Samirah Moody gold at NCAA

New England youth program alumni ran to medal placings at the NCAA Division 1 Track and Field Champonship meet June 10-13. The NCAA meet is arguably the most competitive meet in the US, given both US and international student athletes.

Leading the way was Samirah Moody, who won two gold medals as part of the University of Southern California team.  The USC senior, a long-time member of the MetroCobras who holds several Massachuetts high school state records,  first ran a leg on the victorious USC 4x100m Relay and returned to win the 100m in 11.14.  She also placed 9th in the 200m at 22.86. She graduated this spring with a double major.

Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan (Woonsocket RI), now a junior at Ole Miss, also made two trips to the awards podium, earning a pair of bronze medals in throwing events.  He placed third in the shot put in 66'11 1/2" as well as third in the hammer with a new personal best of 251'11".
A multi-time Junior Olympic champion and a US Under 20 champion who represented Ocean State Hammerheads is the Ole Miss record holder in both events and a 10 time NCAA qualifier.

Makayla Paige (Tewksbury MA) brought her senior year at North Carolina to a close with a silver medal in the women's 800 meters, clocking a swift 1:58.97. She was a national caliber youth runner while competing for Greater Lowell Road Runners.

Two other runners from New England universities earned medals at the "big show"; Vera Sjoberg (Boston University) placed second in the women's 5000 meters in 15:34.77, and Harvard's Ferenc Kovacs secured bronze in the men's 1500 meters in 3:47.42 

Congratulations to themn and other New Englanders who competed at the National meet.