CSU Men and Women Win Peach Belt Challenge Meet on Saturday

Smiths Station, Ala. -- The Columbus State men's and women's track teams continued their successful inaugural seasons on Saturday, winning the Peach Belt Challenge meet at the Evilsizer Track Complex at Smiths Station. The meet was the final home event of the year for CSU.

The CSU men had tied Tuskegee two times in meets this season, but finally broke through and took the win on Saturday, besting the Tigers by a 23 points. CSU collected 206 points, while Tuskegee finished with 186. North Georgia was third with 101, followed by Clayton State with 76 and Valdosta State with 25.

The CSU women were dominant in their side of the meet, collecting 220 points. Tuskegee was second at 155, followed by Clayton State at 109 and North Georgia at 78. Montevallo, Georgia Southwestern, and Valdosta State rounded out the field. 

For the Cougar men, Jonathan Jones was the top scorer as he collected 38.5 points. Jones won the triple jump (13.36 m), long jump (6.56 m), and was a part of the 4x100 relay team which ran a time of 43.95. He also took second in the 110 hurdles at 16.01 and in the high jump at 1.87 m. The other members of that winning 4x100 relay team were Gerald Chichester, Yvens Joseph, and Jeremy Williams.

Chichester took first place in the 400 hurdles with a time of 58.81, whil Henry Davis won the pole vault event with a vault of 3.65 meters. Meshack Koyiaki was first in the 1500 at 3:57.94, and Nathan Prickett won the 5000 with a time of 9:00.18. The 4x400 relay team also took first place.

Nicholas Kering was second in the 1500 at 4:00.79, while Stewart Helton was second in the 5000 at 15:44.85. Chris Patrick took second in the 800 with a time of 1:57.03, while John Neill was second in the 3000 at 9:14.26. Jeremy Williams was second in the 100 at 11.25.

On the women's side, Shan Crawford again had an outstanding meet for CSU. Crawford collected 53 points with first place finishes in the 100 (11.91 - NCAA provisional qualifying time), 200 (24.62, also NCAA provisional time), long jump (5.35 m), triple jump (10.33 m), and teamed with Ibuku Awoyale, Laquita Daniel, and Raquisha Givens to win the 4x100 relay (48.21), and then with Givens, Brittney Skiles, and Daniel to win the 4x400 relay (4:06.96). She was also second in the high jump at 1.37 m.

Whitney Ryals won the javelin event with a throw of 30.71 m and also the pole vault with a vault of 2.25 m. Skiles was first in the 1500 (4:57.02), and second in the 800 (2:23.04). Naomi Tanui was second in the 1500 with a time of 5:01.89. Daniel was second in three events - the 100 with a time of 12.41, the 200 at 25.81, and the triple jump at 10.17. Ashley Arnold finished second in the 3000 with a time of 11:10.07. 

CSU returns to action next weekend as they will compete in the Auburn Invitational on April 17.