NORFOLK, VA — From May 15 to 17, the Delaware State Hornets Track and Field program competed in the annual MEAC Outdoor Track & Field Championship, showcasing a plethora of tenacious and hardworking athletes.
The championships were highlighted by top-10 finishes and new HBCU College Outdoor rankings.
Senior Annalise Bond earned second place in the pole vault, achieving her season best and setting a new DSU school record. Bond is currently a three-time MEAC champion and five-time runner-up. Former Field Athlete of the Week Valerie Ashamu achieved the second-highest jump with a mark of 1.68 meters (5'7").
Ashley Lagat earned fourth place in the women's 3000-meter steeplechase with a final time of 12:30.65. Lagat is currently ranked #11 in the HBCU College Outdoor Rankings. Former field athlete Aniyah Smith also secured a fourth-place finish in the javelin throw with a mark of 36.60 meters. Gabrielle Almonte set a new HBCU ranking with a javelin throw of 35.04 meters, finishing just behind Smith. The Hornets women's track and field program demonstrated strength with back-to-back top-10 finishes in the shot put event. Orianna Moore achieved a fourth-place finish with a throw of 12.49 meters, holding the #33 rank in the HBCU Outdoor rankings. Kirja Hickman finished in fifth place with a throw of 12.45 meters, securing the #29 ranking. Lastly, Gabrielle Almonte rounded out the competition with a sixth-place finish in the shot put, recording a throw of 12.26 meters, which puts her at #34 in the HBCU rankings.
Nia Vaughan, Miriam Okwudibonye, Mariah Winfield, and Kahlia Smith earned sixth place in the women's 4x100-meter relay with a final time of 47.05 seconds. This was followed by another sixth-place finish (3:55.60) from Merasia Johnson, Kahlia Smith, Mariah Winfield, and Ansolei Taliaferro in the women's 4x400-meter relay. Orianna Moore also achieved a top-10 finish in the women's hammer throw with a mark of 38.57 meters, ranking #48 in the HBCU standings.
In the long jump, both Mariah Winfield (5.73 meters) and Sanna Virgil (5.71 meters) leaped into the top 10. Winfield achieved a new #33 HBCU ranking to close out the championship for the Hornets.
