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Both the Lions and Lady Lions traveled to Marion, Ind. on May 27-29 to compete in the NAIA Outdoor National Championships. With over a 100 teams vying for the national championship and 100s of athletes looking to be the best overall in their event, Langston proved to be one of the best all around schools again this year. 

 

The Lady Lions finished sixth overall after three days, there highest finish in LU history since the women’s track & field program’s inception. The women brought home 13 individual All-American titles, while breaking school records in three different events. To finish as an All-American at the national meet, the student-athlete(s) must finish in the top six in the finals.   

 

The women’s 4x100 relay finished as the national runner-up. Shantel Leonard, Charlesha Lightbourne, Arnita Session, and Samilya Nixon ran a 45.68 to break the Langston University record. The women’s 4x400 relay (Raven Rudel, Leonard, Session, and LaShunna Jimmerson) also finished third overall with a time of 3:47.08. 

 

Leonard was the national runner-up in the 100 and finished 5^th in the 200, finishing the meet as a four-time All-American. Lightbourne also competed in the 100 and 200 finishing 5^th and 3^rd respectively giving her three-time All-American status. 

Rudel finished a two-time All-American after finishing 5^th in the 400. Rudel, a true freshman, also set the freshman record in the event by running a 55.75. Jessica Brown, who participates in the field events for Langston, was named to the Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athlete USTCA All-Academic team.      

 

 The Lions finished 14^th overall while also setting several school records. The men brought home six individual All-American titles. 

 

Brandon Smith, Warren Roberson, Juron Woods, and Julius Koger finished third overall in the men’s 4x100 relay running a 40.79 to set the school record. Koger also finished third in the 200 with a time of 21.03. He set the school record in the semifinals by running a time of 20.88. 

 

Willie Felder set a school record in the 400 hurdles, but was edged out in the semifinals. 

 

Both teams will return all of their athletes for next season, with the exception of senior Arnita Session.