On Monday, Feb. 13, Saint Augustine’s University (SAU) pulled away from Virginia State University to win its 20th straight men’s title in the CIAA Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Liberty University Indoor Track Complex. Both the SAU men’s and women’s teams left with plaques as the Lady Falcons finished third in the women’s division.

The Falcons ranked fifth nationally, won the men’s division with 187 points followed by Virginia State (122 points) and Virginia Union (109 points). The Lady Falcons scored 131.5 points to finish ahead of all but two teams – Winston-Salem State University (142 points) and champion Johnson C. Smith University (155 points).

Immanuel Hutchinson (Sr./San Jacinto, CA) was named CIAA Men’s Track MVP for the fifth time in his collegiate career after winning the one-mile run and the 5,000-meter run in addition to placing second in the 800-meter run. He also anchored the winning men’s distance medley relay squad on Monday.

The Lady Falcons ranked 16th nationally, were led by Shakera Hall (Sr./Bridgetown, Barbados), who was selected CIAA Women’s Field MVP. Hall captured the Pentathlon in addition to placing third in the long jump, fourth in the triple jump and fifth in the high jump. She also finished fourth in the 60-meter hurdles.

In the men’s division, the Falcons held a slim 100-91.5 lead over Virginia State but scored 20 points in the 800-meter run to take charge of the meet. Shaquille Dill (So./Pembroke, Bermuda) won the 800 while Hutchinson placed second and Nikolas Thomas (Fr./Capital Heights, Md.) finished seventh. The Trojans never threatened the Falcons from that point.

The Falcons widened their lead in the next three running events as their superior depth took over near the end of the meet. Shawn Rowe (Sr./West Palm Beach, FL) won the 60 hurdles while Patrick Bodie (Jr./Nassau, Bahamas) and Samuel Shaviss (Jr./Pittsburgh, PA) finished third and fourth, respectively. Omar Johnson (Sr./St. Ann, Jamaica) was the 200-meter winner while Khari Herbert, Jr. (Sr./Coral Springs, FL) finished second, Adrian Kimmons (Jr./Cold Water, MS) sixth and Damere Gilbert (Fr./Sharon Hill, PA) eighth.

The Falcons clinched the title with one race left after Hutchinson placed first and Thomas finished eighth in the 5,000 run. The 4×400 “B” team capped the meet by placing seventh in the relay event.

The men’s 400 dash was an indication of what was to come. The Falcons swept the top three spots in the day’s first running event as Herbert finished first, Johnson second and Rowe third.

Two or more Falcons scored in all seven men’s individual races Tuesday. In the one-mile run, Hutchinson was the winner and Dill was second. In the 60-meter dash, Kimmons finished fifth and Gilbert seventh. 

The Falcons also had multiple scorers in two of three field events. Jumonne Exeter (Jr./St. Vincent), who won the long jump Friday, led three Falcons with a victory in the triple jump. Taylor Eubanks (Sr./Everett, WS) was second and Anthony Soriano was fifth. In the high jump, Kirvano Handfield (Jr./Turks and Caicos) placed third and Soriano was fourth.

The Lady Falcons used its depth to finish among the top three women’s teams. Four Lady Falcons scored in the day’s first women’s race – the 400 dash. Tia-Adana Belle (Sr./St. George, Barbados) was third, Marissa Gale (Jr./Trinidad & Tobago) was fourth and Iris Robinson (Jr./Birmingham, AL) placed fifth while Ade Hunter (Jr./Philadelphia, PA) finished sixth.

Mylene Cannon (Sr./Dallas, TX) placed fifth in the mile and the 800 run while Ornella Livingston (Sr./St. Ann, Jamaica) won the 60 dash. Tia-Adana Belle (Sr./St. George, Barbados) was first and Hall fourth in the 60 hurdles, and Livingston was second, Gale fourth, Robinson seventh and Leah Barker (Jr./St. Michaels, Barbados) eighth in the 200 dash.

Belle was second and Hall tied for fifth, respectively, in the high jump. Hall was fourth and Shakinah Brooks (Sr./Raleigh, NC), who won the long jump Monday, placed fifth in the triple jump while Tamiya Dortch (Jr./Goldsboro, NC) finished second in the shot put. The foursome of Robinson, Gale, Livingston and Belle finished second in the 4×400 relay.