St. Aug's Pierre Sets Division II National Mark in 100 Dash

Pierre Sets Division II National Mark in 100 Dash

Her Time of 11.18 Seconds Among World’s Fastest

May 22, 2009

SAN ANGELO, Texas – Star sprinter Barbara Pierre (Jr./Winter Haven, Fla.) of Saint Augustine’s College is now the Division II national record-holder in the women’s 100-meter dash after running a blazing 11.18 seconds during Thursday evening’s qualifying at the 2009 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Angelo State University.

Pierre ran a personal best to break the old record of 11.20 seconds set by Chandra Sturrup of Norfolk State University in 1993, a mark that stood for 16 years until Thursday. The next closest competitor during Thursday’s qualifying was Samoy Hackett, a freshman from Lincoln (Mo.) University who ran 11.26. Both Pierre and Hackett easily won their heats.

Pierre not only set a Saint Augustine’s College school record, but she ran the 18th fastest time in the world, the ninth fastest time in the nation and the fifth fastest time collegiately in 2009. The top four runners ahead of Pierre on the collegiate list are from Division I schools.

The fastest 100 time in the world in 2009 is 10.92 by 2008 Olympic silver medalist Kerron Stewart of Jamaica. Pierre ran for Haiti in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Pierre easily qualified for the 100 Division II finals, which will be held on Saturday (May 23) at approximately 8:08 p.m. She will be gunning for her third straight Division II national outdoor title in the event.

Pierre broke her personal best by nearly two-tenths of a second. As a freshman in 2007, Pierre won the 100 dash national title in 11.30 in Charlotte, N.C.