Track Competes at Metropolitan Championships

4/21/07 -- The Long Island University outdoor track and field teams participated in the Metropolitan Championships, hosted by Rutgers, with the women’s team finishing sixth and the men taking eighth. The women had a strong performance in the 400-meter dash with Crystal Strachan (Grand Bahama, Bahamas) finishing third with a time of 57.05, while teammate Aisha Thomas (Jefferson City, Mo.) placed sixth with a time of 57.86.

Thomas also took fourth in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.26. Joyce Atagwe (Latham, Md.) finished seventh in the same event with a mark of 12.47. Strachan placed sixth in the 200-meter dash with a time of 25.35. The Blackbirds also fared well in the 800-meter run, as three athletes placed in the top 10. Aniecia Williams (St. Thomas, Virgin Islands) ran a 2:18.55 to take fourth place. Denele DeVerteuil (Arima, Trinidad and Tobago) finished sixth (2:19.22) and Leslie Conley (Baltimore, Md.) placed eighth (2:19.32).

In the 400-meter hurdles, Qiana Smith (Brooklyn, N.Y.) placed fourth with a mark 1:05.54, with teammate Crista Strachan (Grand Bahama, Bahamas) finishing right behind her at 1:05.55. The Long Island women also placed third in the 4x400-meter relay with a time of 3:54.33.

On the men’s side, the Blackbirds placed second in both the 4x100-meter relay (41.77) and the 4x400-meter relay (3:18.77). Jeremy Alvarez (Bronx, N.Y.) took fourth in the 400-meter dash with a time of 48.90. Sheldon Goffe (Brooklyn, N.Y.) finished the same race in 11th place with a mark of 49.80.

Long Island had a strong showing in the 400-meter hurdles. Rodney Daniel (Brooklyn, N.Y.) took seventh place with a time of 55.57, Eric Tyler (Clinton, Md.) placed ninth with a mark of 56.79 and David Lipford (Upper Marlboro, Md.) garnered an 11th-place finish with a time of 56.79.

For full results, click here.

The Blackbirds will travel to Philadelphia to take part in the Penn Relays beginning on Thursday, April 26.