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By BEN ACKERLY
Raleigh (NC) News and Observer Correspondent
RICHMOND Va. - Deworski Odom raised his muscled arms and let out a shout as he crossed the finish line of the 55-meter dash finals. To his left and right - and slightly behind - were some of the top-ranked sprinters in NCAA Division II track: Jason Smoots, Albert Newkirk and Robert Williams of N.C. Central, Melvin Bennett of Shaw, and Odom's teammate Jarrish Outlaw. Odom, of course, is ranked No. 1.
His winning time of 6.23 seconds at Friday's Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Indoor Track Championships at the Arthur Ashe Center further solidified his reputation as Division II's top sprinter.
St. Augustine's extended its dominance over the CIAA indoor championships, winning both the men's and women's team competitions for the third year in a row.
The men outscored the closest competition by 195 points, taking first place in eight of 12 events, while the Lady Falcons enjoyed a 108-point margin of victory, capturing first place in all events but two.
Odom added to his collection of CIAA gold medals with a Division II leading 7.17 in the 55 hurdles and was named men's Most Outstanding Track Athlete.
"This is only my third event of the year," Odom. said. "I feel light I feel real strong. But there are still a lot of things I have to work on. I'm young; I'm only 22; so there are a lot of things I don't know. I'm just learning how to run. I'm working out harder, doing what I have to do. Really, the sky's the limit."
He will, travel with many of his teammates to the Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships in Boston on March 10-11. There he will try to help Falcons coach George Williams add to his total of 19 national titles in indoor and outdoor competition.
Dana Magloire led a St. Augustine's sweep in the triple jump with, a leap of 51-8 1/2, second on the Division II list, and shared men's Most Outstanding Field Athlete honors with long-jump winner Derrick Blount of Virginia State.
The Falcons men went 1-2 in the high jump, behind Maurice English's 6-9 clearance. Alhasi Alhassan, CIAA Cross Country Champion, ran 4:31.30 in the 1,500 to lead another 1-2-3 finish and his 8:54.00 was first in the 3,000.
Dolette Blake and Florencia Hunt led the St. Augustine's women. Blake won both the long jump (19-6) 6) and the triple jump (38-2 1/2) to earn recognition as Most Outstanding Field Athlete.
Hunt copped track honors with victories in the 1,500 (5:51.40) and 800 (2:24.40).
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