Two Rattlers ran away from the competition and into the NCAA track and field regionals Saturday at the 34th annual FSU relays. FAMU had outstanding performances in the sprints, placing first in the 4 x 200m, the 100m gold and open divisions, the 400m, and the 4 x 200m gold division.
Senior Sheldon Morant qualified for regionals in the 100m with a time of 10.5. Morant also ran excellent times in the 4 x 400m relay and the 1600m-sprint medley.”The competition here was good, but we haven’t seen anything yet. The Florida Relays are next week and the competition there is always tough,” Morant said.
Junior MEAC 400m champion Eric Ramsey is also headed to regionals, qualifying with a 47.00 second quarter. Ramsey’s primary competition was unattached quarter runner Gino White. Ramsey took first place in a dramatic final 15-meter sprint to the finish line.
“I didn’t know he was so close to me until the last curve. This was my fastest time of the year. I ran the 800m last week, so that helped with my endurance,” Ramsey said
Ramsey will run the anchor leg of the 4 x 400m relay at the Florida Relays next week. The relay team narrowly missed qualifying for regionals Saturday placing second despite a blazing 46.00 second opening leg by Morant.
“We had a pretty decent meet, about a B+. We’re progressing. I thought they all improved,” said Men’s head track coach Rey Robinson. “Now it’s on to Gainesville and to get that 4 x 400 time.”
Senior Marisa Uzoaru made an easy transition from indoor competition after competing in the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships to the outdoor competition at the FSU Relays. The All-American soared to a height of 1.79 meters to place second in the women’s high jump. Robin McClain also performed exceptionally well in Wednesday and Thursday’s heptathlon events as she place fourth in the final standings with an overall score of 4704.
Both the men and the women’s track and field teams will travel to Gainesville, Fla. this weekend to compete in the Florida Relays hosted by the University of Florida.
Chris Mattox can be reached at christophermattox@hotmail.com.