NORFOLK, Va., April 5, 2023—Norfolk State senior Kai Cole was named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Men’s Track Athlete of the Week, presented by Coca-Cola, and Howard University senior Jessica Wright was selected as Women’s Track Athlete of the Week, the conference office announced today.Delaware State sophomore Peter Kamanu was named Men’s Field Athlete of the Week, while North Carolina Central junior Joidon Boddie earned Women’s Field Athlete of the Week honors.
Kai Cole , Norfolk State (Sr., Alexandria, Va.)
Cole set MEAC benchmarks in both the men’s 100 and 200 meters, winning both events this past weekend at the Virginia Quadrangular, while also helping the 4×100-meter relay squad to a gold medal. He ran a 10.32 in the 100 meters (which would rank top-50 nationally without the wind aid) and turned in a 20.93 in the 200 meters.
Jessica Wright , Howard University, (Sr., Durham, N.C.)
Wright was runner-up in the women’s 400-meter hurdles at the Texas Relays, running a MEAC-best 55.98. She is the only MEAC runner with a sub-minute time in the event so far this season, and her time currently ranks third in the nation.
Peter Kamanu Delaware State (So., Frederick, Md.)
Kamanu improved on his MEAC-best mark in the men’s pole vault at the Towson Spring Open, winning gold with a mark of 4.61 meters (15 feet, 1.5 inches).
Joidon Boddie , North Carolina Central, (Jr., Raleigh, N.C.)
Boddie won the women’s triple jump at the VertKlasse Meeting this past weekend, setting a personal and MEAC best by leaping 12.83 meters (42 feet, 1.25 inches). She currently ranks tied for 44th in the nation in the event.
Other Top Performers
James Bel (Coppin State) won the men’s high jump at the Towson Spring Open, clearing 2.01 meters.
Solomon Hammond (Coppin State) won both the men’s 100 and 200 meters at the Towson Spring Open, running a 10.51 and 21.72, respectively.
Gifty Oku (Coppin State) was fourth in the women’s 400 meters at the Towson Spring Open with a time of 57.79.
Annalise Bond (Delaware State) cleared 3.40 meters to finish third in the women’s pole vault at the Towson Spring Open.
Andre Carr, Jr. (Delaware State) was second in the men’s 100 meters at 10.78 in the Towson Spring Open.
Catherine Glenn (Delaware State) won the women’s 100-meter hurdles at the Towson Spring Open with a 13.65.
Dylan Beard (Howard) was 13th in the men’s 110-meter hurdles at the Texas Relays, running a MEAC-best 13.57.
Mikayla Rodgers (Howard) was second in the women’s hammer throw at the Texas Relays with a MEAC-best mark of 53.96 meters.
Faithlyn Irving (Maryland Eastern Shore) won the women’s triple jump at the Towson Spring Open, leaping 12.40 meters.
Spencer Settle (Maryland Eastern Shore) won the women’s 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:01.76 at the Towson Spring Open.
Johnelle Johnson (Morgan State) won the women’s discus (47.29 meters) and was second in the shot put (13.11 meters) at the Towson Spring Open.
John Purvis (Morgan State) tossed the shot put 15.14 meters to come in third at the Towson Spring Open.
Jadon-Ra Akbar (Morgan State) was third in the men’s 110-meter hurdles at the Towson Spring Open with a season-best 14.71.
Destiny Ward (Morgan State) ran a 57.42 in the women’s 400 meters at the Towson Spring Open to finish second.
De’Niya Gravely (Norfolk State) was second in the women’s triple jump (11.52 meters) and third in the 100 meters (12.00) at the Virginia Quadrangular.
Isaac Haywood (Norfolk State) was second in the men’s triple jump at the Virginia Quadrangular, leaping 14.77 meters.
Donnell Carter (North Carolina Central) won the men’s 400 meters, running a 47.66 in the VertKlasse Meeting.
Victoria Swepson (North Carolina Central) was eighth in the women’s 800 meters at the VertKlasse Meeting, clocking in at 2:17.09.
Waddell Rembert-Jett (South Carolina State) ran a personal-best 10.35 at the Texas Relays in the men’s 100 meters.
