Beyene Earns Individual Title, Distance Runners, Jumpers Lead Men’s Track At SWAC Championships

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Filmon Beyene was named SWAC Champion in the 5,000-meter run as the TSU men’s track team utilized strong showings in the distance and jump events to place fourth at the 2020 SWAC Indoor Championships.

The Tigers lived up to their billing in the distance runs as Beyene won the 5,000 in a time of 15:27.32. Efrain Lira placed third in the event after running 15:33.98 followed by a sixth-place run from Cosmas Keter. Both Lira and Keter’s runs were personal bests.

Four Tigers earned spots in the finals of the mile run as Jose Gonzalez (4:23.16), Lira (4:25.65) and Luis Delreal (4:26.28) finished 3-4-5 in the finals for a total of 15 points in the event. Delreal would run a personal best time in the event.

Lira placed third overall in the 3,000 after posting a career-best time (8:45.46) as Gonzalez (8:46.71), Beyene (8:54.12) and Hilary Maiyo (9:08.87) finished fourth, sixth and eighth respectively.

Brandon Washington placed sixth in the prelims of the 800 before finishing seventh in the finals as he shaved three seconds off his run for a career-best time of 1:55.12.

TSU’s distance medley team of Lira, Eric Prier, Washington and Jose Gonzalez finished second in their respective event after a season-low 10:19.01 The mile relay of Eric Prier, Kenneth White, Coby Kelley and Tyrel Simms placed fourth in a time of 3:18.57.

The Tigers had solid outings in the triple jump from Christian Lewis as he placed second (48-7.25) overall followed by Chadrick Williams’ third-place finish (47-7.75). Antoine Greer set a personal-best mark (23-3.25) in the long jump en route to a second-place finish while Colby Williams placed sixth (45-5.25) in the shot put. Chadrick Williams tied his season-best mark of 6-4.25 to finish seventh in the triple jump.

Bryan Clarke placed fifth in the heptathlon as he totaled 4,310 points which was highlighted by a second-place finish in the 1,000-meter run. He also placed second in the shot put and fourth in the long jump.

The Tigers are back in action during the month of March as they’ll open outdoor season at the JET Relays in Fort Worth, Texas on March 7.