Irving continues dominance in MEAC triple jump; Hawks make podium in five events.


SUMMARY

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore wrapped up the MEAC Indoor Championships on Monday with five appearances on the championship podium which included a gold medal finish by Faithlyn Irving.



MEET INFORMATION

MEAC Indoor Championships
Facility: Virginia Beach Sports Complex
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Dates: Feb. 22 - Feb. 23
Full Results: https://www.tfrrs.org/results/93683/2026_MEAC_Indoor_Track__Field_Championships


UMES WOMEN'S PERFORMANCES


As the end of her collegiate career approaches, UMES standout Faithlyn Irving captured gold in the MEAC indoor triple jump competition for the third consecutive year. Irving leaped to a distance of 12.95m to win the event while recording her fourth victory of the indoor season. Jonysha Prucien also earned points for the Hawks in the triple jump with a mark of 12.17m for a fourth place finish. Irving also recorded points for the Hawks with a fifth place mark of 5.62m in the long jump. Lyee Simms also had a successful weekend at the MEAC Championships. Competing in the pentathlon, Simms recorded a new personal best mark of 1.72 in the high jump and went on to score in the event with an eighth place finish overall. Simms later earned a bronze in the high jump individual competition with a height of 1.69m while teammate Dakota Hickman came in fifth with a jump of 1.60m. In the women's 800 meter run, Shennell Simms finished in eighth with a pace of 2:18.20. 


In the team events, the Hawks earned a pair of sixth place finishes. The team of Tayla Wilson, Rihanna Gayle, Shennell Simms and Jamayla Stansbury ran a time of 3:59.46 in the 3 x 400 meter relay. In the women's distance medley relay, which was shortened to 3800 meters, the Hawks finished in sixth with a pace of 12:08.24.


The Hawk women finished the meet with a combined team score of 37 points and a seventh place finish.



UMES MEN'S PERFORMANCES


Competing in his first MEAC indoor championships, distance runner Banele Mkabela made the podium twice as an individual. He earned a silver medal with a run of 14:49.18 in the 5000 meter race. He finished with the bronze in the 3000 meter run with a time of 8:23.87. Mkabela made the podium once more with teammates Kamoi Tracey, Destiny Emuze and Siyabonga Mbatha in the distance medley relay with a pace of 10:06.40. 


Other point earners for the Hawks included pole vaulter Kareem Kamndego's fourth place finish (3.96m). Mbatha picked up a fifth place finish in the mile (4:12.80) as did Andie Kollie in the 60 meter dash (6.84). Tyrese Golston came in sixth in the 200 meter dash (22.02).


As a team, the UMES men finished with a point total of 46 points and a seventh place finish in the standings.




NEXT COMPETITION


UMES is scheduled to travel to Louisville, Kentucky for the HBCU National Indoor Track & Field Championships held on March 6 and March 7.