LOUISVILLE, KY- The Allen University women's track and field team opened their 2023 season with the HBCU Classic hosted by Kentucky State University in Louisville on Monday.

The women came away with some good results in the sprints and field events en route to placing 5th out of 7 teams in the classic with 21 points ahead of Philander Smith (Ark.) and Lemoyne-Owen (TN). Lane College won the meet followed by Div. I Tennessee State.

Sophomore Sha'kerya Passmore got things started for the Lady Jackets as she qualified for the finals of the 60 meters and went on to place 7th overall in a time of 8.09 seconds while freshman Reyonce Black just missed on qualifying for the finals coming in 9th in the prelims with a time of 8.2 seconds while sophomore Teleah Moorer was 11th in 8.3 and freshman Kiana Pack in 15th out of 20 in 8.65 seconds.

In the 200 meters, Passmore again led the Yellow Jackets placing 10th overall out of 23 in 27.39 seconds while sophomore Aisha Patterson was 13th in 27.8 and Pack in 14th in 28 seconds. Patterson then placed 8th in the 400 meters in 1:07.7 while sophomore Ayani Taylor finished 4th in the 800 meters coming across the line in a time of 3:27.

Moorer then had a stellar finish in the 60 meter Hurdles finishing in 2nd place overall in a time of 9.5 seconds losing only to a D-1 sprinter.

In the field events, freshman Kourtney English led the charge in the High Jump placing 3rd with a mark of 1.43 meters (4.5 feet) while freshman Reyonce Black placed 5th in the Long Jump with a mark of 5.03 meters followed by fellow freshman Measha Jones at 4.96 meters in sixth. Freshman Mikiya Sherman also jumped a mark of 4.25 meters to place 10th. In the Shot Put, junior Jermisha Moss led the way placing 14th with a throw of 7.6 meters while fellow junior LaRhonda Johnson was 15th in 7.25 meters. Johnson was also 11th in the Weight Throw at a mark of 4.4 meters.

The women are next competing at USC in the Carolina Challenge on Friday and Saturday in Columbia at 10 AM.