Banda shines in US

Texas Christian University track and field team during the 35th Annual Bobby Lane Invitational where he won the men’s 400 metres event on Saturday.
According to reports from Arlington in Texas, Banda won the 400m race in 46.54 seconds, followed by teammate Mychal Dungey in 46.59s at Maverick Stadium.
On a day in which the TCU track and field programme enjoyed a successful day at the Annual Bobby Lane Invitational, senior Dungey headlined the action on the men’s side, running a personal-best time of 46.59s in the men’s 400 metres event.
The clocking was good enough to lead all collegiate entries and second overall behind former Frog Banda (46.54s).
Dungey also paced the Frogs in the 200 metres, posting a seasonal-best time of 20.92 to earn fourth among collegians.
Dungey was also a member of the Frogs’ first-place 4×100 metre squad, joining forces with OJ Stoneham, Charles Silmon and Mark Barnes to clock in at 39.62.
The time is the fastest output for the foursome this spring and leads the Mountain West Conference. But the day certainly belonged to Banda who showed that he still has the spark in his legs as he cruised to victory in the 400m event, beating Dungey in the process.
TCU head coach Darryl Anderson was impressed by the overall performance of his charges who included Zimbabwean Banda.
“I thought we had a solid day today (on Saturday),” Anderson said. “It wasn’t’ a spectacular day, but we were solid. We really needed this performance before we went to Texas Relays next week.
“From a highlight standpoint, I thought the men’s 4x100m relay ran well, beating Baylor after running against them last weekend in Arizona. I thought the women’s relay ran pretty well, we just couldn’t get the exchange right between Teneshia (Peart) and Jessica (Young). We’ve been playing around with the order on the women’s side and I think we made some progress as far as positioning people.”
“I thought Mychal Dungey did an exceptional job of running his personal-best time in the second 400 of his life. Veronica Jones, Season Zurko, Festus Kigen and Cameron Tabor were all solid. It was a workman-like day for us and I feel good about it. It was a good rebound for us from last week and it is setting us up to come back on Monday to begin training and get ready for our trip to Austin and Texas Relays on Thursday.”
Senior Festus Kigen claimed his second 1 500m title of the spring, registering a seasonal-best time of 3:35.29.
Junior Jack O’Brien followed closely in third place at 3:56.38. Senior Sean Zurko paced the field to pick up his second 800m crown of the outdoor season, leading the way at 1:50.57.
From the infield, sophomore Cameron Tabor earned first place in the men’s discus, tossing a personal-best 175-4 in his final toss of the evening.
Tabor also took third overall in the shot put with a toss of 52-1 ¼.
Freshman Lavon Collins made his hurdles debut as a Frog on Saturday, earning fourth overall in the 400m hurdles with a time of 53,87, while junior Jordan Pitts claimed seventh place honors in the 110mr hurdles.
Other highlights on the men’s side include Silmon’s fifth-place overall finish, second among collegians, in the 100-meters and Jake Rossmango going 10:08.90 to claim fifth in the 3000m steeplechase. Freshman Veronica Jones led all TCU women in the 100m dash, leaning forward at 11.64 for third place overall, while sophomore Chaniqua Corinealdi and newcomer Franchelle Hill rounded out the top-10 in the event.
Jones also ran a leg on the women’s 4×100 relay that earned runner-up honours on Saturday, teaming up with Franchelle Hill, Teneshia Peart and Jessica Young for a time of 44.69.
Briyanni Thomas rallied around the oval in the 400m to record a new seasonal-best time of 55.02 to finish third among collegiate competitors, while Tricia Terry earned fifth and sixth-place honours in the 1 500m and 800m, respectively.
Samantha Collins ran 14.61 to take fourth overall her 100m hurdle debut.
Sophomore Kelsey Samuels ended her day with a new personal record in the women’s shot put, muscling a toss of 51-10 ½ to earn fifth place honors, just ahead of senior Stormy Harrison at 49-7 ¾ for sixth overall.
The Frogs will return head south for the 84th Annual Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays in Austin, Texas, from the Wednesday to Saturday.