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Samford men, women repeat as SoCon indoor track & field champions
Reigning champion Bulldogs win ninth straight women’s title, fifth straight men’s crown
LEXINGTON, Va. – Samford won its record ninth straight women’s title and its fifth consecutive men's title Sunday at the Southern Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships at VMI's Corps Physical Training Facility. Samford’s Cagan Campbell earned the Heath Whittle Award as the men's Most Outstanding Athlete and Wofford’s Sherika Christie earned the women's Most Outstanding Athlete award.
One new meet record was set, and one was tied Sunday. Wofford’s Jasmine Jefferson recorded a time of 54.22 in the women’s 400m beating the previous record of 54.61 set by Western Carolina’s Felisha Garren by just under four tenths of a second. Wofford’s O’Rell Fisher tied a 20-year-old meet record in the 60m dash with a time of 6.73. Furman’s Megan Marvin and Wofford’s Kerrington Johnson all became three-time winners. Furman’s Cameron Ponder and Megan Marvin became four-time winners in the men’s mile and women’s 800, respectively.
The Samford women totaled 160.5 points on the day, more than tripling their day one advantage of 13.5 points over runner-up Wofford. The Bulldogs continue to stretch their record of most continuous team title to nine after breaking a tie with App State last year, who twice won seven straight team titles.
The Terriers finished with 117 points for their third runner-up finish in four seasons. Furman was third with 92 points and Western Carolina finished for fourth with 83.66 points. The Bulldogs, Paladins, and Terriers won three events each Sunday, while VMIK won two.
On the men’s side, Samford scored 188 points to outdistance runner-up Western Carolina, which scored 121.5. Furman was third with 112 and host VMI was fourth with 109. The Bulldogs claimed seven event wins Sunday, with Furman, VMI and Wofford winning two events apiece.
Samford continued their dominance in the men’s heptathlon as freshman Samuel Werner scored 5,380 points after winning the 60m, long jump, high jump, 60mH, and 1000m. Bryce Williamson of Samford came in second with 4915 points and Western Carolina’s Damon Worley finished third with 4881 points. The Bulldogs banked 22 team points in the event.
Moore defended his title in the 60-meter hurdles on Sunday, finishing in 7.80 seconds for his fifth career win in the event, after setting a meet record last year.
Schubert took his second consecutive title in the 5,000-meter run, turning in a time of 14:05.6, beating the rest of the field by 13 seconds. Teammates Luke Taylor and Nicholas Goldstein finished second and third in the event for a podium sweep. The Paladins earned 31 points in the event.
Midgett picked up the first title of the day, winning the triple jump with a leap of 15.57 meters, a new facility record. After Werner’s heptathlon win went final, Furman’s Cameron Ponder won the mile in 4:06.640, marking Furman’s eighth straight win in the event. After Moore’s title-defending run and Wofford record-tying performance in the 60-meter-dash, and the Bulldogs’ Cagan Campbell finishing first in the 400m. Campbell would add another title later in the afternoon, tying for the win in the 200-meter dash as he and Wofford’s Cameron Dalton both turned in a time of 21.42.
The Samford men scored their other three event wins in the 800 meter, 4x400-meter relay and high jump. Zephaniah Carico-McLennan ran a 1:51.27 in the 800m, the 4x400-meter relay team clocked 3:14.98., and freshman Arthur Chitty cleared 2.10m.
VMI claimed their second event title in the weight throw, with Andrew Granger defending last year’s victory with a throw of 17.46 meters. Teammate Rafe Clendenin finish second for the Keydets to total 18 points in the event.
The first four women’s events of the day to go final were won by different schools. Samford’s Hannah Daffin got things going with her third consecutive win in the weight throw, with her toss of 17.87 meters.
Furman’s Abigail Robertson followed with a win in the mile, in 4:47.56, while Samford’s Amiel Dabney followed with her 60-meter hurdles title, in 8.57 seconds. VMI’s Eleyah Armstrong then won her second consecutive title in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.44 seconds.
