SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Lincoln University's Ladonna Richards set the fastest Division II time in the nation so far this season in the 60-meter hurdles while competing in the Meyo Invitational this weekend.
Richards posted a time of 8.48 seconds while finishing ninth in the semifinals of the event held Friday and Saturday at the University of Notre Dame that boasted predominantly Division I schools.
Lincoln had another strong showing in the 4x400-meter relay, as the team of Willomena Williams, Yanique Ellington, Lovan Palmer and Monique Thompson finished 11th in 3:46.85. That is the second-fastest time in Division II in that event so far during the indoor season.
The distance medley squad of Jhevere Hall, Palmer, Williams and Thompson finished 10th in 12:02.24, a provisional qualifying mark for Division II nationals that is the 10th-fastest time so far in Division II.
Ellington also turned in one of the best performances by a Division II athlete this season in the semifinals of the 60-meter dash, finishing 12th and clocking in at 7.59, which ties the 10th-best mark in the country.
In the field events, Nickeisha Beaumont led the way with a distance of 5.72 meters in the long jump, good for fourth place. Adewumi Ademuwagun finished eighth in that event at 5.52 meters.
The Lincoln men's team posted four of the best Division II times this season at the Invitational.
Miguel Barton turned in a time of 48.16 while finishing 19th in the 400-meter dash, which ranks as the fifth-fastest time in Division II and is a provisional qualifier for the national championship meet.
Roger Blake, Barton, Jeromia Riley and Winston Edwards finished 15th in the 4x400m relay, clocking in at 3:17.43, the 15th-best time in Division II.
Stallone Watson came in eighth in the long jump, finishing with a season-best distance of 7.17 meters, a provisional qualifier that stands as the 14th-best mark in Division II.
Also turning in one of the nation's best marks was Owen Smith, who had a distance of 14.68 meters while coming in 12th in the triple jump, a mark that ranks 18th in Division II.
The Lincoln women, who won the Division II outdoor national title last season, will receive their championship rings Wednesday in between games of a men's and women's basketball doubleheader.
The special ceremony will be held before the men's game, which is tentatively set to start around 7:30 p.m.
Lincoln will be back in Indiana on Saturday, traveling to West Lafayette for the Purdue University-hosted Fred Wilt Invitational.
III
On Friday in Columbia, Juneille Barker won the women's 60-meter hurdles, highlighting 10 top-eight finishes for Lincoln at the Tiger Invitational. The one-day meet hosted by the University of Missouri featured mostly Division I competition.
Barker finished that event in 8.88, while teammate Nadia Harriott placed third in 9.03.
Barker and Harriott later joined with Ebony Rose and Akeeba Rose to take fifth in the women's 4x400-meter relay with a time of 4:14.94.
Jonelle Campbell finished fifth in the triple jump (11.21 meters) and Ebony Rose finished seventh in the 400-meter dash (1:00.73).
The Blue Tigers were sixth out of six in the team standings with 27 points. Memphis won with 153.5, followed by Missouri-Kansas City (135), Missouri (105.5), SIU-Edwardsville (43) and Missouri State (28).
On the men's side, Memphis won the five-team race with 127 points, followed by UMKC (114), Missouri (91), SIUE (32) and Lincoln (18).
The most successful event for the Lincoln men was the 200-meter dash, with three Blue Tigers finishing in the top eight. Jakiel David placed fourth (23.56), Alva Henry was fifth (23.79) and Triston Hayes placed eighth (24.39).
David also also finished sixth in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.19.
David, Henry, Hayes and Darran Hunter placed seventh in the 4x400m relay (3:33.96).
Competing for Computomarx TC, Andy Gilmore (Southern Boone High School) won by clearing 2.02 meters.
Competing unattached, Will Fife (Helias High School) came in sixth in the shot put (15.70 meters).