.svg){kind=small}
Samford sweeps Indoor Track & Field Championships
Title is fifth straight for Bulldog women, first for men
LEXINGTON, Va. – Samford won its fifth straight women’s title and its first-ever men's title Sunday at the Southern Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships at VMI's Corps Physical Training Facility. Samford’s Matt Cahoon and Emmanuel Tait shared the Heath Whittle Award as the men's Most Outstanding Athletes and Furman’s Savannah Carnahan earned the women's Most Outstanding Athlete award.
Two meet records fell Sunday, with ETSU’s Nicole Johnson, ETSU setting a new mark in the 60-meter dash and Furman’s Ryan Adams doing so in the 800-meter run. Carnahan became the first four-time winner in the 5,000-meter run in SoCon women’s indoor history.
Samford’s men and women both turned tight races early in the day into big wins by the end. The Bulldog men posted 190 points to dethrone six-time defending team champion Western Carolina, which finished with 160. Furman was third with 101 points, followed by VMI (64), Wofford (56), The Citadel (48), ETSU (34) and UNC Greensboro (10).
The Samford women totaled 177.5 points and were followed by ETSU (134), Furman (109), Wofford (97.5), Western Carolina (78), VMI (45), Chattanooga (10), The Citadel (9) and UNCG (3).
The men’s race was tight early, with Samford’s Cahoon winning the weight throw (17.10 meters) but Western Carolina seeing three student-athletes place, drawing the Catamounts within two points in the team race after the day’s first completed event.
The Bulldogs stretched it back out to five points in the next event, the mile, which saw Furman claim four of the top five spots. Cameron Ponder won the event in 4:07.81, with Aaron Wier joining him on the podium in second. The Paladins pulled within a half point of second-place Western Carolina in the team race with that effort, notching 27 points in the event.
Samford used a big push in the shortest races to put some distance between itself and Western Carolina. In the 60-meter hurdles, Titus Moore defended his crown, turning in a time of 7.92 seconds. Teammate Tait was the runner-up and Michael McMahan finished fifth as the Bulldogs netted 22 points in the event to push their total to 89.5, 22 clear of Western Carolina.
The next men’s event was the 60-meter dash, and Samford again went 1-2. Tait earned gold with a time of 6.81 seconds, with teammate Evan Brooks right behind him in 6.87. Montrell Washington was sixth and Moore was eighth as the Bulldogs opened up a 40-point team lead.
Samford continued to distance itself from the field when the heptathlon went final. Ty Kimberlin finished first with 5,010 points, with teammate Jonathan Waarvik taking third. Kimberlin took first in the 60-meter dash and shot put and was second in the long jump and 1,000-meter run. The Bulldogs picked up 20 points to extend their lead to 59 over the Catamounts.
Western Carolina was far from out of it, however, using a 1-2-3-4 finish in the 400-meter dash to climb right back into the thick of the race. Devaniel Dale successfully defended his title in a time of 47.66 seconds, while Chace Washington-Saunders, Michael Harris and Shon Pratcher were right behind him as the Catamounts took 29 points to pull within 16 of Samford.
Furman’s Adams became a three-time winner in the 800-meter run, turning in a meet-record 1:50.37. The senior took 0.55 seconds off of ETSU’s Zach Whitmarsh’s record that had stood since 1997. Samford’s Jose Peñalver took third as the Bulldogs’ lead ballooned back to 22 points.
Samford and Western Carolina were the only squads to score in the triple jump, with the Catamounts claiming 25 points and the Bulldogs 14. WCU senior Dijoun Huitt defended his title in the event with a leap of 15.54 meters, more than a meter ahead of teammate Benjamin Okafor in second.
WCU’s Dale claimed his second title of the day in the 200-meter dash, turning in a time of 21.56 to edge Samford’s Tait and Brooks, who went 2-3. The Catamounts totaled 15 points in the event but Samford grabbed 14 to maintain a 24-point edge.
The Citadel’s Sam Blumer wrested the pole vault title away from Samford, which had won it the last five years, by clearing 4.80 meters to lead a 1-2 Bulldog finish. The Citadel’s Devin Merrick also cleared 4.80 for runner-up honors.
