BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Northwestern State junior Emmanuel Williams was the top collegiate finisher, and second overall, with season-best marks that moved him into the national top 20s in the long jump and triple jump Friday night at the Cupid Classic indoor track and field meet.
Williams flew 24-9 in the long jump, 17th best nationally in the NCAA Division I rankings and best in the Southland Conference. He covered 50-1 ¾ in the triple jump, 18th in the NCAA standings and second in the conference. The top 16 in each event earn invitations to the NCAA Indoor Championships in early March.
Lady Demon sophomore Por'sha Thomas took ninth in the women's long jump with a 17-11 best Friday evening.
Due to the 45-team field in the meet hosted at the Birmingham CrossPlex by Southern Mississippi, competition continued until late Friday night and some results were not immediately available.
The venue is the site of the Feb. 26-27 Southland Conference Indoor Championships.
NSU senior All-American Justin Walker had two medal-stand finishes in the short sprints.
Walker was the second-fastest collegiate finisher in the 60 meter dash at 6.76, a season's best, good for eighth overall. That time is the best in the Southland Conference this season.
In the 200, he was third overall at an indoors personal best 21.59, with Georgia Tech's Broderick Snoddy winning at 21.32 and Grambling's Kameron Cowen running 21.55 for second among 67 entrants.
Freshman Quinton Helaire tied for ninth and matched his personal best with a 6-4 ¾ clearance in the high jump.
Brent Giddens took 10th in the men's 60 meter hurdles with an 8.41 time.
Lady Demon senior Quiana Griffin ran a season's best 56.97 in the 400 meters, 14th overall in a field of 81.