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Samford sweeps SoCon Outdoor Track and Field Championships
Bulldogs claim both men’s and women’s titles for third straight season
Birmingham, Ala. – Samford’s men and women swept the Southern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships for the fourth straight year Tuesday at Shauna Yelton Field at The Samford Track and Soccer Stadium. Highlights of the day included Wofford’s Jasmine Jefferson’s four gold medals and three meet records falling.
Samford’s men trailed by eight points after day one but finished with a 84-point margin of victory Tuesday, concluding with 217 points. VMI finished second with 133 points, followed by Furman in third with 100.
The Bulldog women led by 48.5 points after day one and finished 82.5 ahead of runner-up Wofford, which finished second for the fourth time in the last five championships and scored 130 points, the most in program history. Western Carolina was third with 107.5 points.
Samford’s Campbell was named the men’s Most Outstanding Athlete for the second year after scoring 23 points via wins in the 400-meter dash (47.09), 4x100-meter relay (40.77) and 4x400-meter relay (3:11.36) and a second place finish in the 200-meter (20.96).
On the women’s side, Samford’s Hannah Daffin scored 28 points to take women’s Most Outstanding Athlete honors. Daffin won the hammer throw (51.50 meters), shot put (13.74) and placed second in the discus (39.09 meters).
Samford’s Andrew McGinnis and Savannah Schmidt earned the Pinnacle Awards as the student-athletes with the highest GPAs on the championship-winning squads.
Samford’s men won eight of the 13 events contested Tuesday.
Moore won gold for second consecutive year in the 110-meter hurdles, blazing to a 13.92-second mark.
Also victorious for the Bulldogs were Jackson Olivo in the 400-meter hurdles (52.89), Samford’s fifth straight in the event. Jaggerd Moore won the men’s high jump with a leap of 2.03 meters. The 800-meter run was won by Samford’s Zephaniah Carico-McLennan with a time of 1:49.14, edging out ETSU’s Miguel Parrilla.
Campbell won Samford’s second-ever SoCon title in the 400m, defending his title with a time of 47.09. Malcolm, Evan Brooks, Tyke Tabor, and Campbell combined to win the 4x100, while Campbell, Carico-McLennan, Jackson Olivo and Tabor capped the meet with the win in the 4x400. Carl Henry won the shot put with a heave of 15.38 meters.
VMI’s Isaiah Blount won two of the 10 decathlon events to total 6,873 points. He logged two decathlon event records in the Shotput and Discus to come from behind and win gold.
The Citadel’s Solomon Ghosh successfully defended his title in the discus, winning his third straight crown with a toss of 49.65 meters.
VMI’s Keyandre Midgett won the men’s triple jump with a leap of 15.24 meters.
Cameron Ponder won Furman’s eighth straight title in the men’s 5,000-meter run, winning in 14:31.15. Dylan Schubert won the 1,500-meter race with a time of 3:48.53, the first title in the event for the Paladins since 2021
Wofford’s Cameron Dalton won the 100 meter in dramatic fashion just edging out Samford’s Cole Grande with a time of 10:56, to secure Wofford’s first win in the event. He then won the 200-meter race, setting a new SoCon record from 1977, turning in a time of 20.64.
On the women’s side, Samford claimed five individual titles Tuesday. Hannah Daffin defended her 2022 and 2023 crown in the shot put with a throw of 13.74 meters, while freshman Emma Nolte took home the discus crown with a throw of 42.89 meters. Adeline Haisch won the 1,500-meter run with a time of 4:27.31, the first Bulldog to win the event since 2019 and Amiel Dabney took home gold in the 100-meter hurdles in 13:85. Samford’s Ayden Drake won the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:00.45.
Wofford claimed five event wins Tuesday, with Jasmine Jefferson involved in four of them. She set a new SoCon Championship record in the 400-meter with a time of 53.27.She later won the 200-meter dash logging a time of 24.01, beating defending champion Mecca Jackson of The Citadel.
Jefferson was joined on the winning relay by Ella Tennant, Olivia Bagg, and Madeline McNinch as Wofford claimed the 4x100 for the fourth straight championship. Marga Van Der Linde, Jefferson, Brooke Sayre, and Dannielle King took gold in the 4x400 meter with a time of 3:11.36.
Olivia Bagg won the heptathlon with 4,776 points, claiming four of the seven events and becoming Wofford’s fourth different winner in the last five championships.
