NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Grambling State men rallied from 13 points back heading into the final day to claim the team title at the 2011 SWAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships Sunday at Tad Gormley Stadium.
It marks the sixth men's championship in the past seven years for GSU.
Grambling State finished with 181 points while Texas Southern placed second with 101 points. Alabama State took third with 94 points and Arkansas-Pine Bluff was fourth with 91. Prairie View A&M finished fifth with 78.33 points followed by Southern in sixth with 76.83 and Jackson State in seventh with 57.50. In eighth with 49 points was Mississippi Valley State and in ninth with 47.33 was Alabama A&M. Alcorn State was 10thwith 32 points to round out the men's field.
Alabama State totaled 223 points in the women's competition over the three-day event. Grambling State placed second with 106 points followed by Texas Southern in third with 105. Prairie View A&M took fourth with 104 points, Mississippi Valley State was fifth with 72 and Jackson State finished sixth with 67. In seventh with 53 points was Arkansas-Pine Bluff, in eighth with 37 was Southern and in ninth with 34 was Alcorn State. Alabama A&M finished 10th with 12 points.
Grambling's Darwin Price Jr. garnered men's Most Outstanding Track Performer honors after winning the 1500m run, 3000m steeplechase and earning points in the 5000m and 800m runs. Arthur Thomas (Arkansas-Pine Bluff) was named men's Most Outstanding Field Performer after winning the shot put and earning points in the javelin, hammer throw and discus.
Grambling State coach Bertram Lovell received Coach of the Year honors on the men's side while Ritchie Beene of Alabama State garnered the same honor on the women's side.