Track Squads Win Nine Events at Invitational

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The Middle Tennessee track squads combined to win nine events and take home eight second-place finishes during Saturday's meet at the Murphy Center. Freshman Rosemary Okafor and senior Godfrey Herring each won a pair of events, including Okafor running a season-best 24.49 in the 200m for the victory.

Okafor also won the 55m with a winning time of 7.13, with teammates Kim Freeman and Kiki Deckard close behind in third and fourth, respectively. Okafor's winning mark in the 200m was part of a 1-4 finish for the Lady Raiders in the event, with Bromeka Holmes, Kishara George and Lanora Gray following behind the newcomer from Nigeria.

Also for the women, Nicolette Jarrett ran a season-best 57.84 to win the 400m, and Coleen Parker also had a season-best in the 800m, finishing in 2:16.98 for second place.

Kelley Smith's 8.08 in the 55m hurdles gave her second place and was her best mark of the season in the event, while Amanda Forrester tied her best mark in the high jump this year at 5-4, winning the event.

The Lady Raiders took the 2-5 spots in the triple jump, including a team season-best 41-3 for Freeman in second place. Stephany Reid was third at 40-3.75, with Deckard and Rolanda Howard following closely behind.

For the Blue Raiders, Herring won the 400m in 47.16, another provisional qualifying time for the Pontiac, Mich., senior, and also took the 200m in 21.37. Jasper Demps won the 55m hurdles in 7.47, just ahead of Brad Orr, who came in at 7.59 for second place.

Chris Koger tied a season-best by clearing 6-10 in the high jump, good for first place, while Greg Jones had another automatic qualifying mark in the triple jump at 46-9.75.

Middle Tennessee will host the Sun Belt Championships on February 23-24 at the Murphy Center. The meet will mark the first conference championships hosted by Middle Tennessee since joining the conference prior to the 2000-01 academic year.

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