Johnson County Community College
Press Release
College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Director, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122
3/6/2007
Story by Tyler Cundith
Cavaliers third at NJCAA indoor track nationals
OVERLAND PARK, KS -- The Johnson County Community College men’s track and field team made team history by posting a third-place finish at the 2007 NJCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship in Lubbock, Texas last weekend. The team’s previous best finish was fourth in fourth 1993 and 2000. South Plains Community College won the national championship with 148.5 points, followed by Rend Lake with 72 and JCCC with 68.5.
Freshman sprinter Jamil Benjamin had a big day, posting a runner-up finish in the 55-meter dash and placing third in the 200-meter dash. Benjamin’s time of 6.24 ranks him second on JCCC’ top performer’s list at JCCC, and his time of 21.55 in the 200 ranks him fifth on the all-time performance list. His efforts earned him NJCAA and Coaches All-American in the 55-meters, and a Coaches All-America
certificate in the 200-meter dash.
Also earning Coaches All-American in the 55-meters was freshman Terrius McMillin. He placed fifth overall with a time of 6.43.
Freshman James Tong set a school record in the 1,000-meters and placed second with a time of 2:27.49. He broke the previous mark of 2:32.17 set by Evan Cox in 2005. His effort earned him NJCAA and Coaches All-American honors. Tong also ran a leg on JCCC’s distance medley relay team that placed runner-up in a time of 11:05.12. Other members of the relay were freshman Daniel Everhart, freshman Demetrice Carter and sophomore Rufus Triggs. Their effort garnered NJCAA and Coaches All-America accolades.
Triggs also earned Coaches All-American with a fifth-place finish in the 600-meter dash. He finished with a school record time of 1:19.78, breaking the previous mark of 1:21.55 set at nationals be Eric Garrett in 2002.
Sophomore Howard Dixon raced to a fourth-place finish and Coaches All-American in the 60-meter hurdles, crossing in 8.28, the third best performance in team history.
Sophomore long jumpers Dustin Turner and Milton Henry etched their names in the annuals at JCCC, becoming the first and second to earn All-American in the event. Turner posted a mark of 23'8", which earned him a fourth-place finish. That effort also ties the fourth-best performance in team history overall. Henry earned a sixth-place finish in the event, posting a mark of 23'2.75"
Freshman Andy Baron followed up his region championship victory in the pentathlon with an All-American performance at nationals. He placed sixth in the standings accumulating 3,353 points, the second-best performance in team history.
Other point producing effort at the event were turned in by sophomore Josh Robinson in the 600-meters (7th-1:20.56), freshman Jason Clark in the high jump (7th-6'8") and the 4x800 and 4x400 relays with third and fourth-place finishes respectively.
For schedules, rosters, and other team information, go to JCCC's Athletics Web site:
http://www.jccc.edu/athletics
