MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – North Carolina Central University junior Matthew Swepson finished in seventh place or better in three events to lead the Eagles' 17 top-10 performances at the Alan Connie Shamrock Invitational in NCCU's outdoor track & field season opener on Friday and Saturday in Myrtle Beach.

In a highly competitive field, the NCCU women secured 11th place out of 28 teams, while the NCCU men grabbed 12th place out of 30 teams. Duke University sat atop both the women's and men's team standings.

Swepson, a throws specialist out of Durham, North Carolina, placed fifth in the javelin throw (57.74m), sixth in the shot put (15.01m), and seventh in the discus throw (44.21m).

NCCU sophomore Nelson Anderson earned third place in the men's discus throw with a distance of 45.97 meters.

Freshman Lamont Victoria, the MEAC indoor high jump champion, captured the third position in the men's high jump with a leap of 2.02m, while teammate Brenden Finger placed ninth in the same event with a height of 1.88m.

MEAC indoor women's triple jump silver medalist Micah Fulton placed fifth in the long jump with a measurement of 5.70m, while Tia Lucas finished 10th in the women's high jump at 1.53m.

On the track, NCCU sophomore Victoria Swepson placed fourth in the women's 800m run (2:21.91) and fifth in the mile run (5:18.32). Swepson also teamed up with Gianna Marquez, Mylena Beckham and Laila Jackson to finish as the runner-up in the women's 4x800m relay with a time of 9:37.70.

Individually, Jackson placed sixth in the seeded 400m dash with a time of 58.34 seconds, while Beckham finished third in the open 400m dash in 1:02.97.

Other individual top-10 efforts by NCCU were registered by Neco Johnson in the men's 400m dash (9th/53.53) and Raven Verner in the women's 100m dash (10th/12.45).

In the men's relays, NCCU's Donnell Carter, Casee Jones, Christopher Rollinson and Lamont Victoria placed fourth in the 4x200m relay (1:30.54), while Emmanuel Paddyfote, Octavious Smith, Melchoir Ellis and Corey Little finished ninth in the 4x800m relay (8:22.56). 

Up next, NCCU makes a short trip to North Carolina State University for the Raleigh Relays on March 23-25.

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


NCCU Top-10 Results

Women's Long Jump
Micah Fulton (5th) 5.70m

Men's Javelin
Matthew Swepson (5th) 57.74m

Men's Shot Put
Matthew Swepson (6th) 15.01m

Men's Discus
Nelson Anderson (3rd) 45.97m
Matthew Swepson (7th) 44.21m

Women's High Jump
Tia Lucas (10th) 1.53m

Men's High Jump
Lamont Victoria (3rd) 2.02m
Brenden Finger (9th) 1.88m

Women's 100m dash
Raven Verner (10th) 12.45

Women's 1 Mile run
Victoria Swepson (5th) 5:18.32

Women's 400m dash - seeded
Laila Jackson (6th) 58.34

Women's 400m dash - open
Mylena Beckham (3rd) 1:02.97

Women's 800m run - seeded
Victoria Swepson (4th) 2:21.91

Men's 400m dash
Neco Johnson (9th) 53.53

Women's 4x800m relay
NCCU (2nd) 9:37.70 - Victoria Swepson, Gianna Marquez, Mylena Beckham, Laila Jackson

Men's 4x800m relay
NCCU (9th) 8:22.56 - Emmanuel Paddyfote, Octavious Smith, Melchoir Ellis, Corey Little

Men's 4x200m relay
NCCU (4th) 1:30.54 - Donnell Carter, Casee Jones, Christopher Rollinson, Lamont Victoria