Track & Field Opens Outdoor Season at MC Classic

CLINTON, Miss. – Under the direction of Head Coach Alonzo Banks, Alcorn Track & Field heads to nearby Clinton, Mississippi, on Saturday, March 7, as the Braves compete in the outdoor season opener in the Mississippi College Spring Classic at James E. Parkman Track.
 
Several Braves will be in action to open the outdoor season, but many taking part in events they would not normally compete in. Banks and his staff are using this weekend as a warm-up for the outdoor season, as a whole.
 
Meet Info – MC Spring Classic
 
Dates: Saturday, March 7
 
Venue: James E. Parkman Track | Clinton, Miss.
 
Live Results
 
Meet Information (PDF)
 
Event Schedule (PDF)
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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QUOTES FROM COACH BANKS
"We're excited to get outdoors and get this season started. The MC Spring Classic is a great meet to open things up, as it gives our student-athletes a chance to shake off any rust and step on the track with a purpose from the indoor campaign. There's always an energy that comes with that first meet of the outdoor season, and I think our guys and girls are ready to compete."
 
"Anytime you get the opportunity to compete close to home, that's a bonus. There's a familiarity that comes with it since our athletes know the region, they're comfortable, and they don't have to deal with long travel days before stepping on the track. That matters, especially early in the season when you want everything working in your favor."
 
"This meet is about more than just results. It's about getting our feet under us and establishing our identity early. The outdoor season is a grind, and there are a lot of meets between now and the conference championship. You want to build the right habits from day one."
 
"We use this meet as a foundation. We want to come out, execute, and build some confidence heading into the rest of the schedule. The SWAC is competitive from top to bottom, and we know the work doesn't stop after today. But getting off to a solid start is important, and that's exactly what we're here to do."
 
ABOUT JAMES E. PARKMAN TRACK
The Choctaws play their home football games in the friendly confines of Robinson-Hale Stadium located in Clinton, MS. The facility boasts one of the largest seating capacities in all of Division II holding 8,500 people. Mississippi College is routinely ranked among the top ten teams in the country in average attendance each season. The Choctaws have ranked as high as 8th in the nation in average attendance in Division III and averaged over 5,000 fans per game in the 2014 season.

The synthetic surface was installed by Sprinturf, the same company who used by the Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans of the National Football League. Robinson-Hale Stadium was opened during the 1985 season. The first game ever in the facility found the Choctaws blasting Jacksonville State 50-3. In the Dedication Game two weeks later, the Choctaws edged past Livingston University 14-7.

The stadium honors two men who helped establish Mississippi College football tradition. Stanley L. Robinson gave 36 years of service to the College as head coach and athletic director. Edwin (Goat) Hale, a football legend, was an outstanding offensive back and was the first back in Mississippi history to be named to the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame.

The track was added in 2006 giving MC one of the nicest facilities in the country. The total renovation project totaled more than one million dollars and was named after Dr. James E. Parkman who provided the lead gift for the project. The track complex features an eight-lane track, four long jump and triple jump areas, crushed stone shot put sector, steeple chase, large high jump area, dual direction pole vault and a separate discus, hammer and javelin area.
 
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