FSU, FAMU record top finishes at Florida Relays
Photo courtesy FAMU athletics
Special to the Outlook
Athletes representing Florida State and Florida A&M universities completed the Pepsi Florida Relays with impressive times that includes several personal best.
The two universities were part of a collegiate field that included more than 30 teams that traveled to Gainesville for the two-day event. The high school division also attracted several teams from Florida.
Milton Ingraham led the FSU team with another top finish in the discuss, while Dajon Clark led four FAMU athletes who posted personal best finishes.
Ingraham, a senior at FSU, made four throws over 58 meters. That included a career-best throw of 59.35 meters to win the discus at the 2023 Pepsi Relays last Saturday.
“It was a solid weekend for the Noles,” head coach Bob Braman said. “We had several NCAA Region qualifying performances as well as top five ACC marks.
“We will have a much-needed weekend off before we return here for the Tom Jones Invitational April 14-15.”
Clark and Lauryn Hall led the FAMU runners in the100-meter races. Their respective times, which were personal records, were 10.35 seconds and 11.55 seconds.
Teleda Williams, and William Shelton also set person best times in the in the 400. Williams’ time was 54.76, while Shelton ran 48.57.
Meanwhile, Lacie Deboskie and Madison Gordon recorded their best outdoor performance in the 800-meter race. Deboskie finished in 2:17.86, and Gordon completed the race in 2:23.64.
FSU’s top performer in the men’s 100-meter race was Taylor Bank, who took fourth place with a time of 10.41 seconds. The start was his first outdoor competition of the season. Also finishing among the top five in his event was freshman Kynon Tathum who took third in the triple jump with a best leap of 15.38 meters.
Amir Willis finished seventh in the men’s 400 meter dash with a lifetime best time of 46.49 which ranks fifth best in the ACC so far this season. James Rivera finished 22nd. in the event with a time of 47.40 and Danzell Feagin was 36th clocking in at 49.24.
In the women’s 100-meter dash, Kaniya Johnson was FSU’s top entry finishing 18th with a time of 11.85. Jacoria Burton was 34th at 12.38.
Suus Altorf led three Seminoles in the women’s 800-meters race, finishing 22nd with a time of 2:09.38. Checking in at 32nd was teammate Bieke Schipperen (2:11.85) and Yasmine Abbes went 2:14.18 and finished 37th.
Amani Heaven’s best throw of 14.37 meters in the women’s shot put took 13th place.
Winston Quinn finished first among FSU’s three men’s 800 meter runners with a time of 1:53.05 good for 39th. Joab Francis was 41st (1:53.62) and DaeQwan Butler 51st (1:58.43).
Both teams will return to competition over the next two weekends. FAMU travels to Albany, Ga., for the Alice Coachman Invitational on Saturday. The FSU team will go to Gainesville on April 14 for the Tom Jones Memorial meet.
