COLUMBIA, SC. ^__ Alabama A&M University's Women's track and field team returned back to the University of South Carolina for the second weekend in a row to compete in the South Carolina Invite. The Lady Bulldogs had a strong showing and improved on several personal best marks that were just made on last weekend.

Graduate Senior, Na'Asha Robinson held the Lady Bulldogs only invite champion in the 400 meter dash. Robinson finished the event with a time of 52.94 which places her in the first position heading into the SWAC conference championship and most importantly places her 8th in the NCAA D1 National Rankings. Robinson also competed in the 200 meter dash this past weekend finishing second overall with a time of 23.35. That current time also places her first in the conference standings and 11th in the NCAA D1 National Rankings.

"As for myself with competing at my first official collegiate meet of the year, it brought many small achievements but the work still continues forward," Robinson explained. "I was finally able to place some solid top marks for conference and solidify being ranked in the top 10 in the nation. But now the focus is gearing up for USA Indoor Nationals and SWAC Championships where the greatness will continue."

Robinson also gave insight on the team progression at the meet.

"I watched everyone rise up to the occasion and put up great marks on both days of competition on the team raising our overall marks going into the SWAC Championship. We as a team were not satisfied with our personal records achieved on the first day. However, our overall goal was to come back on day two with more determination and grit to be even better, which is what greatness consist of. We are Bulldogs and we will continue to press forward as a team with our Bulldog pride relentlessly chasing greatness and remaining unsatisfied because the work is never done."

Along with Robinson, Danice Loney continues to make her presence known within the conference. The 5'6 junior from Melbourne, Florida bypass her own personal best again by vaulting 3.65m (11'11.75) which placed her in the 5th position at the meet and securing a first place position as of this date going into the conference championship.

"This weekend was a great weekend as a whole for the team!" Loney stated after her event. "We put aside all of our over thinking and many of us just went out and executed, letting our hard work and talent show by shattering many great personal records! Especially for me in which I tend to overthink things a lot. However, this weekend I went out with a different mindset to just execute and have fun, and our next stop is at the Indoor SWAC Championships!!"

Comments from Coach Jones

"I was a little nervous going back to back on a long trip like this, however I was always prayerful that the athletes went out and executed everything that we have been working on in practice. We started the meet off a little shaky but regrouped and started placing the pieces together. To come out of this meet with Alabama A&M University being placed on the National rankings, high up on the conference rankings and accomplishing numerous of personal best is nothing but a blessing. These young ladies have been working hard and the success is beginning to show. Now we will just have to stay healthy and touch up on technique and fundamentals so that we can put our best paw forward going into Championship. Paws down Lady Bulldogs!"

Additional Stats and accomplishments from the Lady Bulldogs are as followed:

Fabiona Jackson-Jenkins achieved another personal best in the 400 meter dash with a sprinting time of 56.53 placing her in the 4th position in the SWAC conference and a personal best in the 200 meter dash with a time of 24.64 which places her in the 3rd position.

Diamond Griffin ran a personal best of 2:16.19 in the 800 meter run placing her in the 3rd position going into the conference championship.

Sabria Wooten is continuing to bypass each personal best mark that she makes. Wooten set the new mark of 5:17.22 in the Mile run placing her in the 3rd position in the conference standings.

Aneisha Ingram hit a seasonal and personal best mark of 5:26.27 in the Mile run which rounded off the top eight in conference standings.

Autumn Locklin reached her personal best in the 400 meter dash on the first day of competition with a time of 58.08 landing her in the top 15 in the conference standings.

Ciarra Johnson set a personal best in the Women's Weight Throw competition with a toss of 10.78m (35'4.75) and a 12.22m (40'1.25) which places her 8th going into the SWAC Indoor Championship.

Jayla Neal set a person best in the Women's long jump with a leap of 5.27m (17'3.5) placing her in the top 12 of the conference standings.

The 4x400 Relay team consisting of Fabiona Jackson-Jenkins, Terion Davis, Autumn Locklin and Diamond Griffin hit a season best of 3:48.59 closing out the meet and placing them in the 3rd position in the conference standings.

Next up for the Lady Bulldogs is the 2020 SWAC Indoor Championship held on February 20-21 at the Crossplex in Birmingham, Alabama.

For more information on the Bulldog track and field teams, follow the Bulldogs on Instagram (@aamutrack). For more on all Bulldogs sports teams, follow the official social media accounts of AAMU Athletics on Twitter (@AAMUBulldogs), Facebook (Facebook.com/aamubulldogs) and Instagram (@AAMUathletics).