HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Lady Tiger track and field Class of 2011 recruit Shanekia Hall wrapped up a brilliant two-year career at Essex County College on Saturday afternoon with a dominating victory in the 100-meter hurdles at the 2011 National Junior College Athletic Association Outdoor Championships held this weekend at Hutchinson Community College.
Hall has proven herself as the premier sprint hurdle prospect in the junior college ranks after completing a 2011 season sweep of NJCAA national titles with her victory in the 100-meter hurdles on Saturday.
Hall dominated the national final with a slightly wind-aided time of 13.50 seconds finishing well ahead of national runner-up Leslie-Ann Mitchell of Western Texas (13.69w). Her winning time of 13.50 was run in a tailwind of 2.1 meters per second, which is slightly above the allowable 2.0 limit for setting her personal record. Hall also clocked the field’s fastest qualifying time on Friday with a windy 13.56 (+2.4).
A native of Kingston, Jamaica, Hall is also a two-time NJCAA Indoor champion in the sprint hurdles over the past two seasons with victories in the 60-meter hurdles in 2010 and 55-meter hurdles in 2011.
“At nationals, my coach told me that as long as I applied myself and remained focus that no one should be able to beat me,” Hall said. “After running my heats, I knew if I held my form and finished strong with no mistakes I would be fine. That was it for me when the gun went off in the final. I knew it was my last race at Essex. There was no more looking back until I passed the line. That was the moment of truth.”
And that focus paid off for Hall as she cruised to an easy victory. She now becomes another Essex County College alum to prepare for the next stage in her career at the NCAA Division I level.
“It’s been a challenging journey during my career at Essex. It was a challenge for me to just adapt to these new surroundings,” Hall said. “I’ve had so many mixed emotions with this being my last year here. Still, I feel like I’ve improved this year more than last because of my experience and knowing what I can do.
“I’ve had major support from my family, my mentors, my coach and my friends. I really wanted to win an indoor title again and win outdoors since I wasn’t at nationals last year. It was a great way for me to finish up. I’m excited about moving on to LSU. I know I made the right decision.”
Hall said she is especially excited to train with national championship caliber athletes and coaches at LSU next season. Among those is freshman All-American Jasmin Stowers, who recently set a new PR of 12.88 in becoming the first Lady Tiger rookie in history to win the SEC Outdoor title in the 100 hurdles.
“I know I will be able to get at LSU what I wasn’t able to get at Essex,” Hall said. “LSU gives me the best chance to develop with the facilities and the competition. I’m just looking forward to more impressive improvements there because I will be training with some of the best athletes in Division I. I am so looking forward to working with the coaches. I really do like them already.
“I just see greatness from here on out. The program is great, and there is just a great academic and athletic balance at LSU. I’m so excited to begin my new journey with my new team.”