FAMU women have a big day at relay meet

Special to the Outlook
 
 The FAMU women’s track team put on an impressive display overall during the FAMU Relays this past Saturday at Robert "Pete" Griffin Track Complex.
 Ashley Giacommucci, led the way with victories in the high and triple jump events. Senior distance running sensation Cynthia Chelelgo opened the meet with an impressive first-place finish in the 10,000-meter race.
 The event marked the opening of the outdoor season for coach Darlene Moore squad. 


 “It was a little different this year because we normally have a couple of meets under our belt before the FAMU Relays,” she said. “Opening the outdoor season at home was good for us. 
 “I’ve already seen improvement in our team from indoor season and we look forward to getting even better as we prepare to defend our 2015 MEAC Outdoor championship crown.”
 Giacommucci set two personal records in the meet. In the high jump, she vaulted 5 feet, 6.5 inches to take first place in the event. She followed that with a triple jump of 40 feet, 4.75 inches, improving her personal best which she jumped at last season’s MEAC Indoor Triple Jump championship. 
 Vaulter Cheyenne Brooks also took first place in her event, leaping 10 feet, 5.25 inches.
 Chelelgo, paced her cross-country teammates in a running of the 10K, finishing in 35:24.83.
 Meanwhile, Fridah Limo took second place for FAMU in 36:10.67. The Lady Rattlers followed consecutively with Judith Kibii taking third (36:33.52), Effiey Kosgei in fourth (37:59.80), Caroline Kiplagat finished fifth (38:31.79), Emmaculate Kiplagat in sixth (38:41.32) and Nicole Kvitkauskas finished in seventh in 39:52.17.
 Sophomore middle-distance runner Destiny Johnson ran an impressive 2:17.23 to take first place in the women’s 800 meter run. She was followed by Quandra Shanks in a time of 2:18.76. 
 Shanks later won 1,500-meter run in a time of 4:52.86. The order would be reversed from the 800m run as Johnson took second in 5:12.44. Jharna Alston also took first in the 100 dash, blazing to an 11.97 time. She doubled up, winning the 200 dash in 24.81 in the final heat against a strong head wind.
 In field events, FAMU’s throwers continued to impress. Alexandria Marshall-Paul, who medaled in the MEAC Indoor Track and Field Championship, took first place in the discus with a toss of 43.05m (141 feet, 03 inches). Andrea Aaron followed in second place with a score of 41.05m (134’08”). Benisha Johnson finished fifth (31.78-104’03”) and Aneshia Gordon rounded out the Top 10 finishers with a seventh place finish (30.39 – 99’08”).
 Aaron also won the top spot in the javelin throw with a toss of 152 feet, 09 inches.