Furman took three of the top four spots in the 5,000-meter run, with Daniel Bernal claiming the win in 14:37.77. Freshmen David Ahlmeyer and Ares Reading were third and fourth, respectively. Samford’s Dillon Dean finished second as the Bulldogs entered the final event of the day, the 4x400-meter relay, with an insurmountable lead.
Western Carolina ninth straight year, in a time of 3:16.43.
On the women’s side, Samford carried a 29-point lead into day two, but ETSU made an early move into second place with 23 points in the triple jump. Sophomore Mekayla Brown won the event with a leap of 12.63 meters, a facility record, while teammate Aliyah Hill finished third. The Bucs claimed fifth and sixth in the event, as well, to move past Wofford into second in the team standings.
Furman made a move up the leaderboard in the mile, with four Paladins scoring, led by Gabbi Jennings (4:50.77) and Carnahan going 1-2. The 25 points Furman picked up in the event vaulted the squad into third in the standings.
Wofford climbed back into second with a big showing in the 60-meter hurdles. Sophomore Destiny Shippy won in 8.70 seconds, with freshman Kerrington Johnson joining her on the podium in third. Wofford also got fifth- and eighth-place finishes in the event to bank 21 points and overtake ETSU and Furman.
ETSU used a podium sweep in the 60-meter dash to leapfrog the Terriers, with freshman Johnson setting a meet record with a time of 7.40 seconds. Kennedie Carithers was second and Mekayla Brown was third, with Lanaya Martin finishing sixth as the Bucs earned 27 points in the event to climb within nine points of Samford (102 points) for the team lead.
Vada Samuels’ third-place finish in the 400-meter dash gave Samford a little breathing room, but it was VMI that took the top two spots in the event, with Ahliyah Williams (56.66) and Ariana Ruffin going 1-2.
In the 800-meter run, Furman’s Emma Kuntz (2:07.68) edged teammate Gabbi Jennings (2:07.87) for gold, while Samford continued to stretch its lead back out with 14 points in the event.
The Bulldogs pulled away in the 200-meter dash, highlighted by Hannah Lueders’ win in 24.47 seconds. With 14 points in the event, Samford’s lead over ETSU stood at 136-108 with just four events left to score.
Samford senior Maggie Johnston earned the title in the weight throw with a mark of 18.27 meters, followed by ETSU’s Symphony Buxton and defending champion Victoria Solheim of Western Carolina.
The women’s high jump title was captured by Samford for a fifth straight year, as Charlotte Krauss earned her first crown in the event by clearing 1.65 meters to lead a 1-2 Bulldog finish. Megan Elliott was second, clearing the same height, as Samford’s lead over ETSU moved to 38.5 points.
Furman’s women swept the top four spots in the 5,000-meter run, led by Carnahan’s fourth straight win in the event, in 16:38.38. Emma Grace Hurley was second, nearly 19 seconds behind Carnahan, and was followed by Grace Dwyer and Jennifer Stephenson.
The women’s events were capped by a thrilling finish to the 4x400-meter relay, with Samford’s Samuels running down Western Carolina’s Mekyll Robinson on the back stretch of the final lap to punctuate the Bulldogs’ team win. Samford’s time was 3:49.55.
Samford’s Hunter Poole won the men’s Pinnacle Award, given to the student-athlete with the top grade point average on the winning team, while the Bulldogs’ Amanda Dumar 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.
