SUNO track, field finishes high in NAIA; forward nets All-GCAC Team

The SUNO's indoor track and field season culminated with a successful trip to the NAIA Indoor Championships in Johnson City, Tennessee. The Knights placed 11th out of 44 teams from the United States and Canada.

With only eight runners participating, the university gained a new set of All-Americans in Adrian Simpson, Norbert Miller, Chadrick Nelson and Lerone Lawson. The Knights made gains in the 200 meter dash, the 400 meter dash and the 4x400 relay. SUNO had its most success in the 400 meter dash while making the nation also take notice in the 4x400. Miller placed second in the nation with a time of 48.87 seconds and Simpson literally stumbled into the third spot with a time of 49.23 seconds.

In the 4x400 relay, the Knights fought for the spot of fourth in the nation. With the team composed of Miller, Simpson, Nelson and Lawson, SUNO ran a time of 3:18.46.

In other action, sophomore Mekel Downer easily qualified for the final round of the 200 meter dash when he ran 21.51 to win the second heat. The eventual champion, Dominique Matthews of Oklahoma Baptist University, ran 21.52. In the 60 meter dash, sophomore Rayon Golding placed third in the fifth heat. His time of 6.95 seconds, however, was not enough to qualify for the semi-finals.

While the Knights ran in Tennessee, their head coach, Yhann Plummer, competed in the IAAF Indoor World Championships in Valencia, Spain. Plummer made it to the semi-finals of the 60 meter dash running a personal best 6.65 seconds, but he missed the finals by one spot.

A SUNO alum and former NAIA All-American, Plummer is currently a student in the University's Management Information Systems master's program.

In basketball news, the Lady Knights ended the season with a first-round upset over Spring Hill College in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament in early March. Senior forward Disha Leonard was named to the All-GCAC team. Leonard's accomplishments did not end at the conference level. She ended the year ranking second in the NAIA in defensive re-bounds per game and total rebounds per game. Leonard also ranked 23rd in offensive rebounds per game and 28th in points per game.