JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The North Carolina Central men's and women's track & field teams will have five Eagles competing in the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field East First Round on May 28-31 at the University of North Florida. Tia Lucas, Jonathan Raijon-Koger, Theodore Skinner, Malcolm Forbes and Melanne Sutton all qualified in their respective events with top-50 performances in the region throughout the outdoor season.
Melanne Sutton (Greenville, N.C.) is the only sprinter representing the Maroon & Gray. Sutton's time of 11.41 in the women's 100m at the MEAC Outdoor Championships earlier this month placed her 44th in the Southeast region as a qualifier. The 100m event fires off on Thursday, May 29 at 7 p.m.
Malcolm Forbes (Raleigh, N.C.) qualified after a 15.37m performance in the men's triple jump at the MEAC Outdoor Championships. The leap moved him to 42nd in the Southeast region. Forbes opens competition on Friday, May 30 at 2:30 p.m.
The final three Eagles face off in the high jump event. Jonathan Raijon-Koger (Pfafftown, N.C.) cleared 2.11m at the Dani Palooza Last Chance Meet, finishing 41st in the Southeast region. Theodore Skinner (Garner, N.C.) qualified after his 2.10m jump at Penn Relays in April. Both high jumpers get started on Friday, May 30 at 2:30 p.m.
Tia Lucas (James Island, S.C.) rounds out the qualifiers as she prepares for the women's high jump event. Lucas is 22nd in the Southeast region after a 1.77m mark for gold at the MEAC Outdoor Championships. The women's high jump first round is Saturday, May 31 at 2:30 p.m.
The top 12 in each event from the East and West regions advance to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. on June 11-14.
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com, or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.
