STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - In one of the most exciting meets of the season, the LIU Brooklyn men's track and field team broke multiple meet and school records on its way to a third consecutive title at the 2016 Northeast Conference Championships. The Blackbirds dominated the second day of competition, finishing their final indoor meet with 158 points to defend their crown. In second was Central Connecticut with 115 points and in third with 96 points was Sacred Heart.
To kickoff day two of the conference championships, the Blackbirds swept the podium and had the top five finishers to add 33 points to LIU's score in the 60-meter dash. Brendon Rodney flew into first in 6.78, a new personal best. Caleb Williams came in second at 6.82 and in third was Tyler Cue with his time of 6.85. In fourth was senior Tyquan Dukes in a time of 6.88 and Delano Davis finished fifth at 6.89.
Going undefeated in the 500m dash at the NEC Championships for his LIU career, Mica-Jonathan Petit-Homme set a new meet record and personal best in the event, crossing the line at 1:02.76. Classmate Alistair McLean finished fourth while freshman Deshawne Bunion closed in eighth.
Rodney won his second gold of the day in his signature event, the 200m dash. The Ontario native not only broke school and meet records with his 20.46 performance, but he also ran the fastest time in the world this year. This also earned Rodney Most Outstanding Men's Sprinter accolade. Similar to the 60-meter dash, the top five finishers were all from LIU Brooklyn as Cue, Davis, junior Karl Cajuste and Williams went 2-5. Kyle Bennett was the sixth Blackbird to earn points in the event with a seventh-place showing.
Alistair McLean successfully defended his 400m dash title, defeating fellow Blackbirds Cajuste and Rodney by less than one second. McLean crossed the line at 48.35 to clinch gold, and Bunion closed with a fifth-place showing. Williams earned 2016 NEC Rookie of the Meet honors with his third-place finish in the 60m dash and fifth place finish in the 200-meter dash.
Adam Walker-Khan continued to add to the Blackbirds' lead with his triple jump win, jumping a season best 14.71m. His title in the triple jump, the second of his career, coupled with his gold finish in the long jump on day one, earned the British product the 2016 NEC Indoor Most Outstanding Men's Jumper.
UP NEXT
The Blackbirds will take part in one last chance meet at a site to be determined before NCAA Indoor Championships at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama on March 9-12. The Blackbirds will begin their outdoor season at the Coastal Carolina Invite starting on Thursday, March 3 in Myrtle Beach, S.C.