Lincoln women claim spots in D-II track finals

ALLENDALE, Mich. - Through two days of the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships, the Lincoln women's track and field team has yet to score a point.

But as the Blue Tigers enter today's final day, they're poised to score plenty.

After claiming six spots in the finals during Thursday's action, Lincoln qualified six more Friday.

Lincoln earned two of the nine finalist spots in the 200-meter dash. Janae Johnson led the way, as she posted the fastest qualifying time by finishing in 23.33. Teammate Yanique Ellington was fourth in 23.63.

The Blue Tigers also got two through in the 800-meter run, as Jhevere Hall qualified fourth (2:07.99) and Monique Thompson was fifth (2:08.05).

Ladonna Richards qualified fourth in the 100-meter hurdles (13.58), but teammates Shakiesha Miller and Juneille Barker just missed advancing, with Miller coming in 10th (14.18) and Barker tying for 11th (14.18).

Lincoln qualified second in the 4x400-meter relay, as Lovan Palmer, Donna-Lee Hylton, Hall and Willomena Williams finished in a time of 3:39.58.

The Blue Tigers did have a competitor in a finals-only event Friday, but Daniele Newman finished 12th in the triple jump (40-43/4) and did not earn any points.

On the men's side, Lincoln qualified eighth in the 4x400-meter relay (3:11.41) with the team of Winston Edwards, Michael Ashley, Roger Blake and Jermaine Blake.

Romone Hill of the Blue Tigers qualified for the 200-meter dash final by finishing eighth in the prelims (21.15). Just missing out on the ninth and final spot in the final of that event was Missouri S&T's Adriel Hawkins (Jefferson City High School), who placed 10th in 21.21. Also failing to advance in the 200 was Lincoln's Wesley Best, who placed 18th (21.72).

Another Lincoln competitor who failed to qualify for a final was Jermaine Blake in the 800-meter run, as he placed 10th in 1:15.60.

Also in the women's portion of the meet, Central Missouri's Erin Alewine finished the heptathlon competition Friday and placed eighth with 4,964 points, 750 out of the lead.

In her final three events, Alewine placed third in the 800-meter run (2:19.52), sixth in the long jump (18-21/2) and ninth in the javelin (104-10).

Earlier Friday, it was announced Alewine has been named one of three female finalists for the Ken B. Jones Award.

The award, which is in its 21st year, is given out by the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association to male and female recipients who are judged in four areas: 2013-14 athletic accomplishments, career academic accomplishments, 2013-14 campus/community service, and career athletic and service achievements.

The finalists are now invited to the MIAA Awards Ceremony on June 6, where a male and female winner will be announced.