Wofford won their second title on Sunday when Sherika Christie claimed the women’s triple jump with a leap of 12.38m. VMI won their second title of the day as Taylor Hill cleared 3.82 meters in the pole vault.
Jasmine Jefferson claimed Wofford’s third championship of the day in the 200 meter dash, producing a time of 24.13 while Sierra Bower earned Furman’s third event victory in the 5000 meter with a time of 16:26.02.
Samford then closed out the women’s meet with a win in the 4x400-meter relay, with anchor Ayden Drake chasing down Wofford’s Van Der Linde to give the Bulldogs a four second win in 3:50.18.
Samford’s Campbell scored a meet-best 27.5 points to claim Most Outstanding Athlete honors, adding a third-place finish in the 60-meter dash.
Wofford’s Christie totaled 25 points for the meet, winning the pentathlon on Saturday and adding a fourth-place finish in the long jump to her triple jump victory.
Samford’s Ethan Womack won the men’s Pinnacle Award, given to the student-athlete with the top grade point average on the winning team, while the Bulldogs’ Grace Lueders won the women’s Pinnacle Award.
The NCAA will announce the field for the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships on NCAA.com on Tuesday. The meet will be held March 8-9, 2024, at The Track @ New Balance in Boston, Massachusetts.
Men’s results – Final
1. Samford – 188 points
2. Western Carolina – 121.5
3. Furman– 112
4. VMI – 109
5. Wofford – 62.5
6. The Citadel – 49
7. UNCG – 11
Women’s results – Final
1. Samford – 160.5 points
2. Wofford – 117
3. Furman – 92
4. Western Carolina – 83.66
5. ETSU – 70
6. VMI – 68.5
7. Chattanooga – 37
8. The Citadel – 30.33
9. UNCG – 3
Heath Whittle Award (Men’s Most Outstanding Athlete)
Cagan Campbell, Samford
Women’s Most Outstanding Athlete
Sherika Christie, Wofford
Men’s Pinnacle Award (highest GPA on championship-winning team)
Ethan Womack, Samford
Women’s Pinnacle Award (highest GPA on championship-winning team)
Grace Lueders, Samford
Day 2 champions
Men: Triple jump Keyandre Midgett, VMI (15.57 meters#); heptathlon Samuel Werner, Samford (5380 points) mile Cameron Ponder, Furman (4:06.40); 60-meter hurdles Titus Moore, Samford (7.80); 60-meter dash O’Rell Fisher, Wofford (6.73*); 400-meter dash Cagan Campbell, Samford (47.72); 800-meter run Zephaniah Carico-McLennan, Samford (1:51.27) weight throw Andrew Granger, VMI (17.46 meters); 200-meter Cagan Campbell, Samford; Cameron Dalton, Wofford (21.42); high jump Arthur Chitty, Samford (2.05 meters); 5,000-meter run Dylan Schubert, Furman (14:05.60); 4x400-meter relay Cagan Campbell, Jackson Olivo, Tyke Tabor, Landon Wright, Samford (3:14.98)
Women: Weight throw Hannah Daffin, Samford (17.87 meters); mile Abigail Robertson, Furman (4:47.56); 60-meter hurdles Amiel Dabney, Samford (8.57); 60-meter dash Eleyah Armstrong, VMI (7.44); 400-meter dash Jasmine Jefferson, Wofford (54.22*); 800-meter run Megan Marvin, Furman (2:08.85); triple jump Sherika Christie, Wofford (12.38 meters); 200-meter dash Jasmine Jefferson, Wofford (24.13); pole vault Taylor Hill, VMI (3.82 meters); 5,000-meter run Sierra Bower, Furman (16:26.02); 4x400-meter relay Grace Lueders, Kelsey Martin, Ellison Chadwick, Ayden Drake Samford (3:50.18).