Men’s results – Final
1. Samford – 190 points
2. Western Carolina – 160
3. Furman – 101
4. VMI – 64
5. Wofford – 56
6. The Citadel – 48
7. ETSU – 34
8. UNCG – 10
Women’s results – Final
1. Samford – 177.5 points
2. ETSU – 134
3. Furman – 109
4. Wofford – 97.5
5. Western Carolina – 78
6. VMI – 45
7. Chattanooga – 10
8. The Citadel – 9
9. UNCG – 3
Heath Whittle Award (Men’s Most Outstanding Athlete)
Matt Cahoon, Samford
Emmanuel Tait, Samford
Women’s Most Outstanding Athlete
Savannah Carnahan, Furman
Men’s Pinnacle Award (highest GPA on championship-winning team)
Hunter Poole, Samford
Women’s Pinnacle Award (highest GPA on championship-winning team)
Amanda Dumar, Samford
Day 2 champions
Men: Weight throw Matt Cahoon, Samford (17.10 meters); mile Cameron Ponder, Furman (4:07.81); 60-meter hurdles Titus Moore, Samford (7.92); 60-meter dash Emmanuel Tait, Samford (6.81); heptathlon Ty Kimberlin, Samford (5,010 points); 400-meter dash Devaniel Dale, Western Carolina (47.66); 800-meter run Ryan Adams, Furman (1:50.37*); triple jump Dijoun Huitt, Western Carolina (15.54 meters); 200-meter dash Devaniel Dale, Western Carolina (21.56); pole vault Sam Blumer, The Citadel (4.80 meters); 5,000-meter run Daniel Bernal, Furman (14:37.77); 4x400-meter relay Michael Harris, Chace Washington-Saunders, Jevon Leonard, Devaniel Dale, Western Carolina (3:16.43).
Women: Triple jump Mekayla Brown, ETSU (12.63 meters); mile Gabbi Jennings, Furman (4:50.77); 60-meter hurdles Destiny Shippy, Wofford (8.70); 60-meter dash Nicole Johnson, ETSU (7.40*); 400-meter dash Ahliyah Williams, VMI (56.66); 800-meter run Emma Kuntz, Furman (2:07.68); 200-meter dash Hannah Leuders, Samford (24.47); weight throw Maggie Johnston, Samford (18.27 meters); high jump Charlotte Krauss, Samford (1.65 meters); 5,000-meter run Savannah Carnahan, Furman (16:38.38); 4x400-meter relay Hannah Lueders, Amanda Dumars, Kaitlyn Cole, Vada Samuels, Samford (3:49.55).
* meet record
Men’s All-Freshman – Day 2
Men’s weight throw
Nate Myers, Wofford
Herbert Brooks, VMI
Reggie Reynolds, The Citadel
Men’s mile
Jeb Jones, Samford
Myles Stoots, ETSU
Men’s 60-meter hurdles
Jonah Dill, Furman
Men’s 60-meter dash
Evan Brooks, Samford
Sam Kamara, Wofford
David Miles, Western Carolina
Men’s heptathlon
Tanner Henry, Wofford
Kevin Linko, VMI
Men’s 400-meter dash
Michael Harris, Western Carolina
Jevon Leonard, Western Carolina
Treonte Newton, The Citadel
Men’s 800-meter run
Miguel Parrilla, ETSU
Trent Whittaker, VMI
Nick Epstein, Furman
Men’s triple jump
McCray Kelton, Samford
Marcus Evans, ETSU
Evin McEntee, Furman
Men’s 200-meter dash
Evan Brooks, Samford
David Miles, Western Carolina
Michael Harris, Western Carolina
Men’s pole vault
Brady Cassell, Samford
John Retenbach, Western Carolina
Sam LaRosa, The Citadel
Men’s 5,000-meter run
David Ahlmeyer, Furman
Ares Reading, Furman
James LaLonde, Furman
Women’s All-Freshman – Day 2
Triple jump
Georgia McDevitt, Wofford
Rylee Jorgensen, Wofford
Women’s mile
McKenzie Hogue, Samford
Nicole Matysik, Furman
Lauren Peterson, Furman
Women’s 60-meter hurdles
Riley Alexander, Samford
Kerrington Johnson, Wofford
Netanya Linares, Wofford
Women’s 60-meter dash
Nicole Johnson, ETSU
Kennedie Carithers, ETSU
Georgia McDevitt, Wofford
Women’s 400-meter dash
Mekyll Robinson, Western Carolina
Dahlia Cutler, Wofford
JaTorria Lee, Samford
Women’s 800-meter run
Katie Strozier, Samford
Abigail Robertson, Furman
Julia Karsten, ETSU
Women’s 200-meter dash
Georgia McDevitt, Wofford
Nicole Johnson, ETSU
Kennedie Carithers, ETSU
Women’s weight throw
Jataya Wilson, ETSU
Hannah Daffin, Samford
Jenna Reid, Wofford
Women’s high jump
Patra Williams, ETSU
Sarah Morelock, ETSU
Netanya Linares, Wofford
Women’s 5,000-meter run
Lauren Peterson, Furman
Quinn McConnell, Furman
Lesley Green, Chattanooga
Two meet records fell Sunday, with ETSU’s Nicole Johnson, ETSU setting a new mark in the 60-meter dash and Furman’s Ryan Adams doing so in the 800-meter run. Carnahan became the first four-time winner in the 5,000-meter run in SoCon women’s indoor history.
