Carbondale, Ill. - The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff saw a weekend full of breakthroughs for both the men's and women's track and field teams as they competed in Carbondale, Ill., at the Don DeNoon Invitational, on the campus of Southern Illinois, two weeks before the Southwestern Athletic Conference Feb. 19-21.

Justin Cooper continues to improve in the 60 meters finishing fourth with a time of 7.08, second in the 200 meters at the Don DeNoon with a time of 22.37 and took fourth in the 400meter dash with a time of 49.99.   Jerrel Wilson set a personal best in the 400 meters with a time of 49.45 to open the race, with five of UAPB runners finishing in the top 11 of the event (2^nd Jerrel Wilson 49.45, 4^th Justin Cooper 49.99, 5^th LaMarques Woodard 50.10,  8^th Demetrius Thompson 51.92 and 11^th Juwan Parker 52.40.
 
The sprinters took top billing for UAPB as the men's 4x400m vaulted to the top spot in this weekend meet with a time of 3:18.17.  Freshman Jordan Haley, sophomore LaMarques Woodard, senior Jerrel Wilson and senior Justin Cooper, by beating out Saint Louis, Southern Illinois, SIU Edwardsville and Central Arkansas.  The Golden Lions still holds the crown in the conference in the men's 4x400.

In women's sprints, the Lady Lions kept up with the men.  Junior Takia Taylor, junior Crystal Christopher, senior Sabratina Rojas and senior Jaylynn Branch turned in a time of 3:53.74 in the 4x400 to finish second at the meet. 

Meanwhile, Taylor continues to improve as she ran a 57.47 in the 400meter dash taking second place and eighth in the 60 meter dash with a time of 7.95.  In the field events, SWAC Conference leader in the shot put Sireta Roach placed third with a distance of 15.07m (49-05) and fourth in the weight throw with a distance of 16.84m (55-03).

Lady Lions had two jumpers finished in top 10 in the long jump event, Crystal Christopher seventh with a distance of 5.38m and Sydnee Worlds at 5.35m.

The Southwestern Athletic Conference indoor championships are up next for the Golden Lions, as the team travels to Birmingham for the three-day competition on Feb. 19 and 21