Clayton State men hit NCAA Division II marks at Seminole Invitational
Simmons, Rolle reach provisional qualifying marks in 400-meter dash, triple jump

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – April 12, 2008 – The Clayton State Laker men’s track & field team came away with two NCAA Division II provisional performances and one school record at the Seminole Invitational at Florida State University on Saturday.

Senior Eric Simmons, seeking his fourth trip to outdoor nationals, hit a provisional time in the 400-meter dash, while junior Ahmad Rolle, who was a Division II All-American in the triple jump during indoor season, hit his mark in the triple jump for outdoors.

Simmons, a 2004 Division II All-American, ran 47.85 to finish sixth in the 400-meter dash. He also finished sixth in the 200-meter dash in 21.81, and anchored the Lakers’ 4x400-meter relay team of Rolle, Josh Tiggs and Lawrence DeShields to a 3:17.63 and a third-place finish.

Meanwhile, Rolle began his day breaking the Lakers’ long jump record, leaping 22-7¼ feet to place fourth. Later in the meet, before the 4x400-meter relay, Rolle jumped 48-0½ feet to place fourth in the triple jump and better the NCAA Division II provisional qualifying mark.

"Our guys had a very solid meet, led by Eric and Ahmad hitting qualifying marks for nationals," said Clayton State head coach Mike Mead. "Several guys hit either season-best or career-best outdoor times and marks. This was the right meet with the right competition to do so.

"This bunch has worked hard, especially our freshmen. Their progress might not be as fast as they would like, but it comes with experience. The upcoming week off from competition will do wonders for many of these guys as we wind down the season in the upcoming weeks."

Clayton State freshmen Walid Berkhedle, Joey Chino, Jarrid Casimir, Tim Moran, Sherard Polite and Michael Walker ran season- or personal-best times.

Berkhedle ran 4:00.41 in the 1500-meter run to place 11th, while Chino ran 4:17.99. Casimir bettered his career-best in the 5,000-meter run, going 16:35.11, and Moran ran 22.86 in the 200-meter dash. Polite, meanwhile, had season-bests in the 400-meter dash and 400-meter hurdles, while Walker had his best jump of the outdoor season in the long jump at 19-7 feet to finish sixth.

Junior Au Nguyen turned in a season-best in the 5,000-meter run, finishing seventh in 15:49.95, while teammate Anthony Aguilar ran 4:09.26 in the 1500-meter run. The Lakers placed all three of their 110-meter hurdles in the top eight, led by DeShields’ fourth-place finish, while Tiggs placed sixth and Ronreaco Lee was eighth.

The Lakers will resume their schedule on April 25-26. A select group will travel to Philadelphia, Pa. for the prestigious Penn Relays while the remaining members of the team compete April 26 at the Coach O Troy Invitational at Troy.