Women's Track cruises to first Northeast Conference indoor championship; Men finish fourth

Junior Camilla Harris (Pine Hill, NJ) won a pair of individual titles and was named the meet's Most Valuable Performer to help Long Island convincingly capture its first Northeast Conference women's indoor track championship in Landover, MD.

The Blackbirds finished with 128 points, besting second-place UMBC by 44 points for the school's first NEC track and field title of any kind. The women's cross country team won the conference crown from 1986-88.

Harris captured the 60 meter hurdles championship in 8.74 seconds and was victorious in the triple jump with a leap of 38' 8.75". She entered the meet as the two-time defending long jump champion, but closed in second place with a leap of 17' 11".

Senior Patricia Metzger (Philadelphia, PA) won her second 500 meter championship in 1:16.99 seconds and sophomore Destinee McCray (Rockville, MD) captured the 400 meter dash in 58.05 seconds.

The women added a fifth NEC crown with the 4x400 relay squad winning in 3:56.30. The team was comprised of Metzger, senior Sakinah Patterson (Staten Island, NY), junior Kemelia Campbell (Jackson, NJ) and freshman N'Kelle Anderson (Forestville, MD).

Finishing second for the women was junior Sonrisa Garcia (Sante Fe, NM) in the shot put with a toss of 42' 3.25" inches and sophomore Rea Tobitt (Staten Island, NY) in the 200 meter dash in 25.53 seconds.

The victory was made even more sweeter as Julia Sandiford was tabbed NEC women's indoor Coach of the Year.

Junior Cameron Horton (Bowie, MD) captured the 60 meter dash crown in 6.88 seconds and was second in the 200 meter dash in 22.24 seconds.

Sophomore Richard James (Portland, Jamaica) brought the combined championship total to seven, winning the 400 meter dash in 48.37 seconds as he was tabbed the men's outstanding track performer.

The 4x400 meter relay squad was second in 3:19.20. The team was made up of Horton, senior Jason Edwards (Plainfield, NJ), sophomore Ranard Adkison (Dallas, TX) and freshman Antonio Thomas (Btitleimore, MD).

The men finished in fourth place with 61 points.