By: FVSU Office of Sports Information
Fort Valley State University (FVSU) will have plenty of representation at this year's National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II Track & Field Championship on May 27-29th in Charlotte, N.C. Under first year head coach, Ellakeisha O'Kelley, the FVSU Track & Field program will send a total of 12 student-athletes to the “qualifiers only” championship which will take place on the campus of Johnson C. Smith University.
Headlining the field of FVSU qualifiers into the competition is defending NCAA National Triple Jump Champion Antoinette Oglesby. Oglesby will compete in the triple and long jump events. Her longest triple jump of this season is 41ft 8.5in. She qualified for a championship appearance in the long jump with a season best of 20ft 8in.
Oglesby will not be the only FVSU triple jump threat making an appearance in the finals. Kiana Key could also unlock the door to a national triple jump title. She qualified for the competition with a season best of 39.8ft.
The phenomenal freshman Portia Wilson will also participate in the NCAA Championship. The SIAC Female Track Athlete of the Year qualified in the 100 and 200 meter dashes. Her best recorded times during the season were 11:69 in the 100 meters and 24:30 in the 200 meters.
The speedster will also run a leg of the women's 4x100 meters and 4x400 meters relay events at the nationals. In the 4x100 meters, Wilson will be joined by Tiffany Moore, Nakela Jackson, and either her sister Raven (Wilson) or Shankevia Burkes. The sprinters qualified for the championship with a time of 46.26, their best of the season. In the 4x400 meters relay, the sister duo of Portia and Raven will pass the baton to Tiffany Moore and Latonya Payne when they contend for the crown.
For the men, FVSU's Keon Montgomery is a triple qualifier who will participate in the 100 meter and 400 meter events. In the 100 meter dash, his best posting of the season was a time of 10.46. His time of 47.23 in 400 meter dash was his best recorded time this year.
Montgomery will make his third appearance in the championship as a member of the men's 4x100 meter relay team. Montgomery will be joined by teammates Aaron Allen, Roger Chaney, and John Brown. The team's best time of the season was 40.47.
FVSU long jumper Tyrecce Cole will also make the trip to the championship. As a first team, all-conference member, Cole qualified for competition with a season best of 24ft 11in.
For more information about FVSU Track & Field, please visit www.fvsusports.com.
-Wildcats Athletics-
