MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The University of West Alabama men's and women's outdoor track & field teams turned in a strong performance Saturday at the Montevallo Falcon Classic, highlighted by multiple event victories and several podium finishes.
West Alabama's top performances were led by standout efforts from
J'Da Williams and
Dedric Hicks, who each captured first-place finishes for the Tigers.
Hicks continued his dominant season in the men's shot put, claiming the event title with a throw of 17.46 meters. The mark led the field and added another victory to an already impressive season for the UWA thrower.
On the track, Williams delivered a stellar day for the Tigers. She won the women's 100-meter dash with a time of 11.53 seconds and later placed second in the women's 200-meter dash in 24.61. Williams also helped power UWA to victory in the women's 4x100-meter relay, teaming with
Jamaya Dancy,
Jocelyn Randle, and
Adria Burrell to claim first place with a time of 46.47.
Burrell also secured a podium finish individually, placing third in the women's 100-meter dash with a time of 11.92.
The Tigers collected several additional top-three finishes across the meet. In the men's 1500-meter run,
Gary Mata placed second with a time of 3:58.41.
Jalen Green followed with a runner-up performance in the men's 110-meter hurdles, finishing in 15.03 seconds.
In the middle-distance events,
Mercy Lomuria earned a second-place finish in the women's 800-meter run with a time of 2:20.61.
Kilaya Lucien also reached the podium in the women's 400-meter dash, finishing third in 58.61.
On the men's side,
Landon Laphand secured a third-place finish in the men's 400 meters with a time of 48.69.
West Alabama also recorded numerous top-10 finishes throughout the meet.
Rita Walker placed fifth in the women's 5000-meter run with a time of 18:47.50, while Lomuria added another top finish with a fifth-place showing in the women's 1500 meters (5:00.38).
In the women's 400 meters,
Kacey Green finished eighth with a time of 1:02.51.
Tyrese Pitts added a sixth-place finish in the men's 400 meters with a time of 49.93.
The Tigers saw multiple strong performances in the men's 800 meters, with ShaKenye Darden finishing fifth (1:58.31), Mata placing sixth (1:58.45), and
Ray Englebert taking ninth (2:00.35).
In the women's 200 meters,
Jocelyn Randle placed fourth (24.71), while Burrell finished fifth with the same time of 24.71.
Braxton Williams and Laphand both placed in the top 10 of the men's 200 meters, finishing ninth (22.24) and 10th (22.25), respectively. Williams also added a 10th-place finish in the men's 100 meters with a time of 10.94.
In the throws,
Avery Peterson finished ninth in the men's shot put with a mark of 13.49 meters and added a 10th-place finish in the men's hammer throw with a mark of 34.46 meters.
With multiple event wins and a deep list of top finishes, the Tigers continued to build momentum during the outdoor season as they prepare for upcoming meets.