Samford’s men and women both turned tight races early in the day into big wins by the end. The Bulldog men posted 190 points to dethrone six-time defending team champion Western Carolina, which finished with 160. Furman was third with 101 points, followed by VMI (64), Wofford (56), The Citadel (48), ETSU (34) and UNC Greensboro (10).
The Samford women totaled 177.5 points and were followed by ETSU (134), Furman (109), Wofford (97.5), Western Carolina (78), VMI (45), Chattanooga (10), The Citadel (9) and UNCG (3).
The men’s race was tight early, with Samford’s Cahoon winning the weight throw (17.10 meters) but Western Carolina seeing three student-athletes place, drawing the Catamounts within two points in the team race after the day’s first completed event.
The Bulldogs stretched it back out to five points in the next event, the mile, which saw Furman claim four of the top five spots. Cameron Ponder won the event in 4:07.81, with Aaron Wier joining him on the podium in second. The Paladins pulled within a half point of second-place Western Carolina in the team race with that effort, notching 27 points in the event.
Samford used a big push in the shortest races to put some distance between itself and Western Carolina. In the 60-meter hurdles, Titus Moore defended his crown, turning in a time of 7.92 seconds. Teammate Tait was the runner-up and Michael McMahan finished fifth as the Bulldogs netted 22 points in the event to push their total to 89.5, 22 clear of Western Carolina.
The next men’s event was the 60-meter dash, and Samford again went 1-2. Tait earned gold with a time of 6.81 seconds, with teammate Evan Brooks right behind him in 6.87. Montrell Washington was sixth and Moore was eighth as the Bulldogs opened up a 40-point team lead.
Samford continued to distance itself from the field when the heptathlon went final. Ty Kimberlin finished first with 5,010 points, with teammate Jonathan Waarvik taking third. Kimberlin took first in the 60-meter dash and shot put and was second in the long jump and 1,000-meter run. The Bulldogs picked up 20 points to extend their lead to 59 over the Catamounts.
Western Carolina was far from out of it, however, using a 1-2-3-4 finish in the 400-meter dash to climb right back into the thick of the race. Devaniel Dale successfully defended his title in a time of 47.66 seconds, while Chace Washington-Saunders, Michael Harris and Shon Pratcher were right behind him as the Catamounts took 29 points to pull within 16 of Samford.
Furman’s Adams became a three-time winner in the 800-meter run, turning in a meet-record 1:50.37. The senior took 0.55 seconds off of ETSU’s Zach Whitmarsh’s record that had stood since 1997. Samford’s Jose Peñalver took third as the Bulldogs’ lead ballooned back to 22 points.
Samford and Western Carolina were the only squads to score in the triple jump, with the Catamounts claiming 25 points and the Bulldogs 14. WCU senior Dijoun Huitt defended his title in the event with a leap of 15.54 meters, more than a meter ahead of teammate Benjamin Okafor in second.
WCU’s Dale claimed his second title of the day in the 200-meter dash, turning in a time of 21.56 to edge Samford’s Tait and Brooks, who went 2-3. The Catamounts totaled 15 points in the event but Samford grabbed 14 to maintain a 24-point edge.
The Citadel’s Sam Blumer wrested the pole vault title away from Samford, which had won it the last five years, by clearing 4.80 meters to lead a 1-2 Bulldog finish. The Citadel’s Devin Merrick also cleared 4.80 for runner-up honors.
Furman took three of the top four spots in the 5,000-meter run, with Daniel Bernal claiming the win in 14:37.77. Freshmen David Ahlmeyer and Ares Reading were third and fourth, respectively. Samford’s Dillon Dean finished second as the Bulldogs entered the final event of the day, the 4x400-meter relay, with an insurmountable lead.
