BSU BULLDOGS TRACK & FIELD SEND RECORD SIX TO INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
(BOWIE, MD - March 7, 2008) Bowie State University's Head Track and Field Coach Michelle Latimer started the 2007 - 2008 season by putting together a staff of experienced coaches to work with the second class of recruits she brought to Bowie State's Track and Field program. Latimer set a team goal to take eight male and eight female athletes to the NCAA National Track and Field Championships. On this goal, Coach Latimer comments, "We all have setbacks in life but in the words of Willie Jolley, "A setback is a setup for a comeback." The women's team was plagued with injuries and illness that prevented Bowie State from qualifying eight female student-athletes. The Lady Bulldogs were able to get four women on the national board; however, only two made the final cut.
The men's team came in with a plan to get eight guys on the board
for Nationals and they answered the challenge but six-of-eight men
were selected to represent BSU. This is the first time in school
history Bowie State placed eight on the National Board. "We are
certainly proud of their accomplishments," said Latimer.
The following student-athletes will represent Bowie State
University at the 2008 NCAA National Indoor Championships - March
14th and 15th hosted by Minnesota State University - Mankato.
Senior DaMara Parrish is no stranger to the NCAA Indoor
Championships with this being her third trip to Nationals. Parrish
will compete in all individual events and look to achieve
All-American status in the 60m, 200m, Long Jump and Triple Jump.
Parrish was the leading scorer for Bowie State University during
the 2008 CIAA Indoor Championships, accounting for 32 points,
outscoring all female competitors. Her goal is to return to campus
a four-time NCAA All-American. Freshman Elaine Rhoades continues
her road to the championships following a stellar high school
career at Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk (VA), will
represent BSU in the Triple Jump. Rhoades, the 2008 CIAA Female
Indoor Field Athlete of Year will represent Bowie State in the
Triple Jump. Sophomore Dion Rodriguez will make his first visit to
the NCAA Championships. Rodriguez promised Coach Latimer in the
first meet that he would run an automatic qualifying time in that
meet. When the starting gun was fired, Rodriguez crossed the finish
line saying "Nationals" and when the time came up on the clock, he
had indeed qualified for the NCAA meet. On that same day, in the
finals of the 60m, Rodriguez ran an automatic qualifying time,
qualifying for national event in the first meet of the season. Dion
is not a stranger to national level competition. The native of
Trinidad Tobago competed in the World Youth Championship and the
Pan American Games. Fellow sophomore Aaron Johnson will represent
Bowie State University in the High Jump. Aaron qualified for
Nationals at the Last Chance meet in February and marks his first
time qualifying for the NCAA Indoor Championships. Johnson
represented BSU in the 2007 NCAA Outdoor National Championships as
a freshman. Freshmen Jamin Gallman and Malcolm Womack along with
sophomore Bryon Lewis and junior David Rustin will be Bowie State's
representatives in the 1600 Meter Relay event. This team ran a
qualifying time at Penn State University which included sophomore
Travis Bowman. Bowman had surgery for a track injury and Rustin
will run in his place.