Western Carolina claimed two event wins Tuesday, starting with Heidi Hudson who took the high jump crown clearing 1.75 meters. Jasmine Greene then defended her title and won the triple jump with a leap of 11.38 meters.
VMI’s Eleyah Armstrong won the 100-meter dash, setting a new SoCon record of 11.35 and beating out defeating champion Mecca Jackson by less than half a second. This was the Keydets’ first gold medal in this event
Furman’s Megan Marvin won the 800-meter run in 2:07.01, her third SoCon Championship gold medal in the event
Sierra Bower won Furman’s ninth straight title in the 5,000-meter run, clocking 17:30.56, with Lillian Feingold and Bethany Graham finishing second and third, respectively, for a Paladin podium sweep.
Samford’s outdoor title sweep came on the heels of its indoor sweep in February, marking the fourth season the Bulldogs have swept both indoor and outdoor championships.
The NCAA Regional fields will be announced on Thursday, May 9th, via press release at NCAA.com.
Men’s results – Final
1. Samford – 217 points
2. VMI - 133
3. Furman - 100
4. Western Carolina - 92
5. Wofford – 90
6. The Citadel - 81
7.ETSU - 75
8. UNCG – 17
Women’s results – Final
1. Samford – 212.5 points
2. Wofford – 130 points
3. Western Carolina – 107.5
4. ETSU – 101
5. Furman – 92
6. VMI – 59
7. The Citadel – 52
8. Mercer – 45
9. Chattanooga – 17
10. UNCG – 2
Men’s Most Outstanding Athlete
Cagan Campbell, Samford
Women’s Most Outstanding Athlete
Hannah Daffin, Samford
Men’s Pinnacle Award (highest GPA on championship-winning team)
Andrew McGinnis, Samford
Women’s Pinnacle Award (highest GPA on championship-winning team)
Savannah Schmidt, Samford
Day 2 champions Men: 4x100-meter relay William Malcolm, Evan Brooks, Tyke Tabor, Cagan Campbell, Samford (40.77); decathlon Isaiah Blount, VMI (6,873 points); 1,500-meter run Dylan Schubert, Furman (3:48.53); 110-meter hurdles Titus Moore, Samford (13.92); discus Solomon Ghosh, The Citadel (49.65 meters); 400-meter dash Cagan Campbell, Samford (47.09); 100-meter dash Cameron Dalton, Wofford (10.56); 800-meter run Zephaniah Carico-McLennan, Samford (1:49.14); 400-meter hurdles Jackson Olivio, Samford (52.89); high jump Jaggerd Moore, Samford (2.03 meters); 200-meter dash Cameron Dalton, Wofford (20.64*) 5,000-meter run Cameron Ponder, Furman (14:31.15); shot put Carl Henry, Samford (15.38 meters); triple jump Keyandre Midgett, VMI (15.24 meters); 4x400-meter relay Cagan Campbell, Zephaniah Carico-McLennan, Jackson Olivo, Tyke Tabor, Samford (3:11.36).
Women: Heptathlon Olivia Bagg, Wofford (4,776 points); shot put Hannah Daffin, Samford (13.74 meters); 4x100-meter relay Ella Tennant, Jasmine Jefferson, Olivia Bagg, Madeline McNinch, Wofford (46.00); 1,500-meter run Adeline Haisch, Samford (4:27.31) 100-meter hurdles Amiel Dabney, Samford (13.85); high jump Heidi Hudson, Western Carolina (1.75 meters); 400-meter dash Jasmine Jefferson, Wofford (53.27*); 100-meter dash Eleyah Armstrong, VMI (11.35*) 800-meter run Megan Marvin, Furman (2:07.01); 400-meter hurdles Ayden Drake, Samford (1:00.45); triple jump Jasmine Greene, Western Carolina (11.38 meters); 200-meter dash Jasmine Jefferson, Wofford (24.01); discus Emma Nolte, Samford (42.89 meters); 5,000-meter run Sierra Bower, Furman (17:30.56); 4x400-meter relay Marga Van Der Linde, Jasmine Jefferson, Brooke Sayre, Dannielle King, Wofford (3:47.33).
