to help the Spartans surge into the lead with 67 points after five events. Hampton is in second place with 43 points.
Candace Shoates(Newport News, Va.) and Katie Wright(Virginia Beach, Va.) both cleared 10 feet, 8 inches, but Shoates won the title based on the fewest misses. Andrea Saunders(Chesapeake, Va.) finished third after clearing 8-8 ¼, while Ashleigh Joseph(Chesapeake, Va.) hit a mark of 8-2 ½ for a fourth-place finish.
The Spartans also scored in the long jump and the javelin. Wanetta Kirby(Richmond, Va.) was fifth in the long jump (19-1 ¼) and Tiphani Harris(Chesapeake, Va.) finished eighth in the javelin (90-3).
NSU will feature a total of six runners in the finals of the 100 meters, 100 hurdles, 200 and 400 hurdles. Shanneka Claiborne(Ettrick, Va.) (11.68) and Tierra Flowers(Coatesville, Pa.) (11.84) will run in the 100, while Kirby (13.80, PR) and Ashanti Matthews(Norfolk, Va.) (14.10) will compete in the 100 hurdles.
Kirby (24.26, PR) will also run in the finals of the 200 and Allyssa Pickett(Hampton, Va.) (1:01.39) will represent the Spartans in the 400 hurdles.
The final day of competition begins tomorrow at 10 a.m., with the men’s and women’s triple jump.