May 7, 2005
Rayford wins individual Most Valuable Athlete as Methodist men place third at Mason-Dixon Outdoor Championships

SALISBURY, Md. - Freshman Nevin Rayford capped off a spectacular freshman track and field season for the Methodist Monarchs on Saturday as he won two events to win Most Valuable Athlete honors for Methodist at the Mason-Dixon Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Salisbury.

Rayford won both the men’s long jump with a distance of 22-02.5 feet and the men’s triple jump in 45-10 feet. He was one of many standouts that paced the Monarchs to a third place finish at the meet. Methodist finished with 128 points, behind Salisbury (177) and champion Christopher Newport (209.5).

Rayford wasn’t alone when it came to victories for the Monarchs. Taz Petty won the men’s 100-meter dash in 11.05 seconds, while DeVonne Armstrong won the men’s shot put with a throw of 47-04.25 feet and Anthony Trofe won the men’s hammer throw with a distance of 166-07 feet.

Methodist loaded up on points in the men’s shot put. In addition to Armstrong, Kenny Brown placed second (46-02.5), while Trofe placed fourth (42-06.5) and David Leonard placed sixth (39-10). Armstrong also placed fourth in the men’s hammer with a distance of 131-03 feet, while Trofe and Leonard finished third (138-01.25) and fourth (98-03), respectively, in the men’s javelin.

It didn’t stop with the throws, either. Clifton McKoy placed second in the men’s high jump with a height of 6-4 feet, while Jackson Jean placed fifth with a height of 5-8. McKoy also placed third in the men’s 110-meter hurdles in 15.47 seconds, while Leonard placed sixth in 16.68. Petty finished fourth in the men’s 200-meter dash, and Adonis Stanley placed fourth in the men’s 400-meter dash.

For the Lady Monarchs, Chemier Buford placed second place in the women’s shot put with a distance of 36-09.75 feet, and third in the women’s hammer throw with a toss of 135-4 feet.