SportsWeek i
Also More Stories, Religion and Classifieds may 5, 2016
Bowman looking to close out career in grand fashion
BY CRAIG T. GREENLEE
FOR THE CHRONICLE
Even though Jahnae Bowman's vision of
attending college on a track scholarship has
come to pass, she's not about to sit back and
admire her handiwork as Parkland's top sprinter
and long jumper.
Bowman still has some business to tend to.
The Mustangs senior aims to put the icing on a
stellar career with best-ever performances in the
upcoming Midwest 4-A regionals next week.
With a top-four finish, she will advance to the
state outdoor championships on May 21.
There's a distinct tone of excitement in
coach Antwan Hughes' voice when he talks
about Bowman, who is one of Parkland's most
"Jahnae is still
hungry, and that's
great."
-Antwan Hughes, coach
versatile track athletes. "Jahnae is still hungry,
and that's great," said Hughes. "Sometimes sen
iors get relaxed and they're not as motivated as
they should be. But this young lady still has
some goals, which are very reachable for her."
BoWman, who transferred from Winston
Salem Prep a year ago, is viewed as a solid
favorite to medal at the state meet in two weeks.
In the NCRunners state rankings for Class 4-A,
she's No. 5 at 100 meters and eighth in the 200
sprint event. In the long jump, she's not in the
top 10 (her 17-feet, 5 X inches leap is 17th in
most recent rankings), but she's capable of
cracking the top six.
This spring, the goals for Bowman in the
sprints are to run 11.8 seconds in the 100 and
24.8 in-the 200. There's strong evidence that
she'll emerge as a viable contender at the
regional meet.
Earlier this season. Bowman clocked 12.2
(100) and 25.2 (200) in heavy rains at the pres
tigious Arcadia Invitational in California. At the
Brent Invitational, she ran 12.36 with a head
wind in her face. At the Blue Ridge Classic two
weeks ago, she ran 12.15 in the 100 for a sec
See Close out on B2
PVxo by Cni| T. Grecnler
Bowman
Photo by Craig T. Greenlee
' The speed of Idaysha Quinones on the
base paths and in thextutfield was a
key factor in WSSU^s successful run at
the tournament championship.
Lady Rams rally
to claim CIAA
Softball title
BY CRAIG T. GREENLEE
FOR THE CHRONICLE
It's been an on-going process for
Winston-Salem State's softball team to
fully accept the notion that it can be one of
the best in school in history. Coach LaTaya
Hilliard-Gray has taken special care to
constantly drill that message home to her
troops this season.
Not only did the Lady Rams listen, but
they responded in grand fashion by win
ning the CIAA championship last
Saturday. Victory, though, did not come
easy. It took a late-game rally for WSSU to
pull off a 5-4 comeback win over Chowan
in the tournament final.
Rebecca Demko slapped
a single to left field - her
first hit of the day - to
bring home Katherine
Zimmer with the game
winning run in the bottom
of the seventh inning.
As league tournament
champs, the Lady Rams
earned an automatic bid
to the NCAA Atlantic
Regional which begins today (May 5).
Eighth-seeded WSSU will play West
Virginia Wesleyan, the No. 1 seed, in an
opening-round match-up in
Buckhannon, W.Va. Game
time is 2:30 p.m. Like the
conference tournament, the
NCAA regionals are double
elimination.
"With all the struggles
we had during the season, it
all came together for us
today," said Hilliard-Gray.
"The players have finally
embraced the idea that it
takes a total team ettort to win a champi
onship. They realize that it takes contribu
tions from everybody, not just a few indi
viduals. Talent-wise, this is one of the best
teams that I've had during my time here
[13 seasons],
"Keep in mind that this is a young team
with no seniors. Now that they have won
key games in pressure situations, there's
no telling how much better they can be as
they continue to grow and mature."
In the CIAA final, Winston-Salem
State (30-21) led 3-2 after six innings. But
Chowan, the pre-season pick to win the
conference, bounced back to go up 4-3 in
their half of the seventh. Tlie Lady Bams,
who entered the title game undefeated,
See Rams on B2
WSSU chancellor appointed to
NCAA Division II Presidents Council
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE ;
Winston-Salem State University Chancellor Elwood
L. Robinson has been appointed to serve as the represen
tative from Region 2 on the National Collegiate Athletic
Association (NCAA) Division II Presidents Council. Dr.
Robinson's appointment will begin immediately.
"I am honored to be selected to represent the CIAA
and all the colleges and universities in Region 2," said
Chancellor Robinson. "Our athletics program is well
respected among our peers and is a very important part of
the WSSU experience. I am looking forward to helping
chart the future of Division II sports and to helping the
NCAA achieve its goals for Division II athletics."
The Presidents Council is Division II's highest gover
nance office. According to the NCAA, its members are
charged with setting the strategic direction of the division
in all areas, including the division's financial affairs and
championships administration. The Council is comprised
See WSSU on B2
WSSU photo
Chancellor
Elwood Robinson
on campus in
spring 2016
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