* meet record
# facility record
Men’s All-Freshman – Day 2
Men’s triple jump
Jordan Chestnut, The Citadel
David Dorbin, Western Carolina
Men’s heptathlon
Colby Capps, Western Carolina
Ethan Hibberts, Western Carolina
Men’s mile
Brayden Seymour, Furman
Lawson Mecom, Western Carolina
Colton Kempney, Furman
Men’s 60-meter hurdles
Archie Woodard, Wofford
Men’s 60-meter dash
Bradlee Jones, The Citadel
Dylan Thompson, The Citadel
Men’s 400-meter dash
Elias Barton, Western Carolina
Quinton Godfrey, Western Carolina
Archie Woodard, Wofford
Men’s 800-meter run
Sam Barnard, UNCG
Chase Thurber, Western Carolina
Men’s weight throw
Rafe Clendenin, VMI
Austin Ramirez, Western Carolina
Jack Weil, The Citadel
Men’s 200-meter dash
Quinton Godfrey, Western Carolina
Dylan Thompson, The Citadel
Men’s high jump
Arthur Chitty, Samford
Jordan Chestnut, The Citadel
Jake Ross, Wofford
Men’s 5,000-meter run
Owen Shifflett, Furman
Kevin Shank, VMI
Lawson Mecom, Western Carolina
Women’s All-Freshman – Day 2
Women’s weight throw
Merkenzee Wells, Western Carolina
Diamond Baker, VMI
Landrey Pike, Western Carolina
Women’s mile
Katherine Hopkins, Western Carolina
Kennedy Reynolds, Chattanooga
Women’s 60-meter hurdles
JaKayla Campbell, Wofford
Brianna Baker, ETSU
Kendal Hudson, Western Carolina
Women’s 60-meter dash
Cymoria Thomas, Western Carolina
Devon Babcock, ETSU
Jennifer Koumondji, VMI
Women’s 400-meter dash
Leah Butler, Western Carolina
Kyndal Saunders, Western Carolina
Paden Bell, ETSU
Women’s 800-meter run
Olivia Hurd, VMI
Danniella King, Wofford
Kristen Hallman, Wofford
Women’s triple jump
Sherika Christie, Wofford
Kiersten Bell, Samford
Kendal Hudson, Western Carolina
Women’s 200-meter dash
Cymoria Thomas, Western Carolina
Ellison Chadwick, Samford
Devon Babcock, ETSU
Women’s pole vault
Libby Jackson, Samford
Antonina Tereshenko, Samford
Bella Hilleary, Western Carolina
Women’s 5,000-meter run
Josi Seering, ETSU
Jillian Sisk, VMI
Andrea Ellis, Chattanooga
One new meet record was set, and one was tied Sunday. Wofford’s Jasmine Jefferson recorded a time of 54.22 in the women’s 400m beating the previous record of 54.61 set by Western Carolina’s Felisha Garren by just under four tenths of a second. Wofford’s O’Rell Fisher tied a 20-year-old meet record in the 60m dash with a time of 6.73. Furman’s Megan Marvin and Wofford’s Kerrington Johnson all became three-time winners. Furman’s Cameron Ponder and Megan Marvin became four-time winners in the men’s mile and women’s 800, respectively.
The Samford women totaled 160.5 points on the day, more than tripling their day one advantage of 13.5 points over runner-up Wofford. The Bulldogs continue to stretch their record of most continuous team title to nine after breaking a tie with App State last year, who twice won seven straight team titles.
The Terriers finished with 117 points for their third runner-up finish in four seasons. Furman was third with 92 points and Western Carolina finished for fourth with 83.66 points. The Bulldogs, Paladins, and Terriers won three events each Sunday, while VMIK won two.
On the men’s side, Samford scored 188 points to outdistance runner-up Western Carolina, which scored 121.5. Furman was third with 112 and host VMI was fourth with 109. The Bulldogs claimed seven event wins Sunday, with Furman, VMI and Wofford winning two events apiece.
Samford continued their dominance in the men’s heptathlon as freshman Samuel Werner scored 5,380 points after winning the 60m, long jump, high jump, 60mH, and 1000m. Bryce Williamson of Samford came in second with 4915 points and Western Carolina’s Damon Worley finished third with 4881 points. The Bulldogs banked 22 team points in the event.
Moore defended his title in the 60-meter hurdles on Sunday, finishing in 7.80 seconds for his fifth career win in the event, after setting a meet record last year.
