Shore Athletic Club takes team titles at 2007 Club Championships as 11 meet records fall
By USATF Communications
July 19, 2007

NEW YORK - The Shore Athletic Club of New Jersey swept the men's and women's team titles amid tough competition last weekend at the seventh annual USATF National Club Track & Field Championships at Icahn Stadium in New York City.

Both titles came down to the 4x400-meter relay, the last event of the competition, and both ended up being narrow victories for Shore over hometown favorite and defending men's team champion Executive Track Club (Metropolitan).

Led by Obra Hogans' victories in the 200m and 400m, Shore AC's men tallied 153 points, with Executive TC five points back with 147. VS Athletics (Southern California) scored in 16 of the 23 events to finish a strong third with 110 points. Greater Boston Track Club (New England), the 2002 men's champions, finished fourth with 55 points and Club Northwest from Washington scored 50 points to round out the top five.

Hogans also anchored the Shore AC 4x400m relay to a dramatic victory. His 20 individual points were the most scored by any male athlete during the two days of competition, earning him the Most Valuable Male Athlete award.

In the women's competition, Shore AC benefited from the 30 points scored by 46-year old Oneithea Lewis, outscoring Executive Track Club 123 points to 119. Also a national champion in masters competition, Lewis won the shot put, discus and hammer throw to lead her club.

"We ranged from distinguished Olympian to superb masters athletes to current collegians and high school athletes," said Shore AC club administrator Elliott Denman of the club's performance. "We had athletes as young as 14 and as experienced as 60 years of age. We competed as a family, and really were a family with two father-son combinations."

Nike Central Park TC finished third with 94 points. Greater Boston TC ended the day with 87 points to match their men in claiming fourth place and, Norfolk Real Deal (Virginia) was fifth with 76 points. Two-time NCAA indoor triple jump champion Yvette Lewis of Norfolk Real Deal was Most Valuable Female Athlete, scoring 37 points. She won the triple jump and 100 meters, took second in the 200, was fourth in the long jump and tied for fourth in the high jump.

More than 450 athletes from 67 clubs and 21 states competed in the two-day event. With entries for the meet at an all time high, 11 meet records were broken. Championship records established on the men's side included performances in the following events: 1500m (3:54.03, Robert Duncan - KC Smoke), 110m hurdles (13.70, Justin Lindsey - Shore AC), 400m hurdles (49.60, Adrian Findlay - Executive TC), High Jump (2.21 meters/7 feet 3 inches, Joe Kindred - Executive TC), Triple Jump (16.12m/52-10.75, Ryon Taylor - Nike Central Park TC), Sprint Medley Relay (1:29.29 , U.S. Elite International).

On the women's side, five championship records were established: 400m (51.94, Aliann Pompey - Shore AC), 800m (2:03.94, Neisha Bernard-Thomas - U.S. Elite International), 3000m Steeplechase (10:08.80, Dawn Cromer - Pacers /Brooks), Triple Jump (12.43m/40-9.50, Sherita Williams - Greater Boston TC), Sprint Medley Relay (1:29.29 , U.S. Elite International).

The top men's performance, based on the IAAF scoring tables, went to Adrian Findlay of Executive TC for winning the 400m Hurdles in 49.60. Aliann Pompey was awarded the top women's performance for winning the 400m in 51.94.For complete results from the USATF National Club Track & Field Championships, visit http://www.usatf.org/events/2007/USATFClubTFChampionships/

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