FAYETTEVILLE, AR – In their first meet of the new year, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff men's and women's track and field teams competed in the Arkansas Invitational Friday at the Randal Tyson Track Center.
What seemed to be a long day on paper turned out to be a day of improvement for the Arkansas-Pine Bluff track and field program. With the field events starting early in the day, the UAPB throwers and jumpers set a tone early.
The junior sensation Safiya John would make a statement from the board into the sandpit for the women's long jump. Only taking two attempts, John knew it was time to turn the crowd up and herself, getting a pulse clap going while on the runway. Firing out, John accelerated at an incredible speed, going into her penultimate step at the board, throwing her body into the air, and landing in the sand. John exited the sandpit in excitement before seeing that she would earn a new personal best and take the lead with a mark of 6.07 meters, securing a gold medal. John was the only long jumper to make it into the six-meter barrier.
After taking the massive leap, John then directed all her focus on the women's 60-meter hurdles, where she would get the opportunity to compete against Olympian and Adidas athlete Cindy Sember.
John would qualify for the 60-meter hurdle final with a qualifying time of 8.61 seconds, placing her in sixth place.
"It's a great feeling to have an olympian pull me through, and it just helps me realize my potential," said John about competing against at a high level. "I plan to give greater performances in the future."
In the final, she would replay her same gameplan, and that was to get to the finish line as quickly as her feet could carry her. John finished in fifth place with a time of 8.57 seconds.
Senior Deonmonique Granville once again showed why she is one of the nation's top competitors in throwing weight. In her sixth and final attempt, Granville launched the shotput with all her strength and might and would shock herself, throwing a personal best of 13.86 meters after losing her footing, which gave her an idea that there was more to offer.
Junior Joelle Stewart showed most of what she was capable of in the women's weight throw, with a fifth-place finish with a mark of 15.49 meters.
On the men's side, sophomore Caleb Snowden displayed well that Lions don't just roar, but they are the kings of the jungle as well. Passing on 1.90 meters and coming in at 1.95 meters, Snowden had no problem getting over the bar. Clearing 1.95 meters, 2.00 meters, and 2.05 meters, all on his first attempts, Snowden quickly secured a gold medal.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Golden Lions will roar their way to the J.D. Martin Invitational next Friday at the Oklahoma-Mosier Indoor Track.
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