MYRTLE BEACH, SC – The Hampton University track teams started their outdoor seasons this past weekend participating in the Alan Connie Shamrock Invitational in Myrtle Beach.

Both teams took home the Mayor's Relay Cup titles as team scores were kept in the relay events (4x100, 4x200, 4x400, 4x800).

For the women, the 4x200 relay team of Meshala Morton, Sashana Hinds, Asha Copeland and Mallory Pitchford won in 1:38.74.  Hampton took second in the 4x100 with the same four running a 46.89, while Autumn Smith, Morton, Copeland and Hinds ran a 3::55.14 to take second in the 4x400.   In the 4x800, Eusila Chepkemei, Pollyanna Velasco, DeVonya Brown and Alysha Evans took fifth in 9:41.11.

Individually, Janet Okeago won the 10,000 meter race in 37:10.28 and also took fourth in the 3,000 in 10:23.32.  Chepkemei was second in the 5,000 meters in 17:45.58 to cover the distance top finishers.  Smith won the 400 meters in 59.49, while Tamadj Fisher was fourth in the high jump (5-3).

The men had two relay teams take first and two more take third to win its division.  In the 4x400 relay, Brenan Garrett, Jerrick Powell, Justin Beatty and Jaelen Williams ran 3:16.78 to win that race.  The 4x800 relay group of Tayvon Burris, Stanley Davis, Beatty and Geoffrey McCullough ran 7:41.26 to take first place.

The 4x200 relay consisted of Garrett, Powell, Williams and Joshua Hagins who finished third in 1:26.71.  In the 4x100, Hampton took third in a time of 41.43 with a grouping of Garrett, Hagins, Powell and Williams.

In the distance races, Wesley Kimutai won the 10,000 meters in 30:59.96, while Emmanuel Too was third in 31:45.29.   Too took sixth in the 3,000 meters in 8:39.58.  
Burris was second in the 400 meters in 48.65, while Beatty came in fifth in 49.47.  Isaac Arriola took third in the triple jump in 47-9.75.

Hampton will now compete in the Weems Baskins Invitational hosted by South Carolina this weekend March 23-25.

For more information on Hampton University track and field, please contact the Office of Sports Information at 757-727-5757 or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.