ST. LOUIS - The Lincoln women's track and field team won five races on their way to capturing the title at the Billiken Invitational on Saturday.
The Blue Tigers racked up 195 points at the meet, which was held at Saint Louis University. The host school finished second with 131.5 points, while Washington University was third in the 17-team field with 94 points.
The Blue Tigers dominated the 100- and 200-meter dashes, placing a combined 13 runners in the top eight of those races. Latoya King won both races, taking the 200 in 23.63, an automatic qualifying time for the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships. She won the 100 in 11.65, a provisional qualifier for nationals.
Janae Johnson (23.98), Donna-Lee Hylton (24.14) and Yanique Ellington (24.22) each set provisional qualifying times in the 200-meter dash, taking second through fourth, respectively. Toni-Ann Moore and Cardine Copeland tied for sixth (25.07).
In the 100-meter dash, Ellington finished as the race's runner-up (11.82), Copeland took third (12.06), Moore placed fourth (12.22), Johnson came in fifth (12.24) and Anna-Kay James took sixth (12.27).
Yanique Haye and Michelle Cumberbatch both won individual events, with Haye taking the crown in the 400-meter dash (54.58, a provisional qualifier) and Cumberbatch winning the 400-meter hurdles (59.60). Nicketa Coombs placed fourth in the 400-meter dash (57.41) while Barker took third (1:02.71) and Marcia Harrison finished sixth (1:06.24) in the 400-meter hurdles.
Lincoln's other win was in the 4x100-meter relay, where the team of Nickeisha Beaumont, Coombs, Hylton and Johnson clocked in at 45.89.
The Blue Tigers placed second in the 4x400-meter relay with the foursome of Lovan Palmer, Barker, Coombs and Harrison checking in at 3:49.45.
James was the runner-up in the 100-meter hurdles (14.01), leading three Blue Tigers in the top eight. Barker came in third (14.07) and Sheri Kaye Campbell finished seventh (14.79).
Twishana Williams took second in the 1,500-meter run (4:34.92) and fourth in the 5,000-meter run (18:00.86).
In the field events, Lincoln placed four athletes in the top eight of the triple jump and three in the top five of the long jump.
Campbell placed third in the triple jump (40-0) and Daniele Newman finished fourth (38-3 1/4) while Sanchia Lee (36-11 3/4) and Jonelle Campbell (36-3 1/2) took seventh and eighth, respectively.
Beaumont led Lincoln in the long jump, taking third (18-4 1/4), while Lee finished fourth (17-10 1/4) and Coombs placed fifth (17-8).
Also for the Blue Tigers, Newman took fifth in the high jump (5-2 1/2).
The highlight for the Lincoln men was recording the top two times in the 4x400-meter relay.
The team of Sabiel Anderson, Michael Ashley, Jermaine Blake and Tyrone Hawkins won the event in 3:15.18, while the Blue Tigers' "B" team of Alonzo Allen, Neville Daley, Jovaun Martin and Donohue Williams placed second in 3:19.20.
That helped the Blue Tigers to a 10th-place finish in the team race, as Lincoln had 33 points. Washington University won the 17-team event with 118 points, while McKendree University was second with 110.5.
In the individual events, Blake had the best result for Lincoln, finishing second in the 800-meter run in 1:52.10, a provisional qualifier for nationals.
Allen placed third in the 400-meter dash (49.67), while Shaquan Williams finished sixth (50.49).
Several area men notched top-eight results while competing for Central Methodist:
• Central Methodist's Bryan Lechner (South Callaway High School) was third in the 400-meter hurdles (57.02), fourth in the 110-meter hurdles (15.81) and fifth in the long jump (21-3 1/4).
• Central Methodist's Dilan Simmons (Versailles High School) was third in the hammer throw (148-7), sixth in the discus (132-1) and sixth in the javelin (156-6).
• Central Methodist's Kyle Jones (School of the Osage High School) was fifth in the high jump (6- 1/2).
• Central Methodist's Corey Schoene (Vienna High School) was sixth in the pole vault (13-8 1/2).
• Colton Carrier (New Bloomfield High School) was part of the Eagles' 4x100-meter relay team that finished seventh (43.23).
Lincoln will continue its season at the Kansas Relays that run Thursday through Saturday.
PSU Gorilla Classic
PITTSBURG, Kan. - Six area residents recorded finishes in the top eight during Saturday's running of the Pittsburg State Gorilla Classic.
Top-eight finishers on the men's side were:
• Missouri S&T's Adriel Hawkins (Jefferson City High School) was second in the 200-meter dash (21.21).
• Central Missouri's Brent Vogel (Helias High School) was fifth in the long jump.
On the women's side, the following athletes were in the top eight:
• Missouri S&T's Katlyn Meier (Vienna High School) was seventh in the 100-meter dash.
• Southwest Baptist's Briana Watson (Jefferson City High School) was seventh in the 5,000-meter run (19:44.29).
• Central Missouri's Jessica Fennewald (Blair Oaks High School) was eighth in the triple jump (33- 1/2).
• Missouri Southern's Adelene Mengwasser (Chamois High School) was eighth in the 1,500-meter run (5:12.75).