Western Carolina ninth straight year, in a time of 3:16.43.
On the women’s side, Samford carried a 29-point lead into day two, but ETSU made an early move into second place with 23 points in the triple jump. Sophomore Mekayla Brown won the event with a leap of 12.63 meters, a facility record, while teammate Aliyah Hill finished third. The Bucs claimed fifth and sixth in the event, as well, to move past Wofford into second in the team standings.
Furman made a move up the leaderboard in the mile, with four Paladins scoring, led by Gabbi Jennings (4:50.77) and Carnahan going 1-2. The 25 points Furman picked up in the event vaulted the squad into third in the standings.
Wofford climbed back into second with a big showing in the 60-meter hurdles. Sophomore Destiny Shippy won in 8.70 seconds, with freshman Kerrington Johnson joining her on the podium in third. Wofford also got fifth- and eighth-place finishes in the event to bank 21 points and overtake ETSU and Furman.
ETSU used a podium sweep in the 60-meter dash to leapfrog the Terriers, with freshman Johnson setting a meet record with a time of 7.40 seconds. Kennedie Carithers was second and Mekayla Brown was third, with Lanaya Martin finishing sixth as the Bucs earned 27 points in the event to climb within nine points of Samford (102 points) for the team lead.
Vada Samuels’ third-place finish in the 400-meter dash gave Samford a little breathing room, but it was VMI that took the top two spots in the event, with Ahliyah Williams (56.66) and Ariana Ruffin going 1-2.
In the 800-meter run, Furman’s Emma Kuntz (2:07.68) edged teammate Gabbi Jennings (2:07.87) for gold, while Samford continued to stretch its lead back out with 14 points in the event.
The Bulldogs pulled away in the 200-meter dash, highlighted by Hannah Lueders’ win in 24.47 seconds. With 14 points in the event, Samford’s lead over ETSU stood at 136-108 with just four events left to score.
Samford senior Maggie Johnston earned the title in the weight throw with a mark of 18.27 meters, followed by ETSU’s Symphony Buxton and defending champion Victoria Solheim of Western Carolina.
The women’s high jump title was captured by Samford for a fifth straight year, as Charlotte Krauss earned her first crown in the event by clearing 1.65 meters to lead a 1-2 Bulldog finish. Megan Elliott was second, clearing the same height, as Samford’s lead over ETSU moved to 38.5 points.
Furman’s women swept the top four spots in the 5,000-meter run, led by Carnahan’s fourth straight win in the event, in 16:38.38. Emma Grace Hurley was second, nearly 19 seconds behind Carnahan, and was followed by Grace Dwyer and Jennifer Stephenson.
The women’s events were capped by a thrilling finish to the 4x400-meter relay, with Samford’s Samuels running down Western Carolina’s Mekyll Robinson on the back stretch of the final lap to punctuate the Bulldogs’ team win. Samford’s time was 3:49.55.
Samford’s Hunter Poole won the men’s Pinnacle Award, given to the student-athlete with the top grade point average on the winning team, while the Bulldogs’ Amanda Dumar 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.
Men’s results – Final
1. Samford – 190 points
2. Western Carolina – 160
3. Furman – 101
4. VMI – 64
5. Wofford – 56
6. The Citadel – 48
7. ETSU – 34
8. UNCG – 10
Women’s results – Final
1. Samford – 177.5 points
2. ETSU – 134
3. Furman – 109
4. Wofford – 97.5
5. Western Carolina – 78
6. VMI – 45
7. Chattanooga – 10
8. The Citadel – 9
9. UNCG – 3
Heath Whittle Award (Men’s Most Outstanding Athlete)
Matt Cahoon, Samford
Emmanuel Tait, Samford
Women’s Most Outstanding Athlete
Savannah Carnahan, Furman
Men’s Pinnacle Award (highest GPA on championship-winning team)
Hunter Poole, Samford
Women’s Pinnacle Award (highest GPA on championship-winning team)
Amanda Dumar, Samford
Day 2 champions
Men: Weight throw Matt Cahoon, Samford (17.10 meters); mile Cameron Ponder, Furman (4:07.81); 60-meter hurdles Titus Moore, Samford (7.92); 60-meter dash Emmanuel Tait, Samford (6.81); heptathlon Ty Kimberlin, Samford (5,010 points); 400-meter dash Devaniel Dale, Western Carolina (47.66); 800-meter run Ryan Adams, Furman (1:50.37*); triple jump Dijoun Huitt, Western Carolina (15.54 meters); 200-meter dash Devaniel Dale, Western Carolina (21.56); pole vault Sam Blumer, The Citadel (4.80 meters); 5,000-meter run Daniel Bernal, Furman (14:37.77); 4x400-meter relay Michael Harris, Chace Washington-Saunders, Jevon Leonard, Devaniel Dale, Western Carolina (3:16.43).
