Michael Nicholls Sets UNO 110 Hurdles Mark At McNeese Springtime Classic

LAKE CHARLES, Louisiana – Juniors Fadeke Adeola and Alexia Fortenberry posted individual wins in the women's high jump and women's 100-meter hurdles, respectively, and freshman Michael Nicholls broke his own school record in the men's 110-meter hurdles as the University of New Orleans continued its stellar outdoor season at the Lake Area Runners McNeese Springtime Classic on Saturday at the Cameron Communications Track & Field Complex.

Adeola cleared a height of 1.65 meters to and Fortenberry clocked a 13.54 in their victories, while Nicholls posted UNO's first-ever sub-14 in the 110 hurdles with a time of 13.54. It marked the second time this season that he established a program high-water mark in the event, equaling Jesse White's 1996 time of 14.17 during the John Mitchell Alabama Relays on March 19 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, before surpassing the effort with a 14.16 at the Louisiana Classics on March 26 in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Nicholls' time in the 110 hurdles was the best mark by a college student-athlete on Saturday as unattached Ryan Fontenot posted a 13.67. It was a similar situation in the men's 100-meter dash where freshman Quintarius Queen clocked a season-best 10.57 to finish second to Charles Jackson, Jr., of U.S. Express' 10.40.

Nicholls and Queen were two of 9 Privateers to post season-best marks during the Springtime Classic as the feat was also accomplished by junior Jared Robertson (1:58.68), junior Federico Machado (2:12.43) and freshman Michael Schwing (2:12.58) in the men's 800, Machado in the men's 1,500 (4:37.78), junior Alireza Rafiei in the men's discus (42.40m) and freshman Jordan Courtois in the women's 1000 (13.70) while senior Callie Willcox (2:31.75/5:08.23) and junior Emily Martinez (2:35.54) did so in both the womens' 800 and women's 1,500.

Willcox' effort in the two events led New Orleans to finish third in the 1500 and 11th in the 800, while Rafiei's was fifth in the discus to go with a third-place showing in the shot put with a toss of 15.34 meters. Junior Michael Batson paced the Privateers with a second-place finish in the 800 with a 1:51.74 and junior Edmund Pine led the team with a 4:14.69 in the 1500 to finish third. UNO added three fourth-place finishes as junior Clayton O'Callaghan clocked a 16:01.63 in the 5000, sophomore Nick Schiro heaved the javelin 46.72 meters and the quartet of Nicholls, Queen, junior Dario Scantlebury and junior Darren Darensburg combined for a 42.60 in the 4x100 relay.

Schiro also led New Orleans with seventh-place effort in the hammer at 36.51 meters, Darensburg was ninth in the 400 at 51.63 while sophomore Shehu Inuwa finished 26th in the 200 with a 23.59.

On the women's side, Fortenberry led a 1-2 performance in the 100 hurdles as junior Farydah Inoussa crossed the finish line at 14.66. Courtois led UNO in the pole vault, finishing tied for third at 3.25 meters and Brown rounded out the women's Top 10 efforts with 12.09 in the 100 to come in eighth. In addition to her second-place showing in the 100 hurdles, Inoussa headlined the squad with a toss of 10.96 meters to finish 12th in the shot put and junior Ariel Scioneax finished 29th in the 200 at 28.06.

New Orleans returns to action on Saturday, April 16, when the Privateers travel to Hammond for the Southeastern Invitational. From there, UNO will participate in the LSU Alumni Gold on April 23 before heading to Corpus Christi, Texas, for the Southland Conference Championship from May 4-7.
 
UNO PERFORMANCE AT THE LAKE AREA RUNNERS McNEESE SPRINGTIME CLASSIC
 
Men's 100
Quintarius Queen – 10.57
 
Men's 200
Shehu Inuwa – 23.59
 
Men's 400
Darren Darensburg – 51.63
Shehu Inuwa – 54.08
 
Men's 800
Michael Batson – 1:51.74
Jared Robertson – 1:58.68
Edmund Pine – 2:05.07
Federico Machado – 2:12.43
Michael Schwing – 2:12.58
 
Men's 1500
Edmund Pine – 4:14.69
Michael Batson – 4:26.71
Federico Machado – 4:37.78
Michael Schwing – 4;46.54
 
Men's 5000
Clayton O'Callaghan – 16:01.63
Mark Golay – 16:54.37
 
Men's 110 Hurdles
Michael Nicholls – 13.97
 
Men's 4x100
Michael Nicholls, Quintarius Queen, Dario Scantlebury, Darren Darensburg – 42.60
 
Men's Discus
Alireza Rafiei – 42.40m (139-01)
 
Men's Hammer
Nick Schiro – 36.51m (119-09)
 
Men's Javelin
Nick Schiro – 46.72m (153-03)
 
Men's Shot Put
Alireza Rafiei – 15.34m (50-04.00)
 
Women's 100
Chelise Brown – 12.09
Jordan Courtois – 13.70
 
Women's 200
Ariel Scioneax – 28.06
Erin Chopin – 28.59
 
Women's 800
Callie Willcox – 2:31.75
Emily Martinez – 2:35.54
 
Women's 1500
Callie Willcox – 5:08.23
Emily Martinez – 5:11.59
 
Women's 100 Hurdles
Alexia Fortenberry – 13.54
Farydah Inoussa – 14.66
 
Women's High Jump
Fadeke Adeola – 1.65m (5-05.00)
Farydah Inoussa – 1.55m (5-01.00)
 
Women's Pole Vault
Jordan Courtois – 3.25m (10-08.00)
 
Women's Shot Put
Farydah Inoussa – 10.96m (35-11.50)