JONESBORO, AR – Moving another week closer to the SWAC (Southwestern Athletic Conference) Championships, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff men’s and women’s track and field teams had a good showing over the weekend at the Red Wolves Invitation held at Arkansas State.
On the women’s side, sensation Safiya John wasted no time handling the task at hand. Highly prepared for one of her most vital events – the women’s 100-meter hurdles, competition would be no issue for John. Running her race smoothly and fashionably, she would secure a first-place finish and take a step further in setting the new Arkansas State facility record with a blazing fast time of 13.23 seconds.
The hurdles did not complete John’s day, however. Heading over to the women’s high jump, John showcased her bounce and ability to clear new heights. John only needed one attempt to clear 1.60, 1.65, and 1.70 meters in height.
Fouling on her first attempt at 1.73 meters, John shook things off to come back and clear the height to raise the bar to 1.75 meters, leaving herself as the only high jumper standing. John knocked the bar down twice at 1.75 meters but regrouped herself to clear the bar on the third attempt to secure her second victory of the day.
“Safiya has a nonstop motor and does not stop working until she gets the times and marks she’s worked for,” said UAPB head coach Christopher McCoy about John’s grind and results on the track.
Later in the day, Raina Perry turned her track spikes into wind-steppers for the women’s 400-meter hurdles. Moving a good pace around the track, things turned into a fight for the finish at the 120-meter mark. However, Perry did not back down from the challenge and used her strength to turn on her jets to cross the finish line with a time of 63.96 seconds to secure second place.
On the men’s side, Caleb Snowden would show the competition the hype around the UAPB jump squad in the men’s high jump. Passing up his first three attempts at 1.83, 1.88, and 1.93 meters, Snowden came in at 1.98 meters. The springy jumper only needed one attempt to clear the height to raise the bar to 2.03 meters which also required one attempt to secure third place.
“Our times and distances are getting better, but we won’t stop until we reach our goals,” said McCoy about the team’s progression.
The Golden Lion track and field team will conclude their regular outdoor circuit before the SWAC Outdoor Championship next weekend at the Memphis Tigers Invitational hosted at the University of Memphis.
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