STARKVILLE, Miss. – Alcorn Track & Field had a positive showing over the weekend taking part in the Alumni Bulldog Relays housed at Mike Sanders Track Complex in Starkville, Mississippi. The three-day event was hosted by Mississippi State.
 
For Alcorn, Derrick Williams highlighted the men's side with a second-place finish in the 100m, as the West Palm Beach, Florida, native recorded a time of 10.33 seconds. He would follow in the 200m with a second-place finish as well, this time crossing in a time of 20.85 seconds.
 
"I'm really proud of the effort we put together this weekend," stated Alonzo Banks, Alcorn Track & Field Head Coach. "To come out here and compete at this level, against this kind of competition, and show what we're capable of is exactly the kind of statement we want to make early in the outdoor campaign."
 
Trellas Forrest, a senior from Winona, Mississippi, earned a podium finish in third during the men's 400m, registering a mark of 47.18 seconds in the event.
 
"DJ [Williams] had a really strong showing," said Banks. "He's been putting in the work day in and day out, and it was great to see that translate onto the track this weekend. He's a guy we lean on, and he came through for us."
 
In the women's portion of the Alumni Bulldog Relays, Izayla Harris starred with a winning time of 23.52 seconds in the 200m. A freshman from Doyline, Louisiana, Harris finished second overall in the women's 100m, crossing in a time of 11.62 seconds, respectfully.
 
"Izayla [Harris] was outstanding," expressed Banks afterwards. "She came out focused, she competed with confidence, and she delivered when it mattered. That's what we expect from her, and she continues to meet and exceed those expectations."
 
Rikki Gray placed herself fourth in the women's 400m in a mark of 57.29 seconds. Also having a strong showing for the Braves on the women's side were Kayotric Taplin in the 100m hurdles, scoring a time of 14.14 seconds, as well as Silvia Jepkorir taking eighth in the 5000m run (18:46.75).
 
In the field events, it was Kaylin White posting the best result of the weekend in the women's long jump with a distance of 5.82m (19-01.25), allowing the Tucson, Arizona, product to finish third overall.
 
The men's 4x100m relay team consisting of Beethoven Phanord, Joe Coleman, Germari Wyre and Derrick Williams that scored a second-place finish in a time of 41.20 seconds, respectively.
 
"This meet gives us a lot of momentum heading forward," stated Banks. "We'll take the positives, address a few things in practice, and keep building. The best is still ahead for this group."
 
The Braves are back in action next at the Southern Miss Invitational taking place April 3-4, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
 
Follow Alcorn State Sports on Twitter (@BravesSports) for all the latest news and updates. Follow us on Instagram (@AlcornSports) and YouTube (Braves Sports Network) for even further behind-the-scenes action across all Braves Athletics.
 
The full list of Alcorn times and finishes is listed below:
 
Men 100m
2.     Derrick Williams______________ 10.33
11.  Beethoven Phanord___________ 10.67
16.  Joe Coleman________________ 10.84
17.  Germari Wyre_______________ 10.86
34.  Jaidon Shelby_______________ 11.22
 
Men's 200m
2.     Derrick Williams______________ 20.85
 
Men's 400m
3.     Trellas Forrest_______________ 47.18
4.     Jaden Gardner_______________ 47.60
9.     Preston Summage____________ 48.10
19.  Ethan Campbell______________ 50.10
 
Men's 800m
18.  Kendrick Matthews__________ 1:58.14
 
Men's 1500m
20.  Bryan Alvarez______________ 4:18.62
27.  Chemar McGhee____________ 4:32.99
29.  Darrian Wells______________ 4:36.51
 
Men's 110m Hurdles
14.  Desmyn McCall______________ 15.55
 
Men's Shot Put
--     Jadan Miller_________________ FOUL
 
Women's 100m
2.     Izayla Harris________________ 11.62
10.  Taliya Spurlock______________ 12.08
51.  Brailey Stewart______________ 13.40
 
Women's 200m
1.     Izayla Harris________________ 23.52
14.  Brianna Wilson______________ 24.38
 
Women's 400m
4.     Rikki Gray__________________ 57.29
6.     Sanaa Parker________________ 57.37
11.  Myshell Hurse_______________ 58.35
 
Women's 800m
13.  Erin Barr__________________ 2:24.38
15.  Lanise Chilton______________ 2:27.05
16.  Jaleah Netter______________ 2:27.39
18.  Jasmine Robertson__________ 2:29.83
 
Women's 5000m
8.     Silvia Jepkorir_____________ 18:46.75
 
Women's 100m Hurdles
5.     Kayotric Taplin_______________ 14.14
16.  Kaitlynn Gates_______________ 15.42
21.  Kaylin White________________ 15.98
 
Women's Long Jump
3.     Kaylin White______________ 5.82m // 19-01.25
 
Women's Triple Jump
14.  Taylar Brown_____________ 11.24m // 16-10.50
16.  Myah Knowles____________ 10.83m // 35-06.50
--     Zoe Adderly_______________________ FOUL
 
Men's 4x100m Relay
2.     Phanord, Coleman, Wyre, Williams_____________ 41.10
 
Women's 4x100m Relay
3.     Wilson, Magee, Spurlock, Harris_______________ 45.70