The Albany Rams in a bid to repeat as champions led the Morehouse Tigers by
only 3 points with three events remaining. Despite a few last minute heroics
by the M-Tigers high jumpers, the Rams walked away with a slim but sweet victory
at the University of South Carolina’s Weems Baskin Track Saturday afternoon.
Jake McDonald Photo
5000 meter run at SIAC Championships
Morehouse’s five headed distance crew of Josiah Lagat, Hilary Kibet,
Ross McMillan, Alex Brickler, and Edmund Dixon swept through the distance events
with 1-2-3 finishes in the 1500 m, 5000 m, 10000 m, and the 3000 m steeplechase.
Lagat’s 1500 m and 3000 m steeplechase wins were title defenses, whereas
his win in the 5000 was the one that got away in 2003. In all, Lagat finished
with 43 points finishing 2nd and 5th in the 10000 m and 800 m events.
Albany State countered the M-Tigers distance giant with Mr. Athlete Nate Roberson.
Roberson was all over the place picking up a total of 42 points. The decathlete
picked up two first place finishes in the pole vault and decathlon and two
second place finishes in the discus and hammer throws.
Defending 200m and 400m champ Sterling Gray, Albany State, relinquished his
hold on both titles. Teammate Eddie McDuffie supplanted Gray in the 400 m and
Tuskegee’s Harry Williams claimed the prize in the 200 m. It was his
first title and the only one for the Tigers for the week.
Williams wasn’t the only first timer to stand atop the podium on Saturday.
Joining him in the rookie champion circle were Jeff Nweke (FVSU) hammer throw,
Bruno Parker (Morehouse) javelin, Alex Brickler (Morehouse) 10000 m, and Keith
Moffatt (Morehouse) high jump.
Single wins were fine, but there were plenty of double winners and repeat
champions to go around. Javonie Small, Morehouse, doubled in the 110 hurdles
and 400 hurdles for the second consecutive year. Eddie McDuffie defended his
long jumper title to go with his 400 m. Scottie Pittman doubled his trophy
count following up his second discus title with a win in the shot put. Morehouse’s
Cameron Dayne bested his 2003 performance by almost a half-meter sailing 15.25
meters for his second title.
Jake McDonald Photo
Keith Moffatt sets a new SIAC record in the high jump
The biggest dramatic moment of the day belonged to Morehouse high
jumper Keith Moffatt. In the last event of the day the true freshman set a
new SIAC record in the high jump with a leap of 7 feet 4 and one-half inches.
The lanky freshman just missed on his first two attempts before resting for
4 of his allotted 5 minutes. With the entire stadium clapping in unison the
lanky Moffatt made his approach, hit his mark, and cleared the bar with room
to spare.
Moffatt’s win and fellow M-Tiger Jason Cornelius’ second place
finish were not enough to close the gap as the Albany State Rams notched
their second straight SIAC Men’s Track and Field title.
