April 12, 2008

Coral Gables, Fla. - Bethune-Cookman University track & field continues to rise above and beyond in the 2007-08 season as two more Wildcats have earned NCAA Regional Qualifying times for the outdoor season as the `Cats took part in the Miami Elite Invitational in Coral Gables, Fla.

The event took place on the beautiful campus of the University of Miami on April 12.

Things started out nicely for the Wildcats as Monique Bassett finished fourth in the Women's Javelin Throw with a distance of 36.29m (119-01). That was followed up by Dianne Munroe finished eighth overall (first collegiate) with a time of 11.74 seconds in the Women's 100 Meter Dash. For Munroe, it was her first NCAA Regional Qualifying time of the outdoor campaign.

Munroe, who continues to surpass expectations of the staff on a weekly basis, followed that up with an eighth place finish in the Women's 200 Meter Dash, though once again she would finish as the number one collegiate athlete as she ran against some top unattached and professional talent. Christina Roundtree finished 18th as the third place for collegiate athletes. Munroe ran 23.71, while Roundtree collected a time of 24.45 seconds.

Alfreepha Stubbs was 12th in the Women's 400 Meter Dash with a time of 55.59 seconds, while she would collect the third-fastest time for college athletes. Teammate Tavia Burke finished fifth overall in the Women's 100 Meter Hurdles collecting a time of 13.93 seconds.

The Women's 4x100 Meter relay team was the talk of the women's events on this day as the team ran 45.84 to collect an NCAA Regional time. The team was comprised of Rockel Mitchell, Christina Roundtree, Tavia Burke and Dianne Munroe.

In men's field events, Craig Johnson finished with a distance of 14.37m (47-01.75) in the Men's Shot Put. Phillip Small was in fifth place with a distance of 11.64m (38-02.25). Johnson and Small also went one and two, respectively in the Men's Discus Throw. Johnson registered a distance of 41.84m (137-03).

Harold Rose, Jr. was fourth in the Men's Long Jump as he leaped his way to a third place showing (first collegiate) with a distance of 7.33m (24-00.75).

On the track itself, Joel Redhead blazed his way to a fifth place finish (first collegiate) in the Men's 200 Meter Dash with a time of 20.96 seconds. That would not be all for Redhead, however, as he finished in second place for the Men's 400 Meter Dash with a time of 46.57 seconds. He was, as you would imagine, the second-fastest for collegiate athletes.

That was followed up by a third place finish in the Men's 110 Meter Hurdles by freshman sensation Ronnie Ashe with a time of 13.70 seconds. Harold Rose, Jr. finished in 12th for the event. Eric Cray went second overall in the Men's 400 Meter Hurdles as he posted a time of 52.36 seconds.

But it was the Men's 4x100 Meter Relay Team that stole the show on this day.

4x100 Meter Relay Team [photo by Sideline Sports]

The team consisting of Eric Cray, Joel Redhead, Jarred Lawson and Ronnie Ashe went 40.95 to collect a first place finish and collect a season-best time in that event.

"I am pleased with the overall effort everyone gave, and I just hope we can continue to improve upon the vast strides we are making going into Penn Relays in two weeks," expressed B-CU second-year head coach Garfield Ellenwood.

The Wildcats will now take some time off before heading to the biggest track & field event, annually, in the United States in the historic Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pa. The event takes place on Apr. 24-26. For more information, please call the B-CU Office of Sports Information at (386) 481-2206.