RESULTS
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Three Sand Sharks won four events in the season-opening indoor track and field meet of 2020-21, as Mel Obadiah Jr. (1000m, 600m), Narada Adams (400m) and Kadari Mitchell (200m) won their respective events on Saturday at the CIU Rams Invitational.
Field Highlights
Jana Barden kicked off the meet in the women's shot put, as she finished inside the top 5 (fourth) in the event. The sophomore thrower made a heave of 10.49m and bested the fifth-place finisher by 0.41m. Bianca Simpson finished in the middle of the pack (11th) with her throw of 8.92m.
Simpson found success in her next field event, as the sophomore finished fifth in the women's weight throw. The Hampton, S.C. native made a throw of 11.94m and was 0.43m from moving into the top four.
Andrew Smith and Carter Freeman competed in the men's pole vault. Smith had more success, as he cleared the 3.70m mark on his second attempt en route to his sixth-place finish. Freeman cleared 3.10m, as he placed ninth.
Track Highlights
After finishing 10th at the Sun Conference Cross Country Championships, Jenitza Trinidad found success in the women's 1000m race. In fact, she finished runner-up with a mark of 3:11.22, and she was right at four seconds away from the first-place finisher - Gracie Allen of Milligan.
On the men's side of the 1000m, Obadiah took home USCB's first gold medal at the meet, as the transfer from Witchita State blew away the competition. With his time of 2:29.86, he bested the runner-up by almost two full seconds. With his run, he also met the A standard at the NAIA level and earned a berth to run at the NAIA Indoor Nationals in March 2021. Not to be outdone, Shamar Deacon and Sam Williams were also fast in the same event, as they placed fourth and sixth, respectively. Deacon clocked a 2:34.34, while Williams earned a 2:40.08.
Picking up where he left off, Obadiah won another gold medal. This time the senior won the men's 600m and also earned another NAIA National bid in the event. The sprinter clocked a 1:21.33 and took home the top spot. Deacon placed second and was just under a second away from his teammate, as he also earned a NAIA berth with a B standard mark. The freshman from Jamaica ran a 1:22.26 and bested the third-place finisher by nearly a second-and-a-half.
Junior Mitchell picked up where he left off from his NAIA All-American sophomore campaign with a second-place finish in the men's 60m. Mitchell ran a 6.85 in the prelims, which seeded him second in the 50-runner field. He ran in the finals of the event and clocked the same time to finish second in the competitive field. Tyson Riley and Steven Nesbitt also ran in the 60m. Riley clocked a 7.04, while Nesbitt posted a 7.08.
Adams was the second Sand Shark on Saturday to earn a gold medal. The sophomore ran in the men's 400m and blew away the competition with his 48.77 time, which also met the NAIA national standard. With his time, he nearly defeated the second-place finisher by two seconds.
Oriana Hernadez found success in the women's 200m, as she earned a top-10 finish. The freshman posted a time of 26.37 to sit her in seventh place in the 39-person field.
The third Sand Shark won their fourth event on Saturday, as Mitchell took home the top spot in the men's 200m. Mitchell ran a 21.65 and took home his first first-place finish at the meet. With his quick time, he also joined his teammates with another NAIA standard in an event. Right behind him was Adams, as he finished in second place with a stellar 22.27, which also was a NAIA mark for the national meet.
Trinidad and Alexa Lashley ran in the women's one mile run, and the Sand Shark duo placed second and third, respectively. Trinidad clocked a 5:35.90, and Lashley posted a 5:43.22.
What's Next?
Both squads will rest and recover for nearly two months, as the Sand Sharks will prepare for the Warrior Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 16.