* meet record
Men’s all-freshman – Day 2
Decathlon
Samuel Werner, Samford
Colby Capps, Western Carolina
Ethan Hibberts, Western Carolina
1,500-meter run
Christopher Knight, Furman
Patrick Lowry, VMI
Luke Young, ETSU
110-meter hurdles
Archie Woodard, Wofford
Discus
Rafe Clendenin, VMI
Carl Henry, Samford
Raymond Carleton, Samford
400-meter dash
100-meter dash
Cole Grande, Samford
Bradlee Jones, The Citadel
800-meter run
Sam Barnard, UNCG
400-meter hurdles
Archie Woodard, Wofford
Sumter Cooper, Wofford
High jump
Jordan Chestnut, The Citadel
Athur Chitty, Samford
McConnell Burdette, The Citadel
200-meter dash
Cole Grande, Samford
Jacob Garnett, VMI
5,000-meter run
Owen Shifflet, Furman
Kevin Shank, VMI
Khalid Abdullahi, UNCG
Shot put
Carl Henry, Samford
Eli Penix, Samford
Brent Bell, ETSU
Triple jump
Patrick Green, Wofford
Jordan Chestnut, The Citadel
David Dorbin, Western Carolina
Women’s all-freshman – Day 2
Heptathlon
Brianna Baker, ETSU
Eliza Ruch, ETSU
Kendal Hudson, Western Carolina
Shot put
Diamond Baker, VMI
Hailee Jackson-Morgan, Western Carolina
1,500-meter run
Tenley Douglass, UNCG
Kennedy Reynolds, Chattanooga
Michaela Dabney, Chattanooga
100-meter hurdles
JaKayla Campbell, Wofford
High jump
Heidi Hudson, Western Carolina
Morgan Fraser, WMI
Brianna Baker, ETSU
400-meter dash
Leah Butler, Western Carolina
Kyndal Saunders, Western Carolina
McKenna Boykins, ETSU
100-meter dash
Gabrielle Walker, ETSU
Cymoria Thomas, Western Carolina
Armani Blair, Western Carolina
800-meter run
Camryn Wennersten, Furman
Dannielle King, Wofford
400-meter hurdles
Maris Owen, Samford
Alina LaForest, VMI
Triple jump
Isabella Duchemin, Wofford
Jada Pate, The Citadel
Kendal Hudson, Western Carolina
200-meter dash
Gabrielle Walker, ETSU
Cymoria Thomas, Western Carolina
Discus
Tyla Nicholson, ETSU
Hailee Jackson-Morgan, Western Carolina
Diamond Baker, VMI
5,000-meter run
Lillian Feingold, Furman
Bella Edwards, Samford
Katherine Hopkins, Western Carolina
Samford’s men trailed by eight points after day one but finished with a 84-point margin of victory Tuesday, concluding with 217 points. VMI finished second with 133 points, followed by Furman in third with 100.
The Bulldog women led by 48.5 points after day one and finished 82.5 ahead of runner-up Wofford, which finished second for the fourth time in the last five championships and scored 130 points, the most in program history. Western Carolina was third with 107.5 points.
Samford’s Campbell was named the men’s Most Outstanding Athlete for the second year after scoring 23 points via wins in the 400-meter dash (47.09), 4x100-meter relay (40.77) and 4x400-meter relay (3:11.36) and a second place finish in the 200-meter (20.96).
On the women’s side, Samford’s Hannah Daffin scored 28 points to take women’s Most Outstanding Athlete honors. Daffin won the hammer throw (51.50 meters), shot put (13.74) and placed second in the discus (39.09 meters).
Samford’s Andrew McGinnis and Savannah Schmidt earned the Pinnacle Awards as the student-athletes with the highest GPAs on the championship-winning squads.
Samford’s men won eight of the 13 events contested Tuesday.
Moore won gold for second consecutive year in the 110-meter hurdles, blazing to a 13.92-second mark.
Also victorious for the Bulldogs were Jackson Olivo in the 400-meter hurdles (52.89), Samford’s fifth straight in the event. Jaggerd Moore won the men’s high jump with a leap of 2.03 meters. The 800-meter run was won by Samford’s Zephaniah Carico-McLennan with a time of 1:49.14, edging out ETSU’s Miguel Parrilla.
Campbell won Samford’s second-ever SoCon title in the 400m, defending his title with a time of 47.09. Malcolm, Evan Brooks, Tyke Tabor, and Campbell combined to win the 4x100, while Campbell, Carico-McLennan, Jackson Olivo and Tabor capped the meet with the win in the 4x400. Carl Henry won the shot put with a heave of 15.38 meters.
VMI’s Isaiah Blount won two of the 10 decathlon events to total 6,873 points. He logged two decathlon event records in the Shotput and Discus to come from behind and win gold.
