PRAIRIE VIEW, Tex.---- The Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs have completed Day one of the three day 2018 SWAC Outdoor Championship meet hosted by Prairie View A&M University.
Competition for the Bulldogs began with the Men's Javelin throw at 8:30 a.m. and the Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs saw action in the 10,000 meter run, Women Pole Vault, Decathlon, Heptathlon, and Women and Men Hammer Throw.
On the men's side, Akeem Samuels was crowned the 2018 SWAC Outdoor Champion in the Men's Hammer Throw with a throw of 50.25 meters ahead of Marquis Nelson from Alabama State who finished second with a throw of 48.83 meters and Miles Dortch, who finished third in the event with a distance of 46.59 meters (164-10). The Bulldogs freshman, Christian Bryant, finished the men's hammer throw in 10th place.Â
In the Men's Decathlon, two freshman Bulldogs completed their first day of the 10 event competition. Jordan Simons is currently in 5th place with a total of 3178 points and DeAnthony Williams is in 11th place with a total points of 2376 points. The finals and remaining events, which include the 110 hurdles, Discus Throw, Pole Vault, Javelin throw and 1500 meter run, will be completed tomorrow.
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"It feels great to see all my hardworking pay off with a victory at championship," Samuels said. "All glory goes to God cause without His blessing and favor for me, I wouldn't be here right now. I would like to thank Coach Adam for all the hard work he put in with me and Christian and Alexis for pushing me in practice daily."
 "My first year into coaching I didn't know what type of results I would produce and that made me nervous all season," Coach Adam Robinson said. "If I didn't know how to help them improve I made sure I knew the answer by the next practice. Hard work pays off and it will definitely show the rest of this weekend. Alabama A&M had their first winner in the Weight Throw and Hammer this year under my tutelage and that is a good feeling. I'm proud of what I accomplished this year with my athletes and I'm excited about next year."
On the women side, Sabria Wooten finished 10th in the 10,000 meter run with a time of 44:37.77,Danice Loney finished 10th in the Women's Pole Vault with a vault of 2.91m, and in the women's hepathlon Sophia Madison is sitting in the 11th position and Jordyn Hankins in the 12th position after day one. The final events for the hepathlon which includes the Long Jump, Javelin Throw and the 800 meter run will conclude on tomorrow.
"We had some highlights as well as some disappointments today out on the track and in the field for the first day of the championship," Head Coach LaShaunda Jones said. "I am extremely proud of Akeem and he truly deserve it with the dedication and hard work that he has placed into this year. I am also proud that Akeem was crowed the champion, because he missed his graduation ceremony to attend this Outdoor Championship. He should be proud of himself also for accomplishing two major task in the same weekend. Also, Coach Adam Robinson in his first season has done a tremendous job in leading Akeem, the rest of the throwers as well as with the multi athletes."
The Bulldogs are in 6th place in the team standings with a total of 10 points and the Lady Bulldogs are not on the board after Day 1, however, they look to regroup on tomorrow. Day 2 competition begins at 8:00 a.m. with the finals of the Decathlon and 8:30a.m. with the finals in the Heptathlon. Day 2 competition also will include the Finals in the Shot Put, Long Jump, Women Javelin, and the 3000 meter Steeplechase.
"I believe that we will discuss our position on both the men and women side concerning the meet in the team meeting tonight and regain our FOCUS for the remainder of the Championship," Coach Jones said. "As a team, we have struggled with maintaining our focus throughout the season and we hope to see it change around in our favor the following two days."
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