Track & Field 2k21: MEAC Championships Preview

The MEAC Championships are happening this weekend at North Carolina A&T. From 1980 to 2019, the MEAC had outdoor championship meets but last year COVID-19 halted things. This year, things are back and we will take a look at some of the top competitors in the conference.

Below: Cambrea Sturgis

Back in 2019, North Carolina A&T's Kayla White was dominating the 100 meters but right on her tails were two vicious underclassmen in Norfolk State's Kiara Grant and North Carolina A&T's Cambrea Sturgis. Now that White is a pro, Grant and Sturgis have been left to battle it out and see who the fastest woman of the MEAC will be at the championship meet. Sturgis' top time of the season came early when she ran 11.21 at the 93rd Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays, March 25. On April 10, Kiara Grant sprinted to a time of 11.29 at the Gamecock Invitational. Both sprinters saw their personal best 100 meters times come in the 2019 season when Grant clocked a 11.04, finishing sixth at the NCAA 100 meter final and Sturgis recorded 11.17, placing seventh at the NCAA Division I East Region Preliminary Rounds meet.

Below: Kiara Grant

Chances are that someone from North Carolina A&T or Norfolk State will win the 100 meters as the next four best competitors this season are from either school. A trio from North Carolina A&T, Jonah Ross (11.30), Kamaya Debose-Epps (11.31) and Symone Darius (11.38) along with Norfolk State's DaJah Parker-Love (11.40) also have an opportunity to vie for the MEAC championship in the event.

Below: Symone Darius & Kamaya Debose-Epps

Sturgis is also a favorite in the 200 meters with a season best time of 22.86. In 2019 she was third in the 200 meters at the NCAA outdoor championship meet where she ran 22.40, which is her personal record. Her teammate Dubose-Epps recorded the conference's second best time at 22.97 and Howard's Jesska Gbai is right behind her at 22.98. North Carolina A&T's Delecia McDuffie has the fourth best time in the 200 meters (23.02) but she is the favorite to win the 400 meters with the MEAC's top time of 53.31. She is the only runner in the conference to finish that event under 54 seconds this season.

Below: Martha Bissah

Norfolk State's Martha Bissah is back for one more championship meet to finish off her dominance in the 800 meters and 1,500 meters relays. Since 2017 she has won 20 combined indoor and outdoor championships in various middle distance and distance events. If anyone beats her in either race, it will be the biggest upset of the meet.

Above: Madeleine Akobundu, TeJyrica Robinson, Paula Salmon & Breanne Bygrave

The 100-meter hurdles will see three North Carolina A&T regulars in 2019 MEAC outdoor champ Madeleine Akobundu. She is looking for her first win in the event since the day she became conference champ. Her best time this season is 13.06, which is second to teammate TeJyrica Robinson's 12.97 finish. She was the runner-up to Akobundu in 2019. The third of the usual suspects is Paula Salmon who ran 13.07 this season. As a freshman she finished third in 2019. She is more than capable of besting her two senior teammates. This may be the most exciting race of the meet.

Below: Loren James

When it comes to throws, North Carolina A&T's Loren James is expected to be the star of the meet. She has the top shot put (16.07) and hammer throw (52.74) of the season. The senior also has the second best discus throw (40.36) behind her freshman teammate Makayla Watkins (43.49).

Above: Nazah Reddick

As for the jumps the wealth is spread beyond just North Carolina A&T and Norfolk State. Nazah Reddick and Kenady Wilson will lead the charge for North Carolina A&T as the MEAC's top high jumpers at 1.75. Florida A&M's Rachel Robertson has a mark of 1.74 and is expected to be in the running for the title as well.

Below: Rachel Robertson

Robertson is the favorite in the triple jump with a MEAC leading jump of 12.36. The long jump has two competitors from Morgan State at the top of the heap. Tia Jackson and Ayanna Henry jumped 5.94 and 5.85 respectively during the regular season. Coppin State's Latifa Ali has the MEAC's third best jump at 5.84.

Below: Latifa Ali