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Young Wildcats Track & Field Teams Set for Season

2/21/2019 3:51:00 PM

By: Chris Myers
FORT VALLEY, Ga. – It's time the youthful Wildcats test their mettles in running, throwing and jumping. The Fort Valley State track and field teams are set to showcase their work for the 2019 spring season.
 
The two Wildcats squads under third-year head coach Adonis Stanley aim for progress individually and make a push up the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship standings.
 
"Both our teams will be young. We are trying to build the momentum in our programs," said Stanley.
 
The FVSU teams open the 2019 docket beginning on Saturday, Feb. 23, at the Columbus State Cougar Invitational.
 
Wildcats Men
 
"This team is young with a majority of freshmen and sophomores with a few upperclassmen mixed in.
We expect for the freshmen and sophomores to be relied upon much heavier since we don't have the depth we had and hope they can rise to the occasion," explains the FVSU head coach.
 
Sophomore thrower Vincent Buckley returns as the most decorated Wildcat. Buckley placed three times in his first SIAC Championship. He threw 36.87 meters for fourth in the hammer throw. He added a sixth place in the shot put (12.85m) and seventh in the discus (37.64m).
 
"I look for him to finish in the top three as he has trained well and has made progress in his conditioning," commented Stanley.
 
Moving to the sprints, Stanley believes this is where the Wildcats have a good shot at seeing a 4x100-meter relay team not only get in the top five at the SIAC, but a good chance to qualify for nationals.
 
The FVSU relay fate will depend on a grouping of three sophomores – Cameron Davis, Atavious Brown and Tavian Nembhard - and freshman Daviente Weems, who will also take part in the long jump.
 
"I like for those three returners to make good personal records this season. The big thing is for them to focus on consistency and practice to be able to perform at meets," stressed Stanley.
 
Another pair of sophomores in Kevius Shaw and Joshua Pierce will handle the team's middle distance events of the 800 and 1500 meters.
 
Wildcats Women
 
The FVSU women aim to improve upon their seven points at last spring's SIAC Championships. The women have similar depth challenges as the men's side, but they have some notable returners with solid potential.
 
"The women are young. They are training hard and put in the situation of having expectations of a veteran athlete," said Stanley.
 
Sophomore sprinters Jamie Burden and April Rogers lead the returners into the spring. Burden was the lone Wildcat scorer at the SIAC Championships where she was fifth in the 400 meters in a time of 1:00.60. Rogers missed qualifying for the 200 meters final by one spot as she was ninth (26.46).
 
Stanley added, "I look for both to redeem themselves this year and earn a position on the podium this year."
 
Ariel McDonald gives another sprinter for the team to make an impact from the 100 through 400-meter events. Both Rogers and McDonald aim to score secondary points in the jumps as well at the SIAC event.
 
Sticking with the jumps, Taesha Cook-Prittle looks to improve upon her 10th place performance in the triple jump (9.99m) in her first trip to the Conference meet.
 
In the throwing events, FVSU has talented athletes to compete. After taking last year off, Ashaunti Brown returns to the roster. The redshirt sophomore claimed the 2017 SIAC crown in the discus with a throw of 38.77m.
 
"As a freshman she won the discus, we hope she has a repeat performance. After having a year off, she is trying to get back to where she was and regain her rhythm of throwing," pointed out Stanley.
 
Joining Brown, Jemini Trollinger and freshman Camille Saunders add two more strong throwers to the lineup. Trollinger is stronger at the discus, while Saunders is a Georgia state shot put champion.
 
Jasmine Blackwell and Mekali Felton return after taking part in last year's SIAC meet. Both Wildcats look to improve upon last year's efforts as Blackwell was 20th (21.61m) in the discus and Felton was 20th in the shot put (7.19m).
 
FVSU track and field strives to make another step in its teams' progress and start to ascend up the league ranks.
 
 
  
 
-Wildcats-
 
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