It was a memorable day at the William P. Hytche Athletic Center in Princess Anne as the Maryland Eastern Shore track and field program hosted its first home meet in over two years on Friday (Jan 28).
 
The Hawk women took first, with the men taking third, against Delaware State University, Salisbury University, Lincoln University, Gallaudet University and Hood College.
 
"Everybody looked to be competing," head coach Damion Drummond. "It was a meet where the competition was close enough that they can handle their own and I think they did a good job."
 
It was a banner day for senior Joshua Goslee, with the jumper not only obtaining personal in the long jump at 6.69m but also a school record in the pole vault. Goslee attempted the school record at the HBCU Battle two weeks prior after already obtaining first place, this week he needed every bit of might to obtain his mark in the history books.
 
"I'm so happy because it's been a long journey to get to 4.25m," Goslee said. "It's a feeling of relief. A lot of studying, studying what I need to work on to get better, then getting my body back in shape."
 
On the women's side, senior Atinuke Shittu took first in both the triple jump and long jump in her first action in over two years. Shittu crushed both events, taking the triple with an 11.84m attempt, besting her competition by almost two meters, and the long jump with 5.36m.
 
"A lot of people competed prior so it's like playing catch up," Shittu said. "Hopefully we get there next week."
 
Drummond was also impressed by the efforts of young hurdlers Mackenzi Evans and Spencer Settle, who qualified at the top of the 60m before taking second and third in the finals with 9.45 and 9.48 races.
 
"That was a good turn of events for them," Drummond said. "In New York they had just come back and in the past two weeks they've really gone after it, they're starting to look like the athletes I recruited."
 
Junior Zachary Opon took third in the 60m hurdles for the men with an 8.60.
 
The Hawks also got a solid performance from the circle, with James Perkins taking first in the shot put at 13.74m and Indya Hansley taking second in the weight throw and third in the shot put, putting up 13.29m and 11.37m respectively.
 
"It means a lot," Perkins said. "In the position I'm in and the health that I'm in, I am satisfied with how I did."
 
In the 60m dash Ma'Kayla Handy and Malea Sharps took third and fourth, finishing at 8.22 and 8.23. Mahki Herring placed second for the men, notching a 6.96 in his finals – the junior also ran a respectable 22.81 in the 200m for fourth.
 
Jelisa Lovett and Jahlahnee Watkins both were impressive in the 400m, Lovett third with a 1:04.63 and Watkins placing second with a 50.37 to Joseph Amoah, who qualified for Ghana in the 2021 Olympic Games.
 
"It should be a confidence booster and more importantly it's an eye-opener for the guys who are true quarter-milers," Drummond said. "Right now he's positioned himself as 'you want this, come get me.'"
 
The 800m also had both a member of the men's and women's teams place, Nahom Ftwi third at 2:09.23 and Dominique Spann came in second with a 2:37.99.

"You have someone like Dominique in the 800m who literally performed in her trainers," Drummond said. "There's no guarantee you're going to be at 100% on the track and I think that went deep."
 
Other jumpers who placed include pole vaulter Destiny Parker who took second for the women at 2.30m and Mackel Pierrilus with a 13.38m in the triple.
 
It will be a quick turnaround for the Hawks, as the squads head to Liberty University for the two-day Liberty Open starting next Friday (Feb 4).