Courtesy of Scott Wallace, Tennessee State Athletics
NASHVILLE- The Tennessee State University Flying Tiger men’s track team controlled the field events early to help take an overwhelming victory in the 24th Annual Ed Temple Classic at the Wilma Rudolph Indoor Facility. The Flying Tigers tallied 111 points, with the second-place Cumberland University Phoenix scoring 23.
Jon’Terio Horton spearheaded the route, winning the first event, the high jump clearing the bar at 6’1.5. TSU then earned nine more points finishing second (Anthony Ward 23’4.75), third Keandric Verge 23’3.5), and fourth (Christian White(23’3.25) in the long jump. Verge (48’9), Horton (46.1.25), and Ward (45′ 2.5) took the top three spots in the triple jump.
The Flying Tigers also dominated the throwing events taking the top five spots in the weight throw and the top three in the shot put. Forrest Saffo flexed his muscles, taking the top spots in both events, finishing with a 46’5 effort in the shot put and at 55’5 in the weight throw. Justin Biggsfinished second in the shot and third in the weight. Jairus Stewart finished third and fifth in each event, and Nicholas Wright closed out the scoring by finishing second in the weight throw.
TSU did well in the running events earning four first places. Thomas McMullen won the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 7.81 and ran the second leg of the winning 4×400-meter relay. TSU’s B relay team of Jeremiah Lewis, Evan Echols, Nigel Simon, and Devin Jackson finished third with a 3:30.42 effort. McMullen (51,22) was also part of the Flying Tiger sweep in the 400-meter dash, finishing in third place behind Morgan Jones(50.22) and Quest Agee (50.55). Echols (51.43) was fourth, and Lewis’ 51.64 effort gave him a fifth-place finish.
The best race of the day was Anthony Ward’s22.84 effort in the 200-meter dash giving him a narrow victory over Jones, who finished at 22.86. TSU’s Echols (23.15) and Agee (23.18) finished third and fourth. Ward also finished second in the 55-meter dash with a 6.57 effort. Rounding out the first place Flying Tigers was Thaddee Barge in the 800-meter run at 1:56.29. Teammates Robert Hooper (1.58.88) and Sunny Quinn (2:04.28) finished third and fifth, respectively.
The Flying Tigers will be back in action on January 16, when they travel to take on Kentucky State University.
