Final Meet Results
Slideshow
STATESBORO, Ga. ? The Western Carolina men won the final event of the day, the 4x400-meter relay, to secure the team’s fifth Southern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championship by a half point over the Appalachian State Mountaineers, 254-253.5. The Appalachian State women claimed the women’s title, its first for the Mountaineers since 2006 and their 16th overall in 23 years of the SoCon Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Day two began with the conclusion of the men’s decathlon and women’s heptathlon.
Western Carolina’s Sean Reardon, who began the day in second place in the decathlon, took two of the first three events on day two on his way to a first-place finish and new SoCon record 6,493 points. The previous record of 6,287 was set by East Tennessee State’s Andrew Whitson in 2000. The sophomore won the 110 hurdles with a time of 16.02 and claimed the pole vault with a vault of 14-7.25 (4.45m). Appalachian State’s Jake Goodchild, who was third after day one, won the discus throw with a toss of 122-01 (37.22 meters). The Mountaineers’ Matt Pfingst won the javelin throw with a toss of 161-11 (49.36m). Samford’s Chas Keithan won the 1,500-meter run with a time of 4:19.09.
Georgia Southern claimed the first two spots in the heptathlon with Melanie Trumbo, the Most Valuable Field Performer, taking the title and teammate Lynndsey Hyter finishing second. Trumbo, who entered the day in third place, won the title on the strength of a first-place finish in the javelin. The junior won with a hurl of 117-03 (35.74m). Trumbo finished with 4,589 points to Hyter’s 4,463.
In the first event of the day in the women’s heptathlon, Georgia Southern’s Shaunta Hamilton won the long jump with a leap of 18-02.50 (5.55m). In the final event of the heptathlon, Samford’s Elyse Rippe won the 800-meter run with a time of 2:25.16.
Western Carolina continued its domination in the sprint events winning both 100s, 200s and 400s.
The Catamounts Dominique Young repeated as the men’s 100-meter champ winning with a Regional qualifying time of 10.53.
WCU’s Felicia Paulding, the Most Valuable Track Performer, won her second-consecutive women’s 100-meter dash title by winning with a time of 11.76. Paulding also claimed the 200-meter title with a time of 23.95.
Western Carolina’s Manteo Mitchell, the Most Valuable Track Performer and Most Outstanding Athlete, defended his men’s 200 and 400-meter crowns. The senior won the 200 with a time of 20.90 and the 400 with a time of 47.96.
The Catamounts’ Jane’t Carothers helped make it a sweep for WCU as she won the women’s 400 with a time of 54.78.
Chattanooga’s Anneli Uys claimed a pair of middle-distance championships with victories in the women’s 800-meter and 1,500 runs. She claimed the 1,500 with a time of 4:32.97 and the 800 with a time of 2:10.91.
Chattanooga’s Michael Danehy won the men’s 800 run with a time of 1:54.82.
Furman senior Patrick Morgan won the men’s 1,500-meter run with a time of 3:49.36.
A pair of freshmen won the 5,000-meter runs. Chattanooga’s Chris Berry won the men’s race with a time of 15:05.32 while Samford’s Andrea Seccafien won the women’s with a time of 17:57.96.
The Citadel’s Jamel Brown claimed the men’s 110-meter hurdles title with a time of 14.61.
Georgia Southern’s Kristin Olson won the women’s 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.42.
Western Carolina’s Tierra Johnson won the women’s 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:03.54 while the Catamounts’ Jestin Jennings claimed the men’s 400 hurdles with a time of 53.18.
Western Carolina swept the 4x100-meter relays. The men’s team won its fifth-straight SoCon Championship in the event with a Regional qualifying time of 40.24. The Catamounts that participated were Kevin Johnson, Manteo Mitchell, Dominique Young and Benny Davis. The women’s team won its third-straight SoCon Championship in the event in a new SoCon record and Regional qualifying time of 45.51. The record broke the previous record that the Catamounts set last season. The team consisted of Emma Bowers, the Freshman of the Year, Felicia Paulding, Jane’t Carothers and Aneesha Lane.
In the 4x400-meter relay, the Western Carolina women’s team won its second-straight title with a time of 3:44.99. The team consisted of Jane’t Carothers, Shayln McMichael, Felisha Garren and Felicia Paulding.
In the field, Appalachian State’s Mark Sturgis won the men’s triple jump with a Regional qualifying mark of 50-01.25 (15.27m), while the Mountaineers’ Danielle Thorpe won the women’s triple jump with a leap of 42-01.50 (12.84m).
The Mountaineers’ claimed a pair of shot put titles when ASU’s Jerod Gardner won the men’s shot put with a throw of 52-01 (15.87m) and Lily Tallent, the Most Outstanding Athlete, won the women’s shot put as she threw 43-01.50 (13.14m) to help lead an ASU contingent that claimed the top four spots in the women’s shot put.
Western Carolina Jamie Van Pelt, the Freshman of the Year, won the men’s discus through with a throw of 159-03 (48.53m), while Appalachian State’s Lily Tallent won her second event of the day in the women’s discus with a throw of 134-01 (40.87m).
College of Charleston freshman Emily Smith won the women’s high jump with a Regional qualifying leap of 5-08.75 (1.75m). Georgia Southern’s Melanie Trumbo finished second but also had a Regional qualifying leap of 5-08.75 (1.75m).
Western Carolina’s Matt Evans, the Most Valuable Field Athlete, claimed his second-consecutive SoCon title in the men’s high jump with a Regional qualifying leap of 6-10.75 (2.10m).
