ORANGEBURG, SC – The host South Carolina State men finished first and the women third in the Third Annual Sharonda Coleman-Singleton Track and Field Classic Saturday (Apr. 17) at the Lorry H. Dawkins Track Facility on the campus. A total of 20 Bulldog athletes also combined to establish Personal Records (PRs) in 23 events.

The SC State men finished first in six events and were runner-ups in four others in amassing 203 points in winning the team title in the nine-team men's division, which included two track clubs.
Following the Bulldogs in the team standings were Voorhees, second (126.5 pts); Newberry, third (97 pts.); The Citadel, fourth (93 pts.); Bethune-Cookman, fifth (68 pts.); and neighboring Claflin, sixth (52.5 pts.).

The Lady Bulldogs captured two firsts and were second in four others in compiling 119 points for third in the eight-team women's standings behind College of Charleston (163 pts.) and Claflin (139.5 pts.). Bethune-Cookman was fourth (100.5 pts.), Newberry fifth (56 pts.), The Citadel sixth (48 pts.) and Voorhees eighth (8 pts.).

Standout performances for SC State in the men's division, included thrower Robert Carter who won the javelin (60.33m) and shot put (16.59m) and was second in the hammer (50.69m); Tinashe Bure, first in the 800 meters (149.97) in one of the top times in the MEAC; Alexander Hollimon, first in the 110mm hurdles (14.38); Michael Hopkins, first in the pole vault (4.95m) and the 4x400m Relay team "A"  (3:12.65).

Leading the way for the SC State women were Nia Singleton, first in the 800 meters (2:13.06); Naomi Johnson, first in the long jump (5.75 m) and second in the triple jump (11.61m);  Kiera Smalls, second in the 100m hurdles (14.66);  Kaleese Burnell, second in the women's hammer  (41.40m); and Tresta Miller, second in the 200 meters (24.91).

During a special ceremony, SC State honored its track and field seniors: Jovan Brooks of Ocala, FL; Trevin Singleton of Beaufort, SC; Jameli Thomas of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Sydney Cooper of Gaston, SC (formerly of Daytona Beach, FL); Andrew Latimer of Jacksonville, FL; Christian Washington, also of Jacksonville; Jyierre Edwards of Rock Hill, SC; Mion Frierson of Lake City, SC; Terryn Patterson-Bryant of Savannah, GA; Isaiah Vertus of Ft. Myers, FL; MaKayla Toussaint of Griffin, GA; and Michael Hopkins of Tampa, FL.

Among the attendees at the meet, which honors former SC State track standout, the late Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, were over twenty former members of earlier SC State track and field teams, including hall of famers Dr. Lamin Drammeh, Ken Washington, and current head track & field coach, Donald Cooper.
SC State returns to action Friday at the two-day (Apr. 24-25) Charlotte Invite at Charlotte, NC.

Event Winners
Robert Carter
Javelin-60.33m-pr
Shot put-16.59-pr
Hammer throw-50.69 - (pr only)
Nia Singleton - 800m-2:13.06
Tinashe Bure - 800m 1:49.97
 Alexander Hollimon - 110mh-14.38
 Naomi Johnson - Long jump-5.75m
 4x400m - 3:12.66 (Isaiah Campbell, Jacob Alexander, Tinashe Bure, Isaiah Vertus)
 PRs
Bryce Wilson - 400H-54.35
Kaleese Burrell - Hammer throw-41.40m; Discus-23.49
Jyierre Edwards - Javelin-33.59m
Andrew Castro - 100m-11.97
Chavez Williams - Discus- 41.55m
Kenton George - Discus - 35.42m; Shot - 12.43m; Pole vault - 4.20m
Julian Johnson - PV- 3.75m
Dezmond Murrell - PV - 3.75m
Isaiah Campbell – 400m -48.15
Azaiyah Phillips -100mh-16.19; 200m -27.69
Jalynn Cage – javelin - 31.42m
Kyla Dailey - Triple Jump -11.52m; 100mh-17.23
Kendric Love Jr. - 400m - 48.39
 Aubrey Barney - Javelin-27.65m; Discus-21.50m