Landover, MD (Feb.18) - The Florida A&M Rattlers fought through several injuries to finish sixth overall in the MEAC Indoor Track Championships this weekend at the Prince George Sports Complex and Learning Center.

Coach Wayne Angel, now in his second year as head coach, is seeing the fruits of his recruitment perform on a national level. Steve Emere, one of Angel's prize recruits this season, didn't disappoint in winning the triple jump. He leaped 15.58m (51-05.50) on his last jump to take the gold medal in the event and provide scoring to help position th Rattlers.

Shuaib Winters, probably the team's most valuable runner, grinded his way to a second place finish in the 3000m run, finishing in 8:43.79. The race was so competitive, that four of the runners broke the previous MEAC record.

Winters would score again for the Rattlers in the mile run. Winters ran 4:21.78 in the mile run to take fourth place in a tough field.

A pleasant surprise for the Rattlers was two-sport star Jeremy Tillman. Tillman, who also plays football, placed third in the 60m dash, literally by a hair. In the photo finish of the event, Tillman's Mohawk actually crossed the line just in front of MEAC staple Reggie Dixon, but he took third place as the chest is the actual marking point.

The Rattlers 4x400m relay team took eighth place in 3:18.44. The team of Derrick Morgan, charief lewis, Owolabi Deji and Elijah Owens grinded out a respectable finish to top of the championship.

The final finish was as follows:

1. Norfolk State 161.50
2. UMES 93.50
3. NCAT 69
4. SCSU 58
5. Hampton 46
6. FAMU/Morgan 44
8. B-CU 43
9. Coppin State 29
10. NCCU 23
11. Howard 16
12. SSU 13
13. Delaware State 10