SoCon Indoor Track & Field wraps Day 1 of championships

LEXINGTON, Va. – Samford’s men and women lead the Southern Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships after Saturday’s first day of competition at the VMI Corps Physical Training Facility. Eleven event titles were determined on day one. 
Samford’s men totaled 60 points Saturday to hold a 22-point lead over Furman as they try to win their sixth straight championship. Wofford holds the lead on the women’s side following day one of competition, with 45 points.  

Samford and Furman won two titles each on the men’s side, while VMI added one. On the women’s side, Wofford and Furman claimed two titles apiece, while ETSU and Samford also earned wins Friday. 

Samford’s Bradley Franklin broke the 60m hurdles record, clocking a 7.77 in the event’s preliminary round.  

Other highlights include Samford’s Bryce Davis who captured the first gold medal of the day in the men’s shot put with a mark of 16.13 meters.  

Furman’s Carly Wilkes secured the first gold medal on the women’s side, running at 9:22.99 in the women’s 3000 meters . 

Samford sophomore Brenden Vanderpool successfully defended his pole vault title clearing 5.30 meters on his first attempt. Teammate Carter Ellis took second place after with a mark of 5.15 meters on his first attempt. Two more Bulldogs scored in the event as Samford claimed 25 points. VMI’s Cameron Thomas placed third clearing 5.00 meters.  

On the women’s side, Samford’s Dorsey Parker collected a gold medal in the women’s high jump with a leap of 1.70 meters. VMI’s Morgan Fraser and Wofford’s Sherika Christie finished tied for second, after clearing 1.65 meters.  

Wofford’s Christie recorded a personal best 6.03 meter in the women’s long jump finals. On the men’s side, VMI’s Keyandre Midgett defended his SoCon championship title with a mark of 7.07 meters.  

Wofford’s Olivia Bagg set a personal record in the women’s 800-meter pentathlon en route to a first-place overall pentathlon finish with 3,658 points.  
Furman’s Carson Williams led a Paladins podium sweep in the men’s 3000 meters, finishing in 8:21.11. Evan Guzman took second with a time of 8:22.66, and Ryan Smith finished third with a time of 8:23.05. Foster Wilfong placed fifth in the event, bringing the Paladins final event tally to 28 points. 

ETSU freshman Alexis Carter turned in a heave of 12.87 meters on her third throw of the day to claim the shot-put gold medal and add 10 points to her team score. Western Carolina completed the podium with Lexi Durban and Ericka Jackson finishing second and third, respectively.  

The Furman women won their ninth consecutive women’s DMR title. Zoie Lamanna, Claire Cook, Jais Ward, and Nysa Males turned in a time of 11:50.12, winning the event by 26 seconds. 

The Furman men won their third consecutive men’s DMR title. Finishing four seconds ahead of second place Samford, Casey Burr, Owen Delaney, Tripp Roemer, and Matthew Smith recorded a time of 10:02.18 to secure the gold medal.  

The SoCon Championships resume Saturday with the heptathlon beginning at 9 a.m. Live results, daily recaps and photos can be found at SoConSports.com. Day two will air on ESPN+ starting at 12 p.m. ET.


Men's results - Day 1

Samford - 54

Western Carolina - 44

Furman - 38

VMI - 28

UNCG - 12

Citadel - 11

Wofford - 7

Women's results - Day 1

Samford - 53

Wofford - 43

Western Carolina - 37

Furman - 35

ETSU - 28

VMI - 25

Chattanooga - 11

Citadel - 2



Day 1 champions
Men: Shot put Bryce Davis, Samford (16.13m); pole vault Brenden Vanderpool, Samford (5.30m) ; long jump Keyandre Midgett (7.07m); 3,000-meter run Chris Knight, Furman (8:21.11); distance medley relay Furman (Casey Burr, Owen Delaney, Tripp Roemer, and Matthew Smith – 10:02.18).

Women: Pentathlon Olivia Bagg, Wofford (3,658) ; long jump Sherika Christie, Wofford (6.03m); shot put Alexis Carter, ETSU (12.87m); 3,000-meter run Carly Wilkes, Furman (9:22.99); high jump Dorsey Parker, Samford (1.70m); distance medley relay Furman (Zoie Lamanna, Claire Cook, Jais Ward, Nysa Males – 11:50.12)

Men's All-Freshman - Day 1

Men's shot put

Bryce Davis, Samford

Kolton Weaver, Western Carolina 

Rae Tazewell, VMI  

Men’s pole vault 
Joey Swick, Wofford 

Men’s long jump 
Kwan Oates, Western Carolina 

Jaxon Brewer, The Citadel  

Elijah Cochran, Western Carolina 

Men’s 3,000-meter run 
Ryan Smith, Furman  

Pierson Guerrant, UNCG 

Women’s All-Freshman – Day 1 
Pentathlon 
Laurel Phelps, Samford 

JeNiya White, VMI  

Norah Haney, Chattanooga 

Women’s long jump 

Octavia Massena, Western Carolina 

Taylor Jennings-Ward, Wofford 

Tamia Levine, The Citadel  

Women’s shot put 
Alexis Carter, ETSU  

Lexi Durban, Western Carolina 

Emmie Finley, Western Carolina 

Women’s high jump 
Akera Molette, ETSU  

E’yana Watson, VMI  

 
Women’s 3,000-meter run 
Anna Graves, Furman 

Deena Ludtke, ETSU 

Katie Sobieraj, Furman