Jan. 31, 2016 Results | Photo Gallery 
ANNAPOLIS, Maryland- Following an unexpected week off due to a blizzard that impacted the region, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) track & field team was ripe and ready to compete in the Wesley Brown Invitational on Saturday in Annapolis. A multitude of first place finishes and a pair of postseason qualifications were the proof of this readiness.
Junior Khalil Rmidi Kinini (Malaga, Spain) narrowly missed breaking his own record in the 3000 meter run, easily winning the race Saturday with a time of 8:10.25. That mark easily beats the IC4A qualification time, currently ranking 13th among all qualifiers.
Four of his contemporaries on the Lady Hawks-junior Rachel Halmon (Waldorf, Maryland), freshmen Lenneisha Gilbert (Miami, Florida) and Alicia Colson (Upper Marlboro, Maryland) and sophomore Dypna Umunakwe (Bronx, New York)-ran a time of 3:49.97 in the 4x400 relay. Not only did they win the event and easily eclipse the fastest time the quarter have run this year, but like Rmidi Kinini, the ladies also earned qualification to the ECAC tournament.
All five will travel to the IC4A/ECAC Championships in Boston this coming March, along with other Hawks who have already qualified.
There were several other victories for the team in Annapolis. Umunakwe won the 400 meter dash at 58.47 seconds, her second best time this season. Junior Shelasia Leitch (Newark, New Jersey) took the top spot in the 60 meter hurdles with a time of 8.92 seconds, and sophomore teammate Tanise Edwards (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) captured first in the long jump with a distance of 5.38 meters.
On the men's side, Rmidi Kinini was the only winner of any event, but senior Rico Duncan (Cheverly, Maryland) set a new collegiate standard for himself with a 17.69 meter toss in the weight throw, finishing third in the event.
Saturday's meet was not affected by team scoring.
The Hawks will get a good look at one of the postseason venues when it travels to the Scarlett & White Invitational in Boston, Massachusetts next weekend.
