DURHAM, N.C. (May 6) – The Virginia State men repeated as conference champions at the 2023 CIAA Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Durham County Stadium on Saturday.
The Trojans scored 140 points to pull away from Saint Augustine's (111) and Claflin (107.5). A 1-2-3 discus sweep led by
Atrell Williams helped boost the Trojans to a runaway win.
Williams and Glenn Butler of Lincoln (Pa.) were CIAA Men's Field Co-MVPs and Tyler Wagner of Livingstone was CIAA Men's Track MVP. McQueen and Seward were CIAA Women's Track and Field MVPs, respectively. Frank Hyland of Virginia State was CIAA Men's Coach of the Year.
Coach Hyland came to VSU in February and was able to lead the Trojans men's team back to victory and secure a top three finish with the women's team.
The Trojans also displayed depth to claim the men's title. The trio of Williams,
Isaiah Ramadane and
Mark Banberger were first, second and third, respectively, to give Virginia State a sizeable lead.
Devonte Moore placed fifth in the discus as four Trojans finished among the top five spots.
Williams' discus victory along with his shot put win on Friday earned him Co-Field MVP honors with Butler.
Jalen Brownlee sparked the Trojans by finishing second in the 5000 run and seventh in the 800 run to go with Friday's win in the 1500 run.
Saturday's men's winners were Kadain Roper of Saint Augustine's (javelin), Ja'Qun Wilkins of Johnson C. Smith (triple jump), Jayden Rodriguez of Lincoln (Pa.) (110 hurdles), Kymali Hay of Johnson C. Smith (400 dash), Zephaniah Cox Jr. of Johnson C. Smith (100 dash), Zion Murry of Claflin (800 run), Sean Kalawan of Saint Augustine's (400 hurdles), Wagner of Livingstone (200 dash), Micah Kipruto of Virginia Union (5000 run), Williams of Virginia State (discus), the Johnson C. Smith 4x100 relay team and the Claflin 4x400 relay team.
