MCC Led By National Leaders And School Records

Birmingham, AL – MCC was back on the track last Saturday at the UAB Vulcan Invitational at the Birmingham Crossplex, where both teams posted school records and national leaders in their second meet of the 2017 campaign.

“We had a great meet at UAB and saw a lot of improvement from last week at LSU,” said Head Coach Chip Gayden.  “On both sides we wanted to see some strong performances and we had that.  It is our job now to continue on improving so we are ready to go when the championship season starts.”

MCC was led on the men’s side by Tim Hoodlebrink and Kobey Hill in the 800 meters who posted second place and fourth place finishes in the event with times of 1:55.35 and 1:57.96 to qualify for the NJCAA National Championships.  Hoodlebrink’s time was good enough for the  top time in the NJCAA and was .22 off the school record set by Saeed Basweidan in 1996.

In the 400 meters, James Burnett showed a strong performance in his season opener in the event with a fourth place finish in a time of 48.32.  Burnett’s time was good enough to place him fourth in the NJCAA and to also break the school record set by Dontarian Evans in 2016.

The men’s team also saw success in the 200 meters with Devarius Turner finishing 11^th in the event with a time of 22.08.  In the 3000 meters, Rogelio Araiza and Micah Britton posted sixth and seventh place finishes with times of 9:01.24 and 9:02.00.

MCC would qualify two relays for the NJCAA National Championships as the 4x400m relay team of Andre Burrell, Rogay Granston, James Burnett and Kobey Hill would go on to finish sixth in the event with a time of 3:18.24.  The 4x400m relay team currently ranks fifth in the NJCAA.  MCC would also qualify to defend their 4x800m national championship with a composite time of 7:56.00.

The women’s team was led by Ashley Henderson in the 200 meters.  Henderson, making here season debut in the event, picked up right where she left off last season after finishing second in the event indoors.  Henderson posted a personal best 24.17 to win the event over a studded field that included several professionals.  Henderson’s time was good enough to rank her first in the NJCAA in the event and also break her school record in the event. 

After two meets this season, MCC’s men’s squad has qualified five individuals for the NJCAA National Championships to go along with three relays.  The men’s team currently has 11 individuals ranked in the top 15 of their events and all three relays are ranked in the top five.  On the women’s side, MCC has qualified two individuals for the NJCAA National Championships

Next up for MCC is the KMS Invitational on Sunday, January 29^th at the Birmingham Crossplex.