NORFOLK, Va. – The North Carolina Central University track and field units put on a show and gathered 21 top-ten finishes at the Norfolk State Invitational over the weekend.
 
The Eagles had multiple scorers within the top-10 across the men's throwing competitions. Sophomore Matthew Swepson earned second place in the javelin and discus events with 48.60-meter and 46.62m throws, respectively. He also earned fifth place in the men's hammer throw with a 39.83m effort. Freshman Nelson Anderson placed sixth in the javelin with a 37.06m mark, and seventh in the shot put with a 13.74m heave. He also placed eighth in the discus and ninth in the hammer throw with 42.13m and 37.33m tosses. Senior Xavier Lenear finished fourth in the hammer throw with a 40.66m effort.
 
Additionally in the field, senior Marvin Jones soared 2.08m, and freshman Brenden Finger leaped 1.93m to collect second and third place in the men's high jump, respectively. Junior Jaelyn Blanc finished fifth in the men's triple jump with a 14.33m effort. Freshman Naliah Hope placed 10^th in the women's shot put with a 10.07m hurl. Senior Zinzili Kelley placed third in the women's heptathlon with a cumulative score of 3682. In the women's long jump, freshman Anyae Lindsay placed fourth with a 5.52m mark. Sophomores Alejandra Urraca and Joidon Boddie leaped 1.52m to finish sixth and seventh, respectively in the women's high jump. In addition, Boddie placed third in the triple jump with an 11.78m mark.
 
On the track, sophomore Leroy Scarver sprinted the men's 400-meter dash in 49.87 seconds to claim ninth place. Freshman Victoria Swepson ran the women's 1500m run in 4:58.24 to be the fourth competitor to cross the finish line. She was one of five individuals to finish in less than five minutes. In the men's 5K, senior Ashton Drake finished in 16:43.64 to place fifth.  Junior Emmaya Waters earned fourth place in the women's 400m hurdles with a time of 1:02.47.
 
The maroon and gray will return to action on April 22-23 in the Aggie Classic, hosted by North Carolina A&T State University.
 
Top NCCU Performances
 
Men's Javelin
Matthew Swepson (2^nd) 48.60m
Nelson Anderson (6^th) 37.07m
 
Women's Shot Put
Naliah Hope (10^th) 10.07m
 
Men's Shot Put
Nelson Anderson (7^th) 13.74m
 
Women's Heptathlon
Zinzili Kelley (3^rd) 3682 points
 
Men's High Jump
Marvin Jones (2^nd) 2.08m
Brenden Finger (3^rd) 1.93m
 
Women's Long Jump
Anyae Lindsay (4^th) 5.52m
 
Men's Triple Jump
Jaelyn Blanc (5^th) 14.33m
 
Women's High Jump
Alejandra Urraca (6^th) 1.52m
Joidon Boddie (7^th) 1.52m
 
Men's 400m Dash
Leroy Scarver (9^th) 49.87 seconds
 
Women's 1500m Run
Victoria Swepson (4^th) 4:58.24
 
Men's 5K Run
Ashton Drake (5^th) 16:43.64
 
Women's 400m Hurdles
Emmaya Waters (4^th) 1:02.47
 
Men's Discus
Matthew Swepson (2^nd) 46.62m
Nelson Anderson (8^th) 42.13m
 
Women's Triple Jump
Joidon Boddie (3^rd) 11.78m
 
Men's Hammer Throw
Xavier Lenear (4^th) 40.66m
Matthew Swepson (5^th) 39.83m
Nelson Anderson (9^th) 37.33m