MCC Track and Field Has Successful Start to Season

The Meridian Community College Track and Field team got the Indoor season off to a successful start over the weekend at the Birmingham Crossplex. The Eagles competed against some of the top programs in the country including Miami, Alabama, Tennessee, and more. Eagle runners were highly competitive and held their own against the larger programs.

The highlight of the weekend was Sophomore Leander Forbes record-setting 500 meter run. Forbes broke the meet and facility records with a blazing time of 1:02.18. In addition to breaking these records Forbes qualified for the 600-meter event at nationals.

Forbes was not the only successful runner for the Eagles. Tony Mack qualified for nationals in the 1000 meters. His time of 2:34.25 qualified him for the national event and was good enough for a 13th place finish at the meet. Joshua St. Clair was able to pull out a 3rd place finish in the 300 meters with a time of 34.64.

Two other Eagle athletes finished in the top ten of their respective events. Marcus Jackson finished 10th in the 400 meters, while Marquania Rowell finished 9th in the High Jump.

The Eagles had two teams compete in the 4x4 relays. These teams finished 2nd and 4th in the event. The team that finished 2nd consisted of Antucne Dennard, Demeyers Morrow, Adrian Lockwood, and Tavian Clark. They finished with a time of 3:25.32. The 4th place team consisted of Jalen McCoy, Makell Brown, Mack, and Forbes.

"I was pleased with how we competed. We had some mistakes, but everyone does the first meet. I was very pleased with how Leander opened up his season and executed the race plan exactly how we had drawn it out." Said Head Coach Chip Gayden.

The Eagles will return to the track Friday and Saturday, January 18-19 to compete in the Samford Open.