Rattlers Send Ivy to Tom Jones Memorial Invitational

4/13/2023 8:33:00 AM

What: Tom Jones Memorial Invitational
When: April 15
Where: James G. Pressly Stadium (University of Florida) | Gainesville, Fla.

The Florida A&M track and field program has only one entry in Florida's Tom Jones Memorial Invitational (April 15) – a pole vaulter, and the one of the very best in school history. The Southwestern Athletic Conference's reining indoor and outdoor PV champion, Kiara Ivy, is scheduled to compete Saturday, April 15, at 11 a.m.

The Last Outing
Decorated by seven podium finishes, FAMU's women placed first overall at the Alice Coachman Invitational (April 8) for its highest team finish this season. Eyana Dixon and Karen Odoemene were respectively victorious in the 400-meter dash and hammer, while Preston Loggins claimed a win for the Rattler men in the discus.

The program collective totaled 11 "Top 3" finishes.

SWAC Weekly Honors (Outdoor)
Eyana Dixon and Brandon Love were named the Southwestern Athletic Conference Track Athletes of the Week, the office announced Wednesday (April 12).

Dixon struck gold in the 400-meter dash (58.89) – the race also captured their first collegiate win – and finished fourth in the 200-meter dash (26.10). Love was also successful at the Alice Coachman Invitational, crossing the finish line third in the 400 (50.18) and seventh in the 200 (22.60).

Lauryn Hall currently leads the Rattlers this outdoor season with a team-high two weekly SWAC awards.

Eyana Dixon, Brandon Love (Track Athletes of the Week) | April 12
Lauryn Hall (Track Athlete of the Week) | March 30
Lauryn Hall (Track Athlete of the Week) | March 23
Jaydon Sanford (Track Athlete of the Week), Dajon Clark (Field Athlete of the Week) | March 23

Where do we stack up?
Several efforts currently rank 'Top 5" on the Southwestern Athletic Conference's 2023 Outdoor Performance List.

Athlete | Mark/Time | SWAC Ranking

100 Meters
Lauryn Hall | 11.53 | First
Dajon Clark | 10.35 | First

200 Meters
Lauryn Hall | 23.95 | Third

400 Meters
Teleda Williams | 54.76 | First

4x100 Relay
Zakharia Frett, Teleda Williams, Shaniya Berry, Lauryn Hall | 45.51 | First

4x400 Relay
Zoe Hightower, Lauryn Hall, Lacie Deboskie, Teleda Williams | 3:45.14 | Second

Pole Vault
Kiara Ivy | 3.50m (11' 5.75") | First

Long Jump
Dajon Clark | 7.65m (25' 1.25") | First
Pache' Caldwell | 7.53m (24' 8.5") | Second

Discus
Preston Loggins | 43.78m (143' 8") | Fifth

Hammer
Karen Odoemene | 49.35m (161' 11") | Fourth

Javelin
Quentin Williams | 56.59m (185' 8") | Second
Latia Saunders | 34.33m (112' 7") | Fourth

It is also worth mentioning that the Rattlers also boast some of the fastest times/marks in the NCAA.

100 Meters
Dajon Clark | 10.35 | 59th in the NCAA / 29th in the East
Lauryn Hall | 11.57 | 60th / 34th

Long Jump
Dajon Clark | 7.65m (25' 1.25") | 30th / 15th
Pache' Caldwell | 7.53m (24' 8.5") | 46th / 24th

The "Top 48" student-athletes in the east will qualify for the 2023 NCAA East Preliminary (May 24-27). A season ago, the Rattlers sent Rachel Robertson and Jaylyn Scott to the first-round meet, where they respectively competed in the triple jump and 400-meter hurdles. Robertson went on to punch her ticket to the 2022 NCAA Track & Field Championships to mark back-to-back seasons with FAMU representation at the national meet. Will the Orange and Green make it three straight?

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