BACK-TO-BACK! Medgar Evers College wins indoor track titles — again!!!

By Nick Masuda | nicholas.masuda31@mec.cuny.edu

BACK TO BACK!!!!

That’s right, they did it again!

A year after setting the world ablaze with historic CUNYAC Indoor Track & Field titles, both the men’s and women’s team successfully defended their titles on Saturday evening at the Nike Track & Field Center at the Armory.

In a tight battle with Hunter College on both sides, the months of training, travel and tenacity paid off with a sizable Cougar crowd in attendance at the Armory.

This is the second conference title in the history of the men’s program, while the third for the women’s program.

With just two events left on the night, the Cougar men held a one-point advantage over Hunter, 171-170. 

But a world-class high jump from Omari Hinds and then an absolutely dominating 4×400 meter relay performance from Jahiem Johnson, Reco Griffith, Adeolu Adeyemi and Rupert Luard-Charles vaulted the Cougars to a 193-184 victory.

Meanwhile, on the women’s side, Hunter had creeped closer late in the meet, only to be thwarted by a spectacular effort in the 3,000 meters by Nana Samake and Kenia Irish-Bramble, as they took the podium with first and second, respectively. The Cougar 4×400 meter relay team left no doubt in the final race of the day, with Shaniya Chung, Rinnah Brown, Thenica Thompson and Toshel Goffe helping the team secure a 202-175 victory.

“These student-athletes were up to the task,” said Medgar  Evers College Coach Hugh Reid, an absolute coaching legend around New York with more than 25 team titles under his belt.

And they were appropriately feted in a post-race celebration.

With a fan contingent that included Dr. Patricia Ramsey (President), Dr. Jesse Kane (Senior Vice President), Dr. Earl Simons (Vice President), Sherill-Ann Mason (Director, SEEK), Dulcie McPhatter (Director, Admissions) and a number of students and alumni, the award ceremony included dance lines, signs and chants that were distinctly Medgar.

It even had Dr. Ramsey fired up — “Back to back!” 

Players and coaches alike cradled the four team trophies like precious cargo, carefully getting them back on the bus as they made their way back home from the Bronx.

And as Kayshaun Higgs and Zion Young carried those trophies back into the Carroll Street Building late Saturday night, and Nia Butler and Toshel Goffe raised them to their shelf in Athletic Director Chetara Murphy’s office, a poignant line could be heard from the hall:

“They’re back home, where they belong.”

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To read about even more standout performances and more thoughts from Coach Reid, get the full Athletics story, click here.