Schubert took his second consecutive title in the 5,000-meter run, turning in a time of 14:05.6, beating the rest of the field by 13 seconds. Teammates Luke Taylor and Nicholas Goldstein finished second and third in the event for a podium sweep. The Paladins earned 31 points in the event.
Midgett picked up the first title of the day, winning the triple jump with a leap of 15.57 meters, a new facility record. After Werner’s heptathlon win went final, Furman’s Cameron Ponder won the mile in 4:06.640, marking Furman’s eighth straight win in the event. After Moore’s title-defending run and Wofford record-tying performance in the 60-meter-dash, and the Bulldogs’ Cagan Campbell finishing first in the 400m. Campbell would add another title later in the afternoon, tying for the win in the 200-meter dash as he and Wofford’s Cameron Dalton both turned in a time of 21.42.
The Samford men scored their other three event wins in the 800 meter, 4x400-meter relay and high jump. Zephaniah Carico-McLennan ran a 1:51.27 in the 800m, the 4x400-meter relay team clocked 3:14.98., and freshman Arthur Chitty cleared 2.10m.
VMI claimed their second event title in the weight throw, with Andrew Granger defending last year’s victory with a throw of 17.46 meters. Teammate Rafe Clendenin finish second for the Keydets to total 18 points in the event.
The first four women’s events of the day to go final were won by different schools. Samford’s Hannah Daffin got things going with her third consecutive win in the weight throw, with her toss of 17.87 meters.
Furman’s Abigail Robertson followed with a win in the mile, in 4:47.56, while Samford’s Amiel Dabney followed with her 60-meter hurdles title, in 8.57 seconds. VMI’s Eleyah Armstrong then won her second consecutive title in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.44 seconds.
Wofford won their second title on Sunday when Sherika Christie claimed the women’s triple jump with a leap of 12.38m. VMI won their second title of the day as Taylor Hill cleared 3.82 meters in the pole vault.
Jasmine Jefferson claimed Wofford’s third championship of the day in the 200 meter dash, producing a time of 24.13 while Sierra Bower earned Furman’s third event victory in the 5000 meter with a time of 16:26.02.
Samford then closed out the women’s meet with a win in the 4x400-meter relay, with anchor Ayden Drake chasing down Wofford’s Van Der Linde to give the Bulldogs a four second win in 3:50.18.
Samford’s Campbell scored a meet-best 27.5 points to claim Most Outstanding Athlete honors, adding a third-place finish in the 60-meter dash.
Wofford’s Christie totaled 25 points for the meet, winning the pentathlon on Saturday and adding a fourth-place finish in the long jump to her triple jump victory.
Samford’s Ethan Womack won the men’s Pinnacle Award, given to the student-athlete with the top grade point average on the winning team, while the Bulldogs’ Grace Lueders won the women’s Pinnacle Award.
The NCAA will announce the field for the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships on NCAA.com on Tuesday. The meet will be held March 8-9, 2024, at The Track @ New Balance in Boston, Massachusetts.
