By Christopher Hunt
COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Medgar Evers led a handful of New York teams away from the cold weather to take advantage of the warmth in South Carolina at the Taco Bell Classic.
Kacedia Baird and Sheniece Daphness both qualified for today's 200-meter final. Baird advanced with the second-fastest qualifying time in 24.70. Daphness won her heat in 25.56.
"It feels good just to be able to come out here and get a good time, even if it's not a time I'm particularly pleased with," Baird said. "It's just about getting through to the final."
Andre Jordan also won his section for the Cougars in a wind-aided 22.08.
"Loving the weather," Jordan said afterward. "I'm just trying to be better for the final. I'll be even better next week at New York Relays."
The girls 200 final is scheduled today at 6:05 p.m. with the boys at 6:15 p.m.
Sandrae Farquharson is also entered in the girls 400 along with seniors Nyanka Moise-Joseph and Shakele Seaton. Both the boys and girls are entered in the 4x100. Medgar Evers will race in the girls 4x400 with the team that won the national championship indoors.
Rockland County's Pearl River and Amityville of Long Island also made the trip to the brand new Harry Parone Stadium at Spring Valley High in Columbia, S.C. Amityville's Sancho Barrett is among the top seeds in the boys 110-meter hurdles.
ARCADIA INVITIATIONAL: Sheepshead Bay headed out West for the Arcadia Invitational in California. The boys placed third in the 800-meter sprint medley relay in 1:34.37. They finished sixth in the invitational 4x200 Friday in 1:30.46. Mitchell Kun was ninth in the open section of the 3,200 in 9:31.66. The girls finished fourth in the girls invitational 4x200 in 1:43.14 and sixth in the invitational 800 sprint medley in 1:50.37.