(1888PressRelease)
June 17, 2006 - Three University of South Alabama student-athletes won championships at the Sun Belt Conference Outdoor Track & Field championships Sunday at Tad Gormley Stadium.
Samy Barka, who just last month provisionally qualified for the NCAAs in the 400-meter hurdles, bettered his mark on Sunday and won a league crown in a time of 50.61.
Bibiche Mankatu and Dado Kamissoko earned championships in the 800 and 400-meter races. Mankatu finished in 2:12.98 to win her event, and Kamissoko earned a winning time of 54.28 in the 400.
"Samy, Dado and Bibiche really performed well," said first-year South Alabama track coach Lee Evans. "We have a lot of work to do in the off-season. Next year, we will be better"
USA placed sixth in the women's 10-team field with 71 points. New Mexico State won its first-ever league title with 138 total points.
Ed Crawford of NMSU was named coach of the year. The women's most outstanding track performer was Leah Thorvilson of UALR. The top field performer was Stephany Reid of MTSU.
Following New Mexico State in the overall standings were MTSU (119), North Texas (118.5), Florida International (81), Louisiana-Lafayette (74), USA (71), Arkansas State (70), Western Kentucky (63.5), Arkansas-Little Rock (61) and New Orleans (22).
North Texas edged out Louisiana-Lafayette 148 to 146 to win the men's championship. Rick Watkins of UNT was named the league's top coach. Godfrey Herring of MTSU was the most outstanding track performer, while Mesut Yavas of Arkansas State took home the top field accolade.Western Kentucky was third in the men's field, followed by MTSU (116), Arkansas State (88.5), Arkansas-Little Rock (64), Florida International (53), USA (38.5) and New Orleans (32).
Other Jaguar all-conference performances came from Eboni Thompkins in the heptathlon (3rd-place, 4537 points) and 100 meter hurdles (third-place, 14.24); Chris Johnson in the men's high jump (3rd-place, 1.98 m); and Laquisha Ryan in the 100 meter dash (3rd-place, 11.80).
The women's 4x400 meter relay team of Keyshonda Garland, Shaveattea Milton, Bibiche Mankatu and Dado Kamissoko finished runner-up to New Mexico State to earn all-conference honors.
USA will send a few of its athletes to the Last Chance Meet, hosted by Georgia Tech, on May 17-18. The nationals will be held at the end of the month.
