Baltimore, MD—The Howard University men's and women's track and field teams took yet another step toward the upcoming MEAC and IC4A/ECAC Outdoor championships with some sterling performances at the Morgan State Legacy Meet at Morgan State this past weekend.
                 
Robert Mercer continued to show that he is becoming one of the premier pole vaulters in the country as he dominated the event with an effort of 15 feet, 9 inches.  That qualifies him for the IC4A championships.  He also led off the 4X100 meter relay team that included Wallace Spencer, Basil Niccolls and Eddie Kaye, which clocked in at 41.70 to capture the event, but more importantly qualify the IC4As.
                 
"Mercer had a great day," remarked Howard head coach Marc Harrison.  "He led off the 4X1 and destroyed a talented pole vault field. He qualified for the IC4As in the pole vault and the 4X1 also had a qualifying time."
                 
The men's team received an added bonus from Matt Colvin and Jahaad Jackson, who are members of the football team and were competing in their first meet since spring practice ended.
                 
"Our football guys came back this week and had an immediate impact," noted Harrison.  "Colvin and Jackson qualified for the MEAC in the long jump and javelin, respectively and Colvin also qualified for the IC4As in the long jump." Colvin won the event with an effort 24 feet, 3 ½ inches while Jackson placed third in the javelin with an effort of 152 feet, 7 inches.
                 
Harrison also noted that Spencer also qualified for the IC4A in the 100 meters.
                 
On the women's side, Jasmin Selby turned in a fine performance in the 400 meters with a time of 55.80, good for third place.  The 4X400 relay team placed fourth with a time of 3:46.89, which qualified for the ECACs.
                 
"Jasmin is really learning how to run the 400 now," said Harrison.  "The 4X4 also hit an ECAC qualifying mark.  Coach (Jessica) Cousins is working well with that relay."
                 
And in the field events, Georgia Williams and Kayla Sawtell both stood out.  Williams placed third in the heptathalon (4003 points) while Sawtell finished 9^th (3747 points).
                 
"Georgia had a huge personal PR in the heptathalon and Kayla survived a scare early in the event to still qualify for the MEACs," added Harrison.
                 
The teams will travel to Philadelphia, PA, April 24-26 to participate in the Penn Relays and will follow with the MEAC championships in Greensboro, NC, May 1-3 and the IC4A/ECACs in Princeton, NJ, May 15-17.
                 
"It was a good meet all around for us," said Harrison, of the Legacy Meet.  "My staff and I have been working hard to prepare them for the success that is waiting for them.  It's our postseason now, time to see what we are made of."