JONESBORO, ARK. – Lion sprinter Shannon Grover paced a young Southeastern track and field team to a strong effort Friday at the ASU Kickoff Klassic in Jonesboro, Ark.
Grover won two individual events and crossed the finish line first as Southeastern won the meet's final event – the men's 4 x 400-meter relay.
“It's certainly a great way to finish a meet,” head coach Sean Brady said of the meet's final event. “It doesn't always work out that way.”
Grover placed first in the 55-meter dash and broke the school record in the 200-meter dash in addition to teaming with Antonio Herbert, Shaquell Windley and Shaquille Brownon the 4 x 400-meter relay. Herbert also came in second to Grover in the 200-meter dash.
Kovey Simmons finished as the top collegiate athlete in the pole vault, taking home another win for Southeastern.
Shalicia Rochon led the Lady Lions in the field events, placing second in the shot put and fourth in the weight throw. Renada Living and Jessica Fekete placed sixth and seventh in the weight throw respectively. Colleen Butler placed fourth in the pole vault for Southeastern.
“We had some kids that ran real well for this time of year,” Brady said. “A lot of those fourth and fifth place finishes were freshman. They didn't back down against the competition.”
Nia Stewart finished fifth in the 55-meter dash and Teirral Thompson placed sixth in the 55-meter hurdles. Brookais Milton (seventh) and Bernadette Derosier (eighth) placed in the long jump. A pair of Lady Lion relay teams placed sixth and eighth in the 4 x 400-meter relay.
Southeastern's next meet will be Jan. 12-13, 2012, at UAB's Blazer Invite.
“At this point the Christmas break is going to be crucial,” Brady said. “We rely on our freshmen to go home and train on their own. If they maintain their level we should have fruitful indoor season.”