Men’s results – Final
1. Samford – 188 points
2. Western Carolina – 121.5
3. Furman– 112
4. VMI – 109
5. Wofford – 62.5
6. The Citadel – 49
7. UNCG – 11
Women’s results – Final
1. Samford – 160.5 points
2. Wofford – 117
3. Furman – 92
4. Western Carolina – 83.66
5. ETSU – 70
6. VMI – 68.5
7. Chattanooga – 37
8. The Citadel – 30.33
9. UNCG – 3
Heath Whittle Award (Men’s Most Outstanding Athlete)
Cagan Campbell, Samford
Women’s Most Outstanding Athlete
Sherika Christie, Wofford
Men’s Pinnacle Award (highest GPA on championship-winning team)
Ethan Womack, Samford
Women’s Pinnacle Award (highest GPA on championship-winning team)
Grace Lueders, Samford
Day 2 champions
Men: Triple jump Keyandre Midgett, VMI (15.57 meters#); heptathlon Samuel Werner, Samford (5380 points) mile Cameron Ponder, Furman (4:06.40); 60-meter hurdles Titus Moore, Samford (7.80); 60-meter dash O’Rell Fisher, Wofford (6.73*); 400-meter dash Cagan Campbell, Samford (47.72); 800-meter run Zephaniah Carico-McLennan, Samford (1:51.27) weight throw Andrew Granger, VMI (17.46 meters); 200-meter Cagan Campbell, Samford; Cameron Dalton, Wofford (21.42); high jump Arthur Chitty, Samford (2.05 meters); 5,000-meter run Dylan Schubert, Furman (14:05.60); 4x400-meter relay Cagan Campbell, Jackson Olivo, Tyke Tabor, Landon Wright, Samford (3:14.98)
Women: Weight throw Hannah Daffin, Samford (17.87 meters); mile Abigail Robertson, Furman (4:47.56); 60-meter hurdles Amiel Dabney, Samford (8.57); 60-meter dash Eleyah Armstrong, VMI (7.44); 400-meter dash Jasmine Jefferson, Wofford (54.22*); 800-meter run Megan Marvin, Furman (2:08.85); triple jump Sherika Christie, Wofford (12.38 meters); 200-meter dash Jasmine Jefferson, Wofford (24.13); pole vault Taylor Hill, VMI (3.82 meters); 5,000-meter run Sierra Bower, Furman (16:26.02); 4x400-meter relay Grace Lueders, Kelsey Martin, Ellison Chadwick, Ayden Drake Samford (3:50.18).
* meet record
# facility record
Men’s All-Freshman – Day 2
Men’s triple jump
Jordan Chestnut, The Citadel
David Dorbin, Western Carolina
Men’s heptathlon
Colby Capps, Western Carolina
Ethan Hibberts, Western Carolina
Men’s mile
Brayden Seymour, Furman
Lawson Mecom, Western Carolina
Colton Kempney, Furman
Men’s 60-meter hurdles
Archie Woodard, Wofford
Men’s 60-meter dash
Bradlee Jones, The Citadel
Dylan Thompson, The Citadel
Men’s 400-meter dash
Elias Barton, Western Carolina
Quinton Godfrey, Western Carolina
Archie Woodard, Wofford
Men’s 800-meter run
Sam Barnard, UNCG
Chase Thurber, Western Carolina
Men’s weight throw
Rafe Clendenin, VMI
Austin Ramirez, Western Carolina
Jack Weil, The Citadel
Men’s 200-meter dash
Quinton Godfrey, Western Carolina
Dylan Thompson, The Citadel
Men’s high jump
Arthur Chitty, Samford
Jordan Chestnut, The Citadel
Jake Ross, Wofford
Men’s 5,000-meter run
Owen Shifflett, Furman
Kevin Shank, VMI
Lawson Mecom, Western Carolina
Women’s All-Freshman – Day 2
Women’s weight throw
Merkenzee Wells, Western Carolina
Diamond Baker, VMI
Landrey Pike, Western Carolina
Women’s mile
Katherine Hopkins, Western Carolina
Kennedy Reynolds, Chattanooga
Women’s 60-meter hurdles
JaKayla Campbell, Wofford
Brianna Baker, ETSU
Kendal Hudson, Western Carolina
Women’s 60-meter dash
Cymoria Thomas, Western Carolina
Devon Babcock, ETSU
Jennifer Koumondji, VMI
Women’s 400-meter dash
Leah Butler, Western Carolina
Kyndal Saunders, Western Carolina
Paden Bell, ETSU
Women’s 800-meter run
Olivia Hurd, VMI
Danniella King, Wofford
Kristen Hallman, Wofford
Women’s triple jump
Sherika Christie, Wofford
Kiersten Bell, Samford
Kendal Hudson, Western Carolina
Women’s 200-meter dash
Cymoria Thomas, Western Carolina
Ellison Chadwick, Samford
Devon Babcock, ETSU
Women’s pole vault
Libby Jackson, Samford
Antonina Tereshenko, Samford
Bella Hilleary, Western Carolina
Women’s 5,000-meter run
Josi Seering, ETSU
Jillian Sisk, VMI
Andrea Ellis, Chattanooga