FAMU women's track goes back-to-back in SWAC Outdoor Championships

The Florida A&M women’s track and field program is a champion.

Again.

The Rattlers won the two-day Southwestern Athletic Conference Outdoor Championship event on Tuesday, May 12, at Southern University’s Roscoe Moore Track in Baton Rouge.

FAMU scored 145.5 points to outlast Alabama State (132) and Southern (95.5). The Rattlers won five individual championships and two relays, along with many personal bests. Additionally, Garfield Ellenwood II was named SWAC Coach of the Year.

Florida A&M's Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Garfield Ellenwood II looks on as his team prepares for a meet.

Tuesday’s finish added to FAMU women’s track’s trophy case this season. It also won the SWAC indoor title in February.

Senior sprinter Diandrenique Gaines starred for the Rattlers by sweeping the 100 and 200-meter dashes.

She clocked 11.15 seconds in the 100 meters, a new SWAC Championship meet record that ranks No. 1 among all Historically Black College and Universities runners and No. 20 in NCAA Division I this season.

Gaines followed that with a 22.72-second effort in the 200 meters, another HBCU-best mark that ranks No. 15 in the nation.

Gaines also led the FAMU’s 4x400-meter relay team alongside Kirah Copeland, Katelynn Smith, and Kiersten Clark. They won in 3:36.72, a season-best time ranking No. 1 among Black Colleges and No. 53 in Division I.

Katelynn Smith added to the haul with a victory in the 400-meter hurdles, finishing in 57.95 seconds — the top mark among HBCU athletes and No. 46 in Division I this season. She was also fourth in the 100-meter hurdles (13.42).