The Citadel’s Solomon Ghosh successfully defended his title in the discus, winning his third straight crown with a toss of 49.65 meters.
VMI’s Keyandre Midgett won the men’s triple jump with a leap of 15.24 meters.
Cameron Ponder won Furman’s eighth straight title in the men’s 5,000-meter run, winning in 14:31.15. Dylan Schubert won the 1,500-meter race with a time of 3:48.53, the first title in the event for the Paladins since 2021
Wofford’s Cameron Dalton won the 100 meter in dramatic fashion just edging out Samford’s Cole Grande with a time of 10:56, to secure Wofford’s first win in the event. He then won the 200-meter race, setting a new SoCon record from 1977, turning in a time of 20.64.
On the women’s side, Samford claimed five individual titles Tuesday. Hannah Daffin defended her 2022 and 2023 crown in the shot put with a throw of 13.74 meters, while freshman Emma Nolte took home the discus crown with a throw of 42.89 meters. Adeline Haisch won the 1,500-meter run with a time of 4:27.31, the first Bulldog to win the event since 2019 and Amiel Dabney took home gold in the 100-meter hurdles in 13:85. Samford’s Ayden Drake won the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:00.45.
Wofford claimed five event wins Tuesday, with Jasmine Jefferson involved in four of them. She set a new SoCon Championship record in the 400-meter with a time of 53.27.She later won the 200-meter dash logging a time of 24.01, beating defending champion Mecca Jackson of The Citadel.
Jefferson was joined on the winning relay by Ella Tennant, Olivia Bagg, and Madeline McNinch as Wofford claimed the 4x100 for the fourth straight championship. Marga Van Der Linde, Jefferson, Brooke Sayre, and Dannielle King took gold in the 4x400 meter with a time of 3:11.36.
Olivia Bagg won the heptathlon with 4,776 points, claiming four of the seven events and becoming Wofford’s fourth different winner in the last five championships.
Western Carolina claimed two event wins Tuesday, starting with Heidi Hudson who took the high jump crown clearing 1.75 meters. Jasmine Greene then defended her title and won the triple jump with a leap of 11.38 meters.
VMI’s Eleyah Armstrong won the 100-meter dash, setting a new SoCon record of 11.35 and beating out defeating champion Mecca Jackson by less than half a second. This was the Keydets’ first gold medal in this event
Furman’s Megan Marvin won the 800-meter run in 2:07.01, her third SoCon Championship gold medal in the event
Sierra Bower won Furman’s ninth straight title in the 5,000-meter run, clocking 17:30.56, with Lillian Feingold and Bethany Graham finishing second and third, respectively, for a Paladin podium sweep.
Samford’s outdoor title sweep came on the heels of its indoor sweep in February, marking the fourth season the Bulldogs have swept both indoor and outdoor championships.
The NCAA Regional fields will be announced on Thursday, May 9th, via press release at NCAA.com.
Men’s results – Final
1. Samford – 217 points
2. VMI - 133
3. Furman - 100
4. Western Carolina - 92
5. Wofford – 90
6. The Citadel - 81
7.ETSU - 75
8. UNCG – 17
Women’s results – Final
1. Samford – 212.5 points
2. Wofford – 130 points
3. Western Carolina – 107.5
4. ETSU – 101
5. Furman – 92
6. VMI – 59
7. The Citadel – 52
8. Mercer – 45
9. Chattanooga – 17
10. UNCG – 2
Men’s Most Outstanding Athlete
Cagan Campbell, Samford
Women’s Most Outstanding Athlete
Hannah Daffin, Samford
Men’s Pinnacle Award (highest GPA on championship-winning team)
Andrew McGinnis, Samford
Women’s Pinnacle Award (highest GPA on championship-winning team)
Savannah Schmidt, Samford
Day 2 champions Men: 4x100-meter relay William Malcolm, Evan Brooks, Tyke Tabor, Cagan Campbell, Samford (40.77); decathlon Isaiah Blount, VMI (6,873 points); 1,500-meter run Dylan Schubert, Furman (3:48.53); 110-meter hurdles Titus Moore, Samford (13.92); discus Solomon Ghosh, The Citadel (49.65 meters); 400-meter dash Cagan Campbell, Samford (47.09); 100-meter dash Cameron Dalton, Wofford (10.56); 800-meter run Zephaniah Carico-McLennan, Samford (1:49.14); 400-meter hurdles Jackson Olivio, Samford (52.89); high jump Jaggerd Moore, Samford (2.03 meters); 200-meter dash Cameron Dalton, Wofford (20.64*) 5,000-meter run Cameron Ponder, Furman (14:31.15); shot put Carl Henry, Samford (15.38 meters); triple jump Keyandre Midgett, VMI (15.24 meters); 4x400-meter relay Cagan Campbell, Zephaniah Carico-McLennan, Jackson Olivo, Tyke Tabor, Samford (3:11.36).
