Armwood’s Neal signs with Embry-Riddle

Posted Jul 1, 2009 by Bill Ward

Updated Jul 1, 2009 at 02:50 PM

Armwood’s Markais Neal, a first-team selection of the Tampa Tribune’s All-Hillsborough County track and field team, has signed a scholarship with Embry-Riddle University, Hawks coach Chris Beirnacki said Wednesday.

Neal was the county’s top performer in the 400-meter run, clocking 49.14 seconds at the Class 3A state finals. Neal was also part of the Hawks’ 4x400 and 4x800 relay teams that finished fourth and sixth, respectively, at state finals. Both teams established new school records with Neal, going 3:18.60 for the 4x400 and 8:04.74.

Embry-Riddle is an NAIA school that last season sent 26 athletes to the national outdoor championships, including a men’s 4x800 that earned All-America honors by finishing fourth in 7:30.31.