media_artricles :: 2012

Hackett back on track

Trinidad and Tobago sprinter Semoy Hackett is back on track.

Competing for the first time since completing a six-month doping ban, the Louisiana State University (LSU) student was in winners' row at the Tiger Relays, in Louisiana, USA, on the weekend.

Hackett ran the second leg for her school in the women's 4x100 metres relay, the LSU quartet returning a time of 43.86 seconds to grab gold. In the preliminaries, Hackett and company clocked 43.94 to lead all qualifiers into the final.

Hackett also performed second leg duties in the 4x200m relay, helping LSU earn the top spot in one minute, 32.64 seconds.

Hackett was banned for six months after testing positive for the stimulant Methylhexanamine on August 13 last year, at the National Track and Field Championships. Her ban started on September 16 and ended two Fridays ago (March 16).

Ade Alleyne-Forte also enjoyed relay success at the Tiger Relays. The T&T/LSU athlete was part of the LSU team that struck gold in the men's 4x400m in 3:07.20. He was also on the team that triumphed in the men's sprint medley in 3:19.95. Alleyne-Forte ran the opening leg. And in the 4x200m relay, Alleyne-Forte and another T&T/LSU athlete, Shermund Allsop helped LSU to silver in 1:23.67.

Kyron Blaise seized silver in the men's triple jump with a wind-assisted 16.53 metres effort. The LSU student's best legal jump was 15.81m. Allsop finished eighth in the men's 100m final in a windy 10.59 seconds. And in the women's 100m, Central Michigan University sprinter, Kirlene Roberts was 15th overall in 12.43.

Annie Alexander captured a throwing double at the Southeastern Conference (SEC)/Big Ten Challenge, in Mississippi. The University of Tennessee student topped the women's shot put field with a 15.91m throw, and emerged victorious in the discus with a 51.77m effort.

Emanuel Mayers claimed the men's 400m hurdles title in 50.68 seconds. In the 110m hurdles, the Mississippi State University athlete clocked a wind-aided 14.14 seconds to secure silver. Mayers was part of the Mississippi State team that struck gold in the mile relay in 3:09.09.

Tennessee sprinter Jamol James got to the line in a windy 21.04 seconds for fourth in the men's 200m. He also competed in the 4x100m relay, helping his team to second spot in 40.13.

At the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Springtime Meet, in Texas, Janeil Bellille won the women's 100m hurdles in 13.52 seconds. Her South Plains College teammate, Sparkle McKnight finished fourth in 14.43, while sixth spot was copped by UTEP's Aeisha McDavid (14.77).

Bellille also won the 400m hurdles. She clocked 56.99 seconds to beat McKnight (58.34) into second spot.

In the sprint relay, Bellille and McKnight were on the South Plains team that snapped up silver in 45.41 seconds.

Mc David finished seventh in the shot put with a 10.86m throw, and eighth in the triple jump with a windy 11.42m jump. Her best legal effort was 11.39m.

Durell Busby struck gold in the men's 110m hurdles, at the Vanderbilt Black and Gold Invite, in Tennessee. The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee student got to the line in 13.95 seconds. Busby also competed in the 4x100m relay, helping his school to the top spot in 41.76.

At the University of Central Florida (UCF) Invitational, Baylor University's Gavyn Nero bagged men's 800m bronze in 1:50.03.

University of Florida athlete, Jovon Toppin clocked 48.88 seconds to finish fifth in the men's 400m. In the men's 200m, Baylor's Zwede Hewitt was sixth fastest in a windy 20.83, while Toppin finished 14th overall in 21.94. Florida International University (FIU) athlete, T'Keyah Dumoy clocked a windy 24.72 seconds for 21st spot in the women's 200m.

Hewitt anchored Baylor to victory in the men's mile relay (3:06.98), as well as the sprint relay (39.43).

At the Victor Lopez Classic, in Texas, Ashlee Smith claimed bronze in the women's discus with a 45.93m heave. The McNeese State University student also competed in the shot put and hammer throw, finishing fifth in both events. She threw 14.15m in the shot put and 49.60m in the hammer.

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