Women: Heptathlon Olivia Bagg, Wofford (4,776 points); shot put Hannah Daffin, Samford (13.74 meters); 4x100-meter relay Ella Tennant, Jasmine Jefferson, Olivia Bagg, Madeline McNinch, Wofford (46.00); 1,500-meter run Adeline Haisch, Samford (4:27.31) 100-meter hurdles Amiel Dabney, Samford (13.85); high jump Heidi Hudson, Western Carolina (1.75 meters); 400-meter dash Jasmine Jefferson, Wofford (53.27*); 100-meter dash Eleyah Armstrong, VMI (11.35*) 800-meter run Megan Marvin, Furman (2:07.01); 400-meter hurdles Ayden Drake, Samford (1:00.45); triple jump Jasmine Greene, Western Carolina (11.38 meters); 200-meter dash Jasmine Jefferson, Wofford (24.01); discus Emma Nolte, Samford (42.89 meters); 5,000-meter run Sierra Bower, Furman (17:30.56); 4x400-meter relay Marga Van Der Linde, Jasmine Jefferson, Brooke Sayre, Dannielle King, Wofford (3:47.33).
* meet record
Men’s all-freshman – Day 2
Decathlon
Samuel Werner, Samford
Colby Capps, Western Carolina
Ethan Hibberts, Western Carolina
1,500-meter run
Christopher Knight, Furman
Patrick Lowry, VMI
Luke Young, ETSU
110-meter hurdles
Archie Woodard, Wofford
Discus
Rafe Clendenin, VMI
Carl Henry, Samford
Raymond Carleton, Samford
400-meter dash
100-meter dash
Cole Grande, Samford
Bradlee Jones, The Citadel
800-meter run
Sam Barnard, UNCG
400-meter hurdles
Archie Woodard, Wofford
Sumter Cooper, Wofford
High jump
Jordan Chestnut, The Citadel
Athur Chitty, Samford
McConnell Burdette, The Citadel
200-meter dash
Cole Grande, Samford
Jacob Garnett, VMI
5,000-meter run
Owen Shifflet, Furman
Kevin Shank, VMI
Khalid Abdullahi, UNCG
Shot put
Carl Henry, Samford
Eli Penix, Samford
Brent Bell, ETSU
Triple jump
Patrick Green, Wofford
Jordan Chestnut, The Citadel
David Dorbin, Western Carolina
Women’s all-freshman – Day 2
Heptathlon
Brianna Baker, ETSU
Eliza Ruch, ETSU
Kendal Hudson, Western Carolina
Shot put
Diamond Baker, VMI
Hailee Jackson-Morgan, Western Carolina
1,500-meter run
Tenley Douglass, UNCG
Kennedy Reynolds, Chattanooga
Michaela Dabney, Chattanooga
100-meter hurdles
JaKayla Campbell, Wofford
High jump
Heidi Hudson, Western Carolina
Morgan Fraser, WMI
Brianna Baker, ETSU
400-meter dash
Leah Butler, Western Carolina
Kyndal Saunders, Western Carolina
McKenna Boykins, ETSU
100-meter dash
Gabrielle Walker, ETSU
Cymoria Thomas, Western Carolina
Armani Blair, Western Carolina
800-meter run
Camryn Wennersten, Furman
Dannielle King, Wofford
400-meter hurdles
Maris Owen, Samford
Alina LaForest, VMI
Triple jump
Isabella Duchemin, Wofford
Jada Pate, The Citadel
Kendal Hudson, Western Carolina
200-meter dash
Gabrielle Walker, ETSU
Cymoria Thomas, Western Carolina
Discus
Tyla Nicholson, ETSU
Hailee Jackson-Morgan, Western Carolina
Diamond Baker, VMI
5,000-meter run
Lillian Feingold, Furman
Bella Edwards, Samford
Katherine Hopkins, Western Carolina