Sophomore Allodin Fothergill of UMES comes down the straightaway during the 400 meter dash finals of the NCAA East Regionals. Fothergill beat out Charles Cox of North Carolina (right) and Quinten Moore of South Carolina for the fifth and last automatic spot for the National Championships.
Picture by Keith Henry
UMES trio advances to Nationals
By Keith Henry
TALLAHASSEE, FL- Tanisha Wisdom, Merrecia James and Allodin Fothergill handled business at Florida State’s Mike Long Track on May 30-31. The plan according to UMES head coach Ernest Barrett was to not have to wait for a decision on at-large berths.
Barrett said, “That was the objective for us. We have to make sure they finish in the top five. So there was no doubt that they’re going to get in. It’s really tough going home not knowing that you’re athletes are in, waiting for that at-large bid. So they did their job.”
At the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field East Regionals, the Hawks and Lady Hawks earned their ticket to Drake University on June 11-14 for the NCAA National Championships.
Merrecia James didn’t have one of the best times in the 800 meter run going into her event. However, James was able to survive the first round to earn a chance at clinching her ticket to nationals on the last day. James placed fifth in the finals to earn her chance at a national championship. Barrett said, “The time wasn’t great. But Merrecia did what she is supposed to do.”
Allodin Fothergill was out of the MEAC Championship meet for disciplinary reasons. But Allodin earned that second chance and made the most of his opportunities at Florida State. Fothergill easily earned his spot in the 400 meter dash finals on the first day. The last day was exciting as it came down to the last 100 meters. Fothergill crossed the finish line in fifth place to earn his ticket to Drake. Barrett said, “His time was not great, but he did what he was supposed to do to advance.”
Fothergill said, “The race (on the second day) was good. My first 200 was too hard. Actually, I was loose coming down. So that’s about it.”
As far as what he needs to do in Iowa, Fothergill said, I’m going to start training back. I haven’t trained for three or four weeks. I want to run fresh coming out here so I’ll be good for Iowa.”
Tanisha Wisdom came into this meet ranked in the top 20 in the country in the 400 meter dash. Wisdom did her thing on the first day to make it to the finals. On the last day, Wisdom finished fourth in the finals to earn her spot in Des Moines, Iowa. Coach Barrett said, “Wisdom ran a PR of 52.71. (Tanisha is) on target to do something special at nationals.”
“We got to continue to do what we’re doing. Get them ready and peaking for national championships.”
Picture by Keith Henry
UMES trio advances to Nationals
By Keith Henry
TALLAHASSEE, FL- Tanisha Wisdom, Merrecia James and Allodin Fothergill handled business at Florida State’s Mike Long Track on May 30-31. The plan according to UMES head coach Ernest Barrett was to not have to wait for a decision on at-large berths.
Barrett said, “That was the objective for us. We have to make sure they finish in the top five. So there was no doubt that they’re going to get in. It’s really tough going home not knowing that you’re athletes are in, waiting for that at-large bid. So they did their job.”
At the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field East Regionals, the Hawks and Lady Hawks earned their ticket to Drake University on June 11-14 for the NCAA National Championships.
Merrecia James didn’t have one of the best times in the 800 meter run going into her event. However, James was able to survive the first round to earn a chance at clinching her ticket to nationals on the last day. James placed fifth in the finals to earn her chance at a national championship. Barrett said, “The time wasn’t great. But Merrecia did what she is supposed to do.”
Allodin Fothergill was out of the MEAC Championship meet for disciplinary reasons. But Allodin earned that second chance and made the most of his opportunities at Florida State. Fothergill easily earned his spot in the 400 meter dash finals on the first day. The last day was exciting as it came down to the last 100 meters. Fothergill crossed the finish line in fifth place to earn his ticket to Drake. Barrett said, “His time was not great, but he did what he was supposed to do to advance.”
Fothergill said, “The race (on the second day) was good. My first 200 was too hard. Actually, I was loose coming down. So that’s about it.”
As far as what he needs to do in Iowa, Fothergill said, I’m going to start training back. I haven’t trained for three or four weeks. I want to run fresh coming out here so I’ll be good for Iowa.”
Tanisha Wisdom came into this meet ranked in the top 20 in the country in the 400 meter dash. Wisdom did her thing on the first day to make it to the finals. On the last day, Wisdom finished fourth in the finals to earn her spot in Des Moines, Iowa. Coach Barrett said, “Wisdom ran a PR of 52.71. (Tanisha is) on target to do something special at nationals.”
“We got to continue to do what we’re doing. Get them ready and peaking for national championships.”
Note: This article made it into the Baltimore Times. However, the picture on the story was wrong. This was because I sent a cluster with the Coppin State and UMES stories and pictures. Even though I wrote the photo caption above the story when it was submitted, the picture they put in the print edition was of Coppin's Indira Laurencin.
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