May 15, 2021 - by Chuck Walsh NOLES IN CONTENTION FOR CHAMPIONSHIPS HEADING INTO FINAL DAY AT ACC’S RALEIGH, N.C. – The Florida State women are in third place and the Seminole men are in fourth place after two days of the ACC Track and Field Championships at the Paul Derr Track and Field Facility at NC State University. The Seminole women begin Saturday’s final day of competition only three points out of the team lead while the men have some ground to make up in order to win the team championship. The women’s squad moved from 10 th place in the team standings to third heading into the final day of competition. With 37 points, the Noles trail first-place Notre Dame by two points and second place Virginia Tech by just one point. The men moved from sixth place into fourth place and are only one point out of third place. Virginia Tech holds a commanding lead in the men’s competition with Notre Dame in second place.
RALEIGH, N.C. – The Florida State men are in sixth place and the Seminole women are in 10 th place after the first day of the 2021 ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the Paul Derr Track and Field Facility at NC State. Isaac Grimes was a winner on the men’s side as he was victorious in the long jump competition. “The men had a solid day one,” said head coach Bob Braman. “We qualified well in the 200m with two of the top four times for Jo’Vaughn (Martin) and Kasaun (James), and Kasey (Knevelbaard) was an easy heat winner in the 1500m. Riley (Ott) had a good first day in the decathlon and is second place going to the final day tomorrow. We were perhaps three points better than projected – our first and fourth places in the long jump were key. Grimes kept his ACC undefeated streak alive and Jacore Irving was fourth placed which was better than projected.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Florida State track and field team concluded their regular season competition at the UNF Invitational on Friday afternoon in Jacksonville, Fla. The final day was highlighted by multiple personal best performances as well as 10 top-five finishes.
“Edidiong Odiong had a great meet and is really emerging as a National scoring threat,” said Head Coach Bob Braman. “Jayla Kirkland has been doing a great job of showing her the way the last two meets. Maudie Skyring continues to lead our distance ladies, and the discus trio threw fantastic. On the men’s side our older guys really set the tone. Isaac Grimes, Fabian Edoki, Jacore Irving, Adriaan Wildschutt, Milton Ingraham, DaeQwan Butler, Jo’Vaughn Martin and others all competed like National players.”
The women’s sprinters battled in the 100 meters to overcome a broken clock call back after 60 meters. FSU embraced the adversity and all three women went on to race personal best times. Jayla Kirkland led the way taking second overall but first collegian with a 11.12, beating out her previous best time to remain No. 2 on Florida State’s all-time list and No. 5 in the NCAA. Shian Hyde finished in fourth clocking in a time of 11.28 while Edidiong Odiong followed close behind in fifth with a 11.37.
DaeQwan Butler was the highlight of the men’s sprinters in the 400 meters. He ran a personal best race of 45.65, good enough to crack into FSU’s all-time list at No. 10.
Maudie Skyring and Yasmine Abbes had a strong showing in the women’s 800 meters. Skyring ran a personal best time of 2:05.03 to finish in sixth place and is the No. 10 performance in FSU history while Abbes went 2:15.49 for 22nd.
With Kasaun James back in the mix he led the men’s 4x100m relay team to a top three finish. He was joined by Taylor Banks, Don’drea Swint and Jo’Vaughn Martin to go 39.16. This time comes in ranking No. 9 in the NCAA.
Rounding out the track events was Trey Cunningham in the 110m hurdles. He advanced to the finals of the event with a qualifying time of 13.55. In the finals, he once again finished second overall but first collegian going 13.48 behind World Champion and former Florida Gator Grant Holloway.
The Seminoles jumps group had yet another successful day starting with Jacore Irving taking second in the men’s triple jump with a mark of 15.85m. Not only is this mark a personal best for Irving but it also ranks No. 4 in the ACC. On the women’s side, Alonie Sutton dominated the competition jumping 13.12m to win the event.
“I was really pleased with our competitive attitude over the past two days,” said Braman. “Lots of people with their game faces on, and that’s what we’ll need in two weeks at the ACC Championships.”
The Florida State track and field team will now set their eyes on the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships taking place in Raleigh, N.C. on May 13-15.
Keep up with the Seminoles by visiting Seminoles.com for the latest news and scheduling information or keep up with the team on social media via Twitter (@FSU Track), Facebook (@FSUTrack), and Instagram (@fsu track).