WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. –  After a 644-day layoff, the North Carolina Central University track and field teams returned to indoor action in impressive fashion, earning a combined 22 top-10 finishes at the Visit Winston-Salem College Kickoff, hosted by the JDL Fast Track over the weekend.
 
The NCCU women's distance performers were led by freshman Victoria Swepson, who finished the women's 1000-meter race in 3 minutes and six seconds to place second, and was joined by classmate Elan Booker, who finished fifth in the event with a time of 3:18.46. Swepson also placed ninth in the 3000m run after she finished in 11:12.23.
 
For the men's distance crew, seniors Juan Rodriguez, Joshua McLean, and Mackenson Yrelus were joined by junior Isaiah Hunter to bring home first place in the men's distance medley with a combined time of 11:17.09. Hunter, Yrelus alongside seniors Gordon Lewis and Earl Green finished third in the 4x400 meter relay with a fused time of 3:23.27. Senior Ashton Drake and junior Neco Johnson both finished the 1000m run in under three minutes to earn second and fourth place, respectively. Hunter also finished fifth in the 600m run with a time of 1:24.57, while sophomore Leroy Scarver ran the one-mile race in 4:30.85 to earn fifth place in the event.
 
Juniors Emmaya Waters and Ariana Harrell along with senior Olivia Andrews and freshman Tracey Manigault raced to a fourth-place finish in the women's 4x400m relay with a combined time of 3:58.26. As individuals, Harrell, Waters, and Andrews all finished within three seconds of each other to earn third, fourth, and eighth place, respectively in the 600m run. Sophomore Asia Bly sprinted to an eighth-place finish in the women's 60m dash in 7.94 seconds. While junior Jordan Braxton ran the 200m dash in 26.18 to place ninth.
 
In the field, senior transfer Micah Fulton, freshman Anyae Lindsay, and sophomore Joidon Boddie all finished in the top 10 in the women's triple jump. Fulton soared 12 meters and placed second, Lindsay leaped 11.47m and placed fourth, and Boddie jumped 11.13m to finish eighth. Lindsay also turned in a 5.33m attempt to earn eighth place in the long jump.
 
For the men, sophomore Matthew Swepson placed seventh in the shot put with a 14.17m mark. Senior Marvin Jones soared 2.11m in the high jump to place second in the event. Junior Jaelyn Blanc leaped to a fourth-place finish in the triple jump with a 14.25m spot.
 
The Eagles next competition will be at the Mondo College Invitational in Winston-Salem on Jan. 15.
 
NCCU Top-10 Performances
 
Men's 600m
Isaiah Hunter (5^th) 1:24.57
 
Women's 3000m run
Victoria Swepson (9^th) 11:12.23
 
Men's 1000m run
Ashton Drake (2^nd) 2:44.37
Neco Johnson (4^th) 2:52.65
 
Women's 600m run
Ariana Harrell (3^rd) 1:37.47
Emmaya Waters (4^th) 1:37.90
Olivia Andrews (8^th) 1:40.55
 
Men's Distance Medley
Isaiah Hunter, Joshua McLean, Mackenson Yrelus, Juan Rodriguez (1st) 11:17.09
 
Women's 60m Dash
Asia Bly (8^th) 7.94
 
Men's Shot Put
Matthew Swepson (7^th) 14.17m
 
Women's 1000m run
Victoria Swepson (2^nd) 3:06.19
Elan Booker (5^th) 3:18.46
 
Men's 4x400 Relay
Earl Green, Mackenson Yrelus, Isaiah Hunter, Gordon Lewis (3^rd) 3:23.27
 
Women's 200m Dash
Jordan Braxton (9^th) 26.18
 
Men's Triple Jump
Jaelyn Blanc (4^th) 14.25m
 
Women's 4x400 Relay
Emmaya Waters, Ariana Harrell, Tracey Manigault, Olivia Andrews (4^th) 3:58.26
 
Men's High Jump
Marvin Jones (2^nd) 2.11m
 
Women's Triple Jump
Micah Fulton (2^nd) 12.00m
Anyae Lindsay (4^th) 11.47m
Joidon Boddie (8^th) 11.13m
 
Men's 1 Mile
Leroy Scarver (5^th) 4:30.85
 
Women's Long Jump
Anyae Lindsay (8^th) 5.33m