VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – North Carolina Central University indoor track & field teams combined for nine event victories at the Richard Drake Invitational, hosted by Virginia Wesleyan University on Sunday at the Virginia Beach Sports Center.

NCCU freshmen Summer Washington and Laila Jackson each earned a pair of triumphs. Washington won the women's 60-meter hurdles in 8.92 seconds, and Jackson was the first to cross the finish line in the women's 800m run with a time of 2:19.97. The duo then combined with sophomore Taylor Small and freshman Sydni Smith to win the women's 4x400m relay in 4:01.17. Small also took second place in the women's long jump with a measurement of 5.53 meters.

Three other NCCU freshmen captured individual victories. Lamont Victoria remains unblemished in the men's high jump with his third first-place performance of the indoor season, leaping 2.05m (6-08.75) on Sunday. Tia Lucas cleared 1.65m (5-05.0) to win the women's high jump, while Emmanuel Paddyfote triumphed in the men's mile run with a time of 4:24.63.

NCCU junior Joidon Boddie achieved a career-best mark of 12.19m (40-00.0) to win the women's triple jump, with senior Micah Fulton taking third place (11.85m) in the same event.

In his first college meet, NCCU sophomore Christopher Rollinson ran to victory in the men's 60m hurdles in 8.34 seconds. Fellow sophomore Nelson Anderson rounds out NCCU's victors in the men's weight throw with a distance of 14.76m (48-05.25). 

NCCU junior Matthew Swepson tallied two top-3 efforts, finishing second in the men's weight throw (14.73m) and third in the men's shot put (14.36m).

Other runner-up performances by NCCU were registered by freshman Gianna Marquez in the women's 400m dash (59.83), senior Donnell Carter in the men's 400m dash (48.05), sophomore Victoria Swepson in the women's mile run (5:17.46), freshman Amari Williams in the women's shot put (12.03m), and junior Saniah O'Neill in the women's weight throw (14.26m). Freshman Malcolm Forbes placed third in the men's long jump (6.68m).

Up next, the NCCU indoor track & field teams compete at the JDL College Team Challenge in Winston Salem, North Carolina, on Thursday, Feb. 9.

For more information about NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.


NCCU Top-3 Finishes

Men's 60m Hurdles
Christopher Rollinson (1st) 8.34

Women's 60m Hurdles
Summer Washington (1st) 8.92

Women's 400m Dash
Gianna Marquez (2nd) 59.83

Men's 400m Dash
Donnell Carter (2nd) 48.05

Women's 800m Run
Laila Jackson (1st) 2:19.97

Women's 1 Mile Run
Victoria Swepson (2nd) 5:17.46

Men's 1 Mile Run
Emmanuel Paddyfote (1st) 4:24.63

Women's High Jump
Tia Lucas (1st) 1.65m (5-05.0)

Men's High Jump
Lamont Victoria (1st) 2.05m (6-08.75)

Women's Long Jump
Taylor Small (2nd) 5.53m (18-01.75)

Men's Long Jump
Malcolm Forbes (3rd) 6.68m (21-11.0)

Men's Shot Put
Matthew Swepson (3rd) 14.36m (47-01.5)

Women's Shot Put
Amari Williams (2nd) 12.03m (39-05.75)

Women's Triple Jump
Joidon Boddie (1st) 12.19m (40-00.0)
Micah Fulton (3rd) 11.85m (38-10.5)

Women's Weight Throw
Saniah O'Neill (2nd) 14.26m (46-09.5)

Men's Weight Throw
Nelson Anderson (1st) 14.76m (48-05.25)
Matthew Swepson (2nd) 14.73m 

Women's 4x400m Relay
Laila Jackson, Summer Washington, Taylor Small, Sydni Smith (1st) 4:01.17