GULF SHORES, Ala. - The University of Mobile Outdoor Track and Field program, led by head coach Andy Canegitta, saw 16 Rams earn spots at the 2022 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships by qualifying in several events at various meets throughout the 2022 regular season. Those 16 Rams traveled across Mobile Bay to the Gulf Shores Sportsplex Gulf Shores, Ala., the host location for the outdoor track and field national championships in the NAIA Division. The championship meet was held from May 25-27.
On Wednesday, May 25, 10 student-athletes from Mobile kicked off the national championships by competing in four running events throughout the day. Kari Watts highlighted the day for Mobile, recording a new school record in the women's 400 meter hurdles event. Watts' new school record was clocked at 1:03.37, earning her a top-10 finish at 10th overall.
Following Watts' performance, Jhanya Quinones was the only other athlete competing individually for Mobile on Wednesday. Quinones competed in the women's 200 meters and placed 14th overall with a time of 24.86 seconds. Quinones later competed in the women's 4x400 meter relay event the following day with teammates Kari Watts, Shawnessy Edwards, and Rayvion Williams which saw the foursome record a new school record with a time of 3:51.82. On Friday, the final day of nationals, Quinones competed in the women's long jump event, where she placed ninth overall with a mark of 5.81 meters. She finished the championships by competing in the three events, most for Mobile.
Back on Wednesday, Mobile saw two relay teams compete in the men's and women's 4x100 meter relay events. On the women's side, the team of Myla Edwards, Latavia Jack, Samantha Mansur, and Jerenie Jackson recorded a time of 47.49 seconds to finish just inside the top 15 at 14th place. The men's team of Devin Christopher, Jaleel Murphy, Kevin Richardson, and Joseph Moses III placed 33rd with a time of 42.33 seconds.
For Moses III, he returned to action on Thursday to race in the men's 100 meters. Moses III finished with a time of 10.88 seconds, placing him 34th overall. Joining Moses III in competing individually on Thursday was Fedra Florentin and Anna Cabrera. Florentin competed in the women's shot put event where she placed 15th with a mark of 12.94 meters, while Anna Cabrera competed in the heptathlon where she started five of seven events prior to retiring from the event due to injury.
Cabrera completed the 100 meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200 meters, and long jump events before ending her day early on Thursday. Her times in the completed events can be found below:
- 100 Meter Hurdles - 14.98 seconds
- High Jump - 1.55 meters
- Shot Put - 9.91 meters
- 200 Meters - 27.07 seconds
- Long Jump - 5.28 meters
- Javelin - DNS
- 800 Meters - DNS
On Friday, Preston Webb started the final day of the national championships bright and early with the half marathon. Webb placed 40th overall and finished with a time of 1:18:01. Following Webb, Jalicia Neil competed in the women's high jump where she recorded a 1.59 meter mark while finishing 20th.
Overall, the University of Mobile Outdoor Track and Field program ended the 2022 season by seeing two school records broken, several top-15 finishes, and 16 student-athletes compete across 11 events in the 2022 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships; a number that head coach Andy Canegitta is certainly proud of and only hopes to increase in the coming seasons.
For a full look at results from the 2022 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships, click here: https://live.pttiming.com/?mid=5083.
About the University of Mobile
The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are: Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.
For information about the University of Mobile, areas of study, admissions and more, visit umobile.edu, connect with UM on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.
