NCCU's Smoots Three-Peats As NCAA Indoor Track Champion
Powell Places Third in 60-Meter Hurdles to Earn All-America Honors

BOSTON -- North Carolina Central University senior Jason Smoots etched his name in the history books Saturday by winning the men's 60-meter dash at the 2003 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston, becoming the first three-time winner of the indoor sprint in Division II history (dating back to 1985).

Smoots also improved upon his meet record by posting a time of 6.55 seconds, his second-fastest finish of the season.

A native of Gadsden, Alabama, Smoots now has six national championships to his credit - three indoor (2001 55m, 2002 60m, 2003 60m) and three outdoor (2001 100m, 2002 100m, 2002 4x100m).

"It feels good," Smoots said about his place in NCAA history, "but I thought I should have run faster."

NCCU sophomore Chanda Powell earned her second All-America honor of the two-day championship event and the third of her young career by placing third in the women's 60m hurdles with a season-best time of 8.70. On Friday, the Durham, NC native finished sixth in the women's long jump.

"You can't ask for anything better than that," NCCU head coach Michael Lawson said about Powell's top three finish on Saturday. "She competed like a champ. This is an exciting moment for her."