With the close of the 2021-22 campaign, the Alabama A&M Sports Information Office is counting down the Top-10 stories from the campaign throughout the summer. Today, we continue the No. 5 story of the season - McLaren Delivers Titles as Men's Track & Field Returns to SWAC Championships.
Make sure to check www.AAMUSports.com every Friday to catch the latest release.
Story No. 5: McLaren Delivers Titles as Men's Track & Field Returns to SWAC Championships
A championship after four years away from being able to compete for one is a strong return for a program but two – by the same individual, no less – says a bit more.
After not being able to compete in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Championships for the previous four years, Alabama A&M made a strong return to the postseason in 2021-22, primarily during outdoor competition.
The indoor season would serve as a tune up for that as the Bulldogs notched a number of strong performances over a four-meet campaign. That would include junior Nicholas Powell (Montgomery, Ala.) going 6-of-67 in the 400-meters (50.23) and junior Brandon McLaren (Clifton, Hanover, Jamaica) finishing 3-of-20 in the 60-meter hurdles (8.41) at the East Tennessee State Buccaneer Track & Field Invitational (2/4).
McLaren would add a 5-of-45 finish in the long jump (6.89m) and 11-of-42 outing in the 60-meter hurdles next time out at the Samford Bulldog Open (2/12) before hitting the podium at the 2022 SWAC Indoor Championships (2/18) less than a week later.
There he would just miss All-SWAC honors as he finished 3-of-24 in the long jump with a distance of 7.07-meters while junior Isaiah McCaulley (Huntsville, Ala.) and senior Demetrius Hurry (Foley, Ala.) earned Top-10 finishes in the weight throw with marks of 14.88- and 14.54-meters, respectively.
Those performances would set the stage for a strong outdoor season that would see the club place 8-of-23 over two days at Murray State's Margaret Simmons Invitational (3/26). That meet would see six Top-10 finishes, including top five outings by Powell and junior Kyle Graham (Mobile, Ala.) in the 400-meters and McLaren with a javelin (57.99) victory and runner-up finish in the long jump (6.99m).
Powell also finished 5-of-55 in the 200-meters with a time of 22.16 and freshman Keyshawn Johnson (Lakeland, Fla.) rounded those performances with a 9-of-36 performance in that same 400-meter (51.70) event.
For his outstanding performance, McLaren was named the SWAC Field Athlete of the Week on April 1 before continuing an impressive outdoor campaign.
The very next week would see another tremendous outing, this time at the Hilltopper Relays (4/2) hosted by Western Kentucky. That effort would once again be led by McLaren as he won the long jump in a field of 30, hitting a mark of 6.92-meters, and going 3-of-16 in the javelin (56.70m). Powell would add a 6-of-58 performance in the 200-meters (22.54) and sophomore Jeremy Gresham (Montgomery, Ala.) was 7-of-32 in the 400-meters (50.78).
McLaren (4-of-20, 110-meter hurdles) and Johnson (6-of-37, 400-meters) led the Bulldogs at the UAB Green and Gold Invitational (4/9) before the former added a second place finish in the javelin at the Music City Challenge (4/30) to round out the regular season.
Eligible for the postseason for the first time since 2018, Alabama A&M and McLaren would take full advantage. On the opening day of the SWAC Championships he would win the javelin with a mark of 61.01-meters and earn All-SWAC honors, firsts for the program since that 2018 campaign.
McLaren would then qualify for the 110-meter hurdle finals with a strong Day 2 performance before paying it off once again with a victory and second All-SWAC honor, this time in the long jump. He earned that with a 1-of-24 outing and distance of 7.45. He would also deliver a 3-of-22 outing in the 110 final to find his way to the podium once again.
While McLaren ruled the day, that last date on the schedule would also be emblematic of what Alabama A&M track & field experienced all season long.
Freshman Tyler Pitts (Madison, Ala.) epitomized the constant and consistent improvement as he lowered his 400-meter hurdle time in five straight meets, culminating with a personal best mark of 56.50 to earn a Top-10 finish at the league championships. From newcomer to veteran, Bulldog track & field advanced by leaps and bounds throughout 2021-22 and put the program in position to continue to excel for years to come.
The Schedule
Every Friday throughout the Summer and leading up to the 2022-23 preseason, the SID Office will release the list one at a time beginning with the No. 10 story on June 3. The No. 1 story in Alabama A&M Athletics, as chosen by the Sports Information Office, will be released on Friday, August 5.
Countdown to the Top-10 Alabama A&M Athletics Stories from 2021-22
No. 1 – Coming August 5
No. 2 – Coming July 29
No. 3 – Coming July 22
No. 4 – Coming July 15
No. 5 – McLaren Delivers Titles as Men's Track & Field Returns to SWAC Championships (July 8)
No. 6 – Men's Basketball Delivers Impressive Historical Season (July 1)
No. 7 – Women's Basketball and Lewis Attack the Record Books (June 24)
No. 8 – Bowling and Men's Golf Net Honors Not Seen In Years (June 17)
No. 9 – Baseball Delivers Strong Efforts In 2022 Campaign (June 10)
No. 10 – Men's Tennis Delivers Impressive Accolades (June 3)
Honorable Mention (May 27)
Original source can be found here
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