Final Results
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Sophomore distance runner Runelda Jackson has quickly established her place among the all-time greats at Alcorn, etching her name into the record book with the fastest outdoor 5000m time in the program's decorated history during the Southern Miss Invitational.
Jackson, who holds the fastest indoor 5000m time of 19:18.96 that she set as a freshman, can now claim the same in the outdoor version of the same event, eclipsing the previous time of 18:49.93 by 85-tenths of a second (18:49.08). It had previously been held by YeKeshia Royal since the 2018 outdoor campaign.
She did so while finishing as the runner-up in the event, trailing only Grambling State's Naomi Kiprop who had a time of 18:42.66 and logging a top-ten placement in the 800m as well (2:23.58).
The Belle Glade, Florida native was not the only one to set a new benchmark as Christian Franklin broke a program record for the second consecutive week, obliterating the former fastest time in the 1500m by over ten seconds with a remarkable 3:58.91. The outdoor 1500m time of 4:09.87 had lasted for the past 13 years before Franklin toppled it with ease as Kyler Wilkins' 2008 event time is now second on the list.Franklin claimed a fourth place finish for his efforts in the 1500m while also garnering a top-five slot in the 800m as well at 1:56.37.
"Our kids have been consistent, I'm very pleased with their hard work and performances," said Head Coach Jimmy Joseph. "We are reaching our goals and it's exciting to be apart of it. We look forward to continued success!"
Also for the Lady Braves, Akili Pleas-Carnie received the silver for her 1:03.83 in the 400 hurdles and a top-ten placement during the 100 hurdles (15.79), Qua'Neshia Hamilton took home the bronze for her 11.89m leap in the triple jump, and An'Twanique Kinsler earned fourth and eighth place finishes for the 200m (25.12) and 400m (59.40), respectively.
Other ladies in Purple and Gold with top-ten rankings in their events were Shameka Grover with a pair of eighth place events in the 100m (12.32) and 200m (25.55) plus Americus Knight's 1.48m high jump.
The women's 4x400m relay team of Kinsler, Pleas-Carnie, Endya Scott and Betheny Sanders shone brightly as well, coming in second with a mark of 3:52.60.
As for the men from Lorman, Jachius Spears fronted the way with fifth in the 110m hurdles (14.70) and Charles Nnathah came in eighth during the 400m hurdles (55.79) to highlight the Braves top individual events.
The Braves' 4x100 relay squad of JaKobe Rogers, Marcus Sims, Ashton DeFreeze and Arrington Robinson also looked strong in their heat, taking third overall with a speed of 41.44 seconds.
The Braves and Lady Braves will make its next appearance on Friday and Saturday in Hattiesburg for the Southern Miss Invitational.
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