Women: Triple jump Mekayla Brown, ETSU (12.63 meters); mile Gabbi Jennings, Furman (4:50.77); 60-meter hurdles Destiny Shippy, Wofford (8.70); 60-meter dash Nicole Johnson, ETSU (7.40*); 400-meter dash Ahliyah Williams, VMI (56.66); 800-meter run Emma Kuntz, Furman (2:07.68); 200-meter dash Hannah Leuders, Samford (24.47); weight throw Maggie Johnston, Samford (18.27 meters); high jump Charlotte Krauss, Samford (1.65 meters); 5,000-meter run Savannah Carnahan, Furman (16:38.38); 4x400-meter relay Hannah Lueders, Amanda Dumars, Kaitlyn Cole, Vada Samuels, Samford (3:49.55).
* meet record
Men’s All-Freshman – Day 2
Men’s weight throw
Nate Myers, Wofford
Herbert Brooks, VMI
Reggie Reynolds, The Citadel
Men’s mile
Jeb Jones, Samford
Myles Stoots, ETSU
Men’s 60-meter hurdles
Jonah Dill, Furman
Men’s 60-meter dash
Evan Brooks, Samford
Sam Kamara, Wofford
David Miles, Western Carolina
Men’s heptathlon
Tanner Henry, Wofford
Kevin Linko, VMI
Men’s 400-meter dash
Michael Harris, Western Carolina
Jevon Leonard, Western Carolina
Treonte Newton, The Citadel
Men’s 800-meter run
Miguel Parrilla, ETSU
Trent Whittaker, VMI
Nick Epstein, Furman
Men’s triple jump
McCray Kelton, Samford
Marcus Evans, ETSU
Evin McEntee, Furman
Men’s 200-meter dash
Evan Brooks, Samford
David Miles, Western Carolina
Michael Harris, Western Carolina
Men’s pole vault
Brady Cassell, Samford
John Retenbach, Western Carolina
Sam LaRosa, The Citadel
Men’s 5,000-meter run
David Ahlmeyer, Furman
Ares Reading, Furman
James LaLonde, Furman
Women’s All-Freshman – Day 2
Triple jump
Georgia McDevitt, Wofford
Rylee Jorgensen, Wofford
Women’s mile
McKenzie Hogue, Samford
Nicole Matysik, Furman
Lauren Peterson, Furman
Women’s 60-meter hurdles
Riley Alexander, Samford
Kerrington Johnson, Wofford
Netanya Linares, Wofford
Women’s 60-meter dash
Nicole Johnson, ETSU
Kennedie Carithers, ETSU
Georgia McDevitt, Wofford
Women’s 400-meter dash
Mekyll Robinson, Western Carolina
Dahlia Cutler, Wofford
JaTorria Lee, Samford
Women’s 800-meter run
Katie Strozier, Samford
Abigail Robertson, Furman
Julia Karsten, ETSU
Women’s 200-meter dash
Georgia McDevitt, Wofford
Nicole Johnson, ETSU
Kennedie Carithers, ETSU
Women’s weight throw
Jataya Wilson, ETSU
Hannah Daffin, Samford
Jenna Reid, Wofford
Women’s high jump
Patra Williams, ETSU
Sarah Morelock, ETSU
Netanya Linares, Wofford
Women’s 5,000-meter run
Lauren Peterson, Furman
Quinn McConnell, Furman
Lesley Green, Chattanooga
-www.SoConSports.com-