Track: Gaines, Smith, Artis earn All-American honors at Nike Outdoor Nationals

GREENSBORO, N.C.

On a day when a national record fell in the 2- mile, several South Hampton Roads athletes earned All-American honors on Friday at the Nike Outdoor Nationals at North Carolina A&T .

The top news was California’s German Fernandez’s national mark . The senior won the 2-mile in 8 minutes, 34.40 seconds, besting the old mark of 8:36.3 set by Jeff Nelson of California in 1979.

Western Branch grad Jessie Gaines placed fifth in the 100 hurdles and Norfolk Collegiate rising sophomore Nefertiti Smith was seventh. Gaines ran 14.50, while Smith ran 14.70.

“It feels wonderful,” said Gaines, who will run track at Long Island University. “I took a week off to take care of some injuries and now I’m back.”

Smith, who lives in Chesapeake, also placed seventh in the triple jump with a leap of 39-3 to earn All-American honors in two events.

“It feels really good with this being my first year at the Nike Outdoor meet,” she said. “I just wanted to come out and run with the older girls and be able to compete with them.”

Western Branch also fared well in other events. Rising senior Jeffrey Artis placed sixth in the 110 hurdles. Artis was runner-up in the same event at this month’s Group AAA state meet .

The Bruins also placed fourth in the 800 relay. Marcus Dean, Donny Chattin, Khyiem Long and Travis Paige posted a time of 1:27.59.

Other All-Americans from South Hampton Roads included Granby rising senior Dayzonte Williams, who ran 49.38 to place sixth in the emerging elite division of the 400 meters.

Nansemond River rising senior Tanay Chandler also earned All-American honors when she ran 12.34 to place fourth in the emerging elite division of the 100 meters.

Just missing out was the girls 800 relay team from Booker T. Washington. Tylesia Miles, DeShana Briggs, Sonseerhay Copeland and Raven Wilson ran 1:41.28 to place ninth .

“It wasn’t All-American but they girls ran well,” Bookers coach Yolanda Penn said. “We won our heat but we didn’t have anybody to push us.”

The Bookers will be back on the track today when they compete in the 1,600 relay. Briggs also will compete in the finals of the high jump.

Other South Hampton Road athletes expected to compete include Landstown rising senior Marlena Wesh (200 and 400), Grassfield rising senior Curtis Campbell (400), Oscar Smith grad Wesley Smith (long jump), Booker T. Washington grad Cordaro l Madison (400 hurdles) and Great Bridge rising junior Taylor Sykes (400).