LITTLE ROCK, AR -- The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff men's and women's track teams both competed at the 2021 Little Rock Invitational at the Coleman Sports & Recreation Complex on Saturday.
Both men's and women's track teams gave their all and left everything they had on the track. On the women's side, junior sensation Safiya John got things going for the Lady Lions, showing off her springs in the high jump and winning the competition with a facility-record breaking jump of 1.70 meters (5' 7"), beating her opponents by more than three inches in height.
John then cooled down after winning the high jump and began warming up for the 100-meter hurdles where she would win the race with a blazing time of 14.22 seconds with junior Jyzmin Gray right behind her, running 14.51 seconds to place second and allowing UAPB to sweep the 100-meter hurdles with both athletes taking first and second.
Sophomore Jada Sabir and freshman sensation Tatyana McKenzie kept things rolling for Lady Lions track as they competed in the 400-meter dash. Showing fight from the time the gun went off until they crossed the finish line, Sabir finished second place with a time of 57.58 seconds, falling short of a first-place victory by .24 seconds. McKenzie finished right behind Sabir in third place with a time of 58.44 seconds.
Joelle Stewart showed off her strength in Little Rock, clinching second place in the women's shot put with a distance of 13.64 meters (44' 9"), and also placing second in the women's discus with an impressive throw with a distance of 38.67 meters (126'10").
At the sand pit, sophomore Caitlin Ragoonanan turned up the audience in the women's triple jump with her electrifying jumps, clinching second place in her fifth attempt with a distance of 11.59 meters (38' 0 1⁄4).
Concluding for Lady Lions track was the 4x400 meter relay, led by McKenzie, passed to John to merge in for UAPB, then to freshman Joanna Rogers who ran a strong third leg, and anchored by freshman Ter'ria Howard who brought in the 4x400 meter relay victory in for the Lady Lions, finishing with a time of 4:03.49 to win the relay.
On the men's side, sophomore Deandre Fyffe continued to dominate the outdoor circuit for the Golden Lions, placing first in the men's shot put with a spectacular throw of 16.20 meters (53' 1 3⁄4), winning the competition by nearly a meter. Competing in the shot put as well was freshman Danniel Bailey who put on a great performance for spectators, finishing in third place with a throw of 14.67 meters (48' 1 3⁄4).
Fyffe and Bailey continued to show out, taking first and second place in the men's discus with Fyffe placing in first once again with a distance of 49.39 meters (162' 0") and Bailey right behind in second with a distance of 48.25 meters (158' 4").
On the track, senior Wade Garner took home the victory in the men's 400-meter dash, eating up the stagger quick and keeping a fast and strong pace through the duration of the race and finishing strong with a time of 48.89 seconds.
"Our goal is to keep getting better as the season progresses and get those times we want but have fun while performing", said UAPB head coach Christopher McCoy.
UAPB Track & Field will continue their outdoor circuit at Arkansas State for the Red Wolves Open on Friday and Saturday.
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