WILMINGTON, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University track and field teams began the outdoor campaign in style, bringing home 25 top-five finishes, including four event victories, in the Seahawk Invitational, hosted by UNC-Wilmington on Saturday.
 
NCCU almost completed a top-three sweep in both the men's and women's 800-meter races. For the men, senior Mackenson Yrelus earned first place with a time of 2:01.73. Shortly after, junior Isaiah Hunter and sophomore Leroy Scarver crossed the finish line in 2:02.04 and 2:02.47 to place second and third, respectively.
 
For the women, NCCU had the only times under two and a half minutes with freshman Victoria Swepson running the winning time of 2:24.74 and junior Ariana Harrell finishing in 2:25.46 to place second.  
 
Also recording a top performance on the track was junior Donnell Carter, who darted to victory in the men's 400m race in just 49.96 seconds, recording the only time under 50 seconds.
 
In the men's shot put, NCCU claimed four out of the top five performances. Sophomore Matthew Swepson had the only throw over 15 meters to earn first place with a 15.54m toss. Freshman Nelson Anderson finished second with a 14.07m mark. Senior Xavier Lenear finished third with a 14.02m throw, while freshman Mason Grubbs finished fourth with his 13.64m effort. On the women's side, freshman Naliah Hope finished third, with a shot put throw of 10.51m.
 
Sophomore Asia Bly sprinted to a second-place finish in the women's 100m dash in 12.47 seconds. She was then followed by teammates, juniors Del'Nique Penn and Jordan Braxton, who posted times of 13.09 and 13.24 to finish third and fourth. Freshman Justin Miles bolted the 100m dash in 11.57 seconds to capture second place.
 
In the women's 400m race, the maroon and gray had three individuals finish within the top five. Juniors Emmaya Waters and Laniyah Oliver placed second and third with times of 1:03.09 and 1:04.11. Sophomore Kianna Bell finished fifth in 1:05.73.
 
NCCU had three individuals placed within the top five in the women's long jump. Senior Micah Fulton was one of two competitors to leap over five meters after she turned in a 5.05m mark to earn second place. Freshman Taylor Small just missed the five-meter threshold with a 4.99m effort to place third, while senior Zinzili Kelley earned fifth place with a 4.72m attempt.
 
In the 1500m races, the Eagles had one representative in the top five of both the men's and women's competitions. Senior Ashton Drake ran the men's race in 4:32.94 to place fifth. In the women's race, Victoria Swepson was one of two runners to finish with sub-five-minute times (4:54.61) to claim second.
 
The NCCU women had two separate relay tandems record top finishes in the 4x100m relay race. Bly, Braxton, and Penn were joined by freshman Tracey Manigault to run the race in 48.04 seconds and was runner-up. Fulton, Small, and Kelley were joined by sophomore Joidon Boddie to run the race in 51.78 to place third.
 
 
NCCU will return to action at the Raleigh Relays, hosted by North Carolina State University on March 24-26.
 
NCCU Top-5 Performances
 
Men's 100m Dash
Justin Miles (2^nd) 11.57
 
Women's 100m Dash
Asia Bly (2^nd) 12.47
Del'Nique Penn (3^rd) 13.09
Jordan Braxton (4^th) 13.24
 
Men's 400m Race
Donnell Carter (1^st) 49.96
 
Women's 400m Race
Emmaya Waters (2^nd) 1:03.09
Laniyah Oliver (3^rd) 1:04.11
Kianna Bell (5^th) 1:05.73
 
Men's 800m Race
Mackenson Yrules 2:01.73
Isaiah Hunter (2^nd) 2:02.04
Leroy Scarver (3^rd) 2:02.47
 
Women's 800m Race
Victoria Swepson (1^st) 2:24.74
Ariana Harrell (2^nd) 2:25.46
 
Men's 1500m Run
Ashton Drake (5^th) 4:32.94
 
Women's 1500m Run
Victoria Swepson (2^nd) 4:54.61
 
Women's 4x100m Relay
Asia Bly, Del'Nique Penn, Jordan Braxton, Tracey Manigault (2^nd) 48.04
Micah Fulton, Taylor Small, Zinzili Kelley, Joidon Boddie (3^rd) 51.78
 
Men's Shot put
Matthew Swepson (1^st) 15.54m
Nelson Anderson (3^rd) 14.07m
Xavier Lenear (4^th) 14.02m
Mason Grubbs (5^th) 13.64m
 
Women's Shot put
Naliah Hope (3^rd) 10.51m
 
Women's Long Jump
Micah Fulton (2^nd) 5.05m
Taylor Small (3^rd) 4.99m
Zinzili Kelley (5^th) 4.72m