NORFOLK, Va. – Powered by four gold-medal performances and a dominant effort in the field, both the North Carolina Central University men's and women's teams earned the most points during the program's Division I era at the 2023 MEAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships on May 9-11 at Dick Price Stadium in Norfolk, Virginia. 

The NCCU men's team amassed 80 points, including 42 points by the throwers, to place fifth, repeating their best team finish since transitioning to NCAA Division I in the summer of 2011.

The NCCU women's team registered 56.5 points, including 40.5 points courtesy of the 'jump squad,' to finish in sixth place, equaling their top position at the outdoor championship meet in 2019 and 2014.

During the three days of competition, four NCCU Eagles stood atop the podium with gold medals. 

Joidon Boddie (Jr., Raleigh, N.C.) entered the meet as the 2023 MEAC indoor women's triple jump champion and the favorite to win gold again. Boddie did not disappoint, capturing the triple jump title with a mark of 12.52 meters.

Fellow indoor MEAC champion Lamont Victoria (Fr., Prince George, Va.), who claimed the men's high jump crown in February and held the conference's top spot during the outdoor regular season, also lived up to the billing. The freshman soared 2.11m to sweep the league's men's high jump title in 2023.

Tia Lucas (Fr., James Island, S.C.), who wore a silver medal following the conference indoor championships, walked away from Norfolk with a gold medal in the women's high jump. Her winning height of 1.68m matches the second-best mark in the NCCU records book.

Laila Jackson (Fr., Avondale, La.) became NCCU's first runner to win a conference championship in the program's Division I era, dating back to the 2012 outdoor season, by grabbing a gold medal in the women's 800-meter run. Her victorious time of 2:11.12 is the fastest 800m run for NCCU in the past 21 years and ranks second in the NCCU records book.

Headlining a 42-point onslaught by the NCCU men's throwers was Matthew Swepson (Jr., Durham, N.C.), who contributed 23 points by collecting a silver medal in the javelin throw (55.61m) and a bronze medal in the hammer throw (49.00m), along with placing fourth in the shot put (15.99m) and fifth in the discus throw (46.94m). For his efforts, Swepson was presented with the Most Outstanding Field Performer award for the second straight year. 

Throwing-mate Khamari Arrington (So., Raleigh, N.C.) accounted for 10 points by earning a silver medal in the men's discus throw (48.40m) and placing seventh in the shot put (15.13m).

Taylor Small (So., Lorton, Va.) posted a career-best leap of 5.79m to claim a silver medal in the women's long jump, which ranks third in the NCCU records book.

In his final college race, Ashton Drake (Sr., Nokesville, Va.) improved his own NCCU record in the men's 3000m steeplechase by finishing in 9:57.43, to cap his career with a bronze medal.

Donnell Carter (Sr., Waldorf, Md.) achieved a career-best time of 46.90 seconds for the fastest time of the men's 400m dash preliminaries, and was presented with a bronze medal after recording a time of 47.21 in Saturday's 400m final.

For complete results, visit MEACsports.com.
 

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Gold
Tia Lucas - women's high jump (1.68m)
Lamont Victoria - men's high jump (2.11m)
Joidon Boddie - women's triple jump (12.52m)
Laila Jackson - women's 800m run (2:11.12)

Silver
Khamari Arrington - men's discus throw (48.40m)
Taylor Small - women's long jump (5.79m)
Matthew Swepson - men's javelin throw (55.61m)

Bronze
Ashton Drake - men's 3000m steeplechase (9:57.43)
Matthew Swepson - men's hammer throw (49.00m)
Donnell Carter - men's 400m dash (47.21)

Women - MEAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships (NCAA Division I)
2023 - 6th (56.5 points)
2022 - 7th (42)
2021 – 7th (4)
2019 – 6th (50.5)
2018 – 8th (28)
2017 – 11th (20)
2016 – 10th tie (22)
2015 – 11th tie (20)
2014 – 6th (54)
2013 – 9th (41)
2012 – 9th (35)

Men - MEAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships (NCAA Division I)
2023 - 5th (80 points)
2022 - 5th (75)
2021 – 6th (32)
2019 – 9th (29)
2018 – 12th (18)
2017 – 9th (40)
2016 – 9th (38)
2015 – 10th (14)
2014 – 12th (3)
2013 – 13th (19)
2012 – 10th (30)

* 2020 – No outdoor championships due to COVID
 

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