COLUMBIA - CIU women's track and field completed day two of the first-ever John-Hunter James Classic on Saturday. CIU proudly represented their former teammate and the namesake of the event by taking home a first-place women's team finish. 

CIU dominated throws yet again as Kloey Pickens (12.40m, AAC & NCCAA Qualifier) and Acoya Hunt (10.65m, AAC Qualifier) took home the top two spots in the women's shot put. Coral Curry finished fourth in the event at 10.39m (AAC Qualifier). The Rams also had four of the top six finishes in the women's discus, with Dazanni Hinton taking the top spot with a throw of 37.97m (NCCAA & AAC Qualifier). Hunt finished third at 35.39m (NCCAA & AAC Qualifier), while Curry was a spot behind at 34.91m (NCCAA & AAC Qualifier). Lillian Grumbles (AAC Qualifier) hurled the discus 31.76 meters to finish sixth overall. 

Elsewhere on the field, Morgan Johnson seized the top spot in the women's long jump with a distance of 5.26m (NCCAA & AAC Qualifier, school record). Caroline Rimmer showed an admirable effort in the women's pole vault, recording a height of 2.75m (NCCAA & AAC Qualifier) to haul in the top spot in that event. 

The Rams were equally as dominant on the track, with Emma Johnson notching the fastest 100-meter time of 11.80 in the event prelims. Johnson's time is currently the fastest in the NAIA. Trinyty Gregory nabbed a first-place finish in the event finals, clocking in at 11.90 (NAIA "B" Standard), while Charlette Johnson posted a time of 12.46 (NCCAA Qualifier), competing in the finals as well.

The 4x100 relay squad of Emma Johnson, Morgan Johnson, Charlette Johnson, and Gregory was impressive, taking the relay's top spot with a time of 46.09. Their time is currently the fastest 4x100 time in the NAIA and sets the school record in the event. 

The Rams had four athletes take part in the 100-meter hurdles with Emma Johnson posting a second-place finish at 14.18 (NAIA "A" Standard, Fastest time in NAIA). Ane Peasley finished fourth in the event (15.25, AAC & NCCAA Qualifier) as Morgan Johnson (15.77, AAC & NCCAA Qualifier) and TaLayna Reed (16.17, AAC & NCCAA Qualifier) rounded out the performance. 

CIU's 4x400 squad posted the fastest time in the NCCAA with a time of 4:18.49. The relay team was made up of Emma Johnson, Charlette Johnson, Gregory, and Peasley. 

Jordan Wray battled through the 400-meter run with a time of 1:06.54 while both Morgan Johnson (1:11.39, AAC & NCCAA Qualifier) and Reed competed in the 400-hurdles (1:12.04, AAC & NCCAA Qualifier). 

Wray (1:18.67) had a top-ten finish in the 800-meter run as she competed alongside her teammate Rosemary Reed (1:16.83). Reed paced the Rams in the 1500-meter run as well with time of 5:19.95. 

The Rams distance team also saw a notable performance from Lydia Willhite in the steeplechase as the senior crossed the finish line at 12:57.25 (NCCAA & AAC Qualifier). 

What Assistant Coach John Sparks is saying: "It was great to be able to honor the memory of John Hunter James by renaming this track meet the John-Hunter Classic. Our men's and women's teams performed well, placing third and first, respectively. With all the NAIA, NCCAA and AAC qualifying performances by our athletes at this meet, I couldn't be prouder of them. All CIU athletes should be proud of how they represented CIU and the Lord this weekend." 

Up Next: CIU stays in Columbia as they compete at the Weems Basken Relays on Mar. 22-23.