UNDER THE BANNER
What's Going On In and Around Black College Sports
NATIONAL CHAMPION: Jackson State hurdler Michael Tinsley made school and black college history by becoming the first male athlete to win a national championship finishing first in the 400 meter hurdles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships Saturday at Sacramento State University in Sacramento, Ca. This year's SWAC champion captured his first national championship. His victory was televised nationally on CBS.
Tinsley achieved a personal best of 48.25 seconds, which
is the fourth best time in the nation this year.
"This is a great day for JSU athletics and JSU track
and field," said Edmond Donald, JSU's men's head track
and field coach. "It is a historic event, a culmination of four
years of hard work by a kid who was determined to take his
special place in history and I'm glad he did it."
"It was a great weekend altogether," Tinsley said. "It was great national exposure for my school and my team and I'm glad to end it with a national championship."
Yvette Lewis and Terry Thornton of Hampton also earned All-American honors at the NCAA Championships. The NCAA East Region champion and NCAA indoor champ in the triple jump, Lewis fought off a foot injury and finished fourth. Her best jump was 44' 7".
Thornton finished seventh behind Tinsley in the 400 hurdles with a time of 49.84 after bettering his personal best in the preliminaries and semifinals.
Next on tap for HBCU performers will be the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, June 21-25 in Indianapolis.
© 2006 Azeez Communications, Inc.