Sloan Begins College Career in Championship Form; McCollum Runs MEAC Leading

By: MSU Sports Information

Posted: 2/6/08

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (Jan. 27, 2008)-The long anticipated debut of former high school standout Avionne Sloan was well worth the wait, as the first year Lady Bear began her career by winning the 500 meter dash at the Penn State Invitational meet.
Sloan, a native of Camden, New Jersey where she was a multiple champion and standout runner, had been the topic of many track and field message boards and where are they now conversations on line. Many friends, fans, and track enthusiast wondered why Sloan who graduated in 2006 and signed with the Lady Bears out of high school had not competed for the bears in 2007.
Well that question needs not be asked anymore, as Sloan took care of some eligibility issues and is healthy and ready to represent Morgan State University. For the second week in a row the Lady Bears earned the No. 1 ranking in the 500 meter dash at Penn State, as Sloan's teammate freshman Tanisha Kendrick won the event last week at the Penn State Open.
Both young ladies ran qualifying times for the ECAC championships. The two freshmen later teamed with sophomores Ashley Hines and Vivian McCollum to run an ECAC qualifying time and No. 2 ranked time in the 4x400, as Sloan anchored the team from behind to a victory in their section.
"Avionne [Sloan] has really worked diligently in the classroom and on the track to prepare her self for competition again," said Morgan State assistant coach Ralph Jones. "We are extremely proud of her effort to dedicate herself in the classroom and step up for herself and her teammates. She really wants to be part of the new direction we are moving in and the vision we are preaching. She has totally bought into the coaching philosophy as she realizes the impact she can have on our vision and this team. This was a very important life lesson that Avionne has learned, and she has grown from it. The race does not always go to the swift, but to those who keep running. Avionne was persistent, and understands now it's not how you start, but how you finish."
Also stepping up for the Lady Bears this week was McCollum who ran a MEAC leading time of 2:11.52 in the 800 meter dash. She finished ninth overall in the invitational section that was loaded with All-Americans and conference champions. Hines and Kendrick qualified for the MEAC championships in the 400 with times of 56.5 and 56.6, respectively.
"The team is really starting to make significant improvements from week to week," said head coach Neville Hodge. "Our goal is to be prepared in the championship season, which is about three weeks away and I believe we are moving in that direction."
The Lady Bears will compete this weekend at the HBCU Invite held at the Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex and will head to New York on February 8 to compete in the New Balance invitational.
The track and field office contributed to this release.