The All-Freshmen teams were also announced following the conclusion of the championships. The top three freshmen in each event were honored. The top three individuals in each event were also honored as All-Conference.
Athletes that secured Regional qualifying times will now move on to the NCAA Regionals to be held in the following weeks. To follow along with these individuals, check out the SoCon website.
Final Men’s Team Standings
1. Western Carolina 254
2. Appalachian State 253.5
3. The Citadel 70
4. Samford 66.5
5. Davidson 63
6. Chattanooga 40
7. UNC Greensboro 32
8. Furman 28
9. Wofford 10
Final Women’s Team Standings
1. Appalachian State 210.5
2. Western Carolina 177
3. Georgia Southern 146.5
4. Elon 84
5. Chattanooga 52
6. Samford 44
7. College of Charleston 42
8. The Citadel 27
9. Davidson 23
10. Furman 9
11. UNC Greensboro 3
12. Wofford 0
Men’s Awards
Freshman of the Year
Jamie Van Pelt, Western Carolina
Most Valuable Track Performer
Manteo Mitchell, Western Carolina
Most Valuable Field Performer
Matt Evans, Western Carolina
Most Outstanding Athlete
Manteo Mitchell, Western Carolina
Coach of the Year
Danny Williamson, Western Carolina
Women’s Awards
Freshman of the Year
Emma Bowers, Western Carolina
Most Valuable Track Performer
Felicia Paulding, Western Carolina
Most Valuable Field Performer
Melanie Trumbo, Georgia Southern
Most Outstanding Athlete
Lilly Tallent, Appalachian State
Coach of the Year
John Weaver, Appalachian State
All-Freshman Team (the top 3 freshman in each event)
Women
100-meter dash
Emma Bowers, Western Carolina
200-meter dash
Emma Bowers, Western Carolina
Felisha Garren, Western Carolina
Ariel Hatcher, College of Charleston
400-meter dash
Amy Salek, Elon
Felisha Garren, Western Carolina
Asia Dunlap, Appalachian State
800-meter run
Cori Christensen, Samford
1,500-meter run
Kristen Wolfe, College of Charleston
Madison Russo, Elon
Callen Powers, College of Charleston
5,000-meter run
Andrea Seccafien, Samford
Chloe Kowalski, Furman
Charlee Coggins, Furman
10,000-meter run
Allyson Costa, Elon
100-meter Hurdles
Brillyance Gilchrist-Poteat, The Citadel
Jettana Thomas, Western Carolina
400-meter Hurdles
Brillyance Gilchrist-Poteat
3,000-meter Steeplechase
Kristen Wolfe, College of Charleston
Deanna Zidar, Samford
Stephanie Chapman, Appalachian State
High Jump
Emily Smith, College of Charleston
Alex Cassagnol, Georgia Southern
Christy Myers, Samford
Triple Jump
Jettana Thomas, Western Carolina
Hammer Throw
Theresa Johansen, The Citadel
Deidra Morrison, Western Carolina
Clara Martin, Elon
Javelin Throw
Christian McGuire, Samford
Summer Hughes, Western Carolina
Azura Robillard, Georgia Southern
Shot Put
Deidra Morrison, Western Carolina
Alicia Gainey, Western Carolina
Keisha Thacker, College of Charleston
Discus
Alyssa Girvin, Elon
Theresa Johansen, The Citadel
Sarah Herndon, Georgia Southern
Heptathlon
Jettana Thomas, Western Carolina
Alicia Gainey, Western Carolina
Naadia Crutchfield, Appalachian State
Men
100-meter dash
Dennis Moore, Appalachian State
Benny Davis, Western Carolina
200-meter dash
Dennis Moore, Appalachian State
Benny Davis, Western Carolina
400-meter dash
Benny Davis, Western Carolina
Taylor Martin, Davidson
800-meter run
Lee Gilmer, Furman
1,500-meter run
Joey Thompson, UNC Greensboro
Josh Vasquez, Chattanooga
Chris Moen, Appalachian State
5,000-meter run
Sean Soderman, Appalachian State
Ryan Hopkins, Davidson
Josey Weaver, Western Carolina
10,000-meter run
Ryan Hopkins, Davidson
Josey Weaver, Western Carolina
Jay Miller, Furman
3,000-meter Steeplechase
Mason Campbell, Appalachian State
Sean Soderman, Appalachian State
Matthew Clay, Furman
110-meter Hurdles
Cavan Corcoran, Samford
AJ Dohanic, Appalachian State
400-meter Hurdles
AJ Dohanic, Appalachian State
Cavan Corcoran, Samford
Long Jump
Kevin Hardy, The Citadel
Mike Pope, Appalachian State
Cornelius Williams, Western Carolina
High Jump
Darius Purcell, Appalachian State
Aaron Overton, The Citadel
Donald Cooper, Samford
Triple Jump
Cornelius Williams, Western Carolina
Mike Pope, Appalachian State
Hammer Throw
Jared Stalling, Appalachian State
Jamie Van Pelt, Western Carolina
Caleb Poplin, Appalachian State
Javelin Throw
Thomas Oliver, Samford
Darron Dotson, Western Carolina
Matt Pfingst, Appalachian State
Discus Throw
Jamie Van Pelt, Western Carolina
Jared Stalling, Appalachian State
Caleb Poplin, Appalachian State
Shot Put
Jared Stalling, Appalachian State
Caleb Poplin, Appalachian State
Jamie Van Pelt, Western Carolina
Decathlon
Matt Pfingst, Appalachian State
Donald Cooper, Samford
Wayne Parker, Western Carolina