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VMI Men, Samford Women Lead After Day 1 of the Outdoor Track and Field Championship
VMI accumulated 56 points and Samford Women earned 79.5 points
Birmingham, Ala. – VMI’s men and Samford’s women lead the Southern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships after Monday’s first day of competition at Shauna Yelton Field at The Samford Track and Soccer Stadium.
Samford’s women, who have won four straight SoCon outdoor crowns, totaled 79.5 points and won two individual titles handed out on Monday, with Hannah Daffin successfully defending her title. The Citadel followed in second with 31 points, and ETSU in third with 30.
On the men’s side, VMI accumulated 56 points on the strength of three wins of its own, with Andrew Granger winning his second hammer title and Keyandre Midgett and Cameron Thomas winning their first individual titles. Furman’s men are second with 48 points and host Samford is tied for third with Western Carolina at 42.
Diana Romero-Barba beat two-time champion Brittany Bishop for the pole vault clearing 3.70 meters on her first attempt. Freshman Antonina Tereshenko of Samford joined the podium in third.
The Citadel’s Ali Ruffin won her first title in the javelin, finishing more than 5 meters ahead of runner-up Jasmine Hampton with a throw of 47.44 meters.
Daffin claimed her third straight title in the hammer throw, claiming the crown with her toss of 51.50 meters.
Also claiming women’s title Monday were Samford’s Ellison Chadwick in the long jump, Furman’s Nicole Matysik in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and Chattanooga’s Lesley Green in the 10,000-meter run. Chadwick’s leap of 5.90 meters was good for the Bulldogs’ first win in the event since joining the conference, while Matysik’s title was the second event win for the Paladin who shaved 15 second off her 2022 title winning time. Feingold won Furman’s fourth 10K title in five years, finishing almost 20 seconds ahead of teammate Emma Jones.
Furman’s Cameron Ponder won the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase in 8:52.32. This is the second consecutive 3,000-meter steeple chase win for the Paladins.
VMI freshman Cameron Thomas pulled out the win in the pole vault with a height of 4.95 meters. Samford’s Carter Ellis and VMI’s Isaiah Blount finished second and third, respectively.
Kaufelds became the fourth different Bulldog in as many years to win the javelin, with a throw of 62.40 meters.
Keyandre Midgett claimed the title in the long jump, leaping 7.36 meters with teammate Charles Male finishing in second and Western Carolina’s Noah Straley coming in third.
Furman’s Owen Shifflett won the 10,000-meter run crown. The freshman finished more than ten seconds ahead of teammate Micholas Goldstein who came in second place. To finish the Paladin podium sweep, Luke Taylor came in third place.
VMI’s Andrew Granger picked up the first men’s title of the day, unleashing a toss of 56.03 meters to win the hammer throw by almost four meters. ETSU’s Brent Bell claimed the second podium spot, while VMI’s Rafe Clendenin finished in third.
With half the decathlon in the books, Samford’s Werner, a freshman, leads with 3,607 points after winning three of the five events Monday – the 100-meter run, the long jump, and the 400-meter run. Williamson of Samford is second with 3,577 points and VMI’s Blount is in third with 3,504 points.
With four of the heptathlon events complete, Wofford’s Olivia Bagg leads with 2,887 points after winning the 100-meter dash. Samford’s Pettyjohn is in second with 2,848 points, and ETSU’s Baker has 2,825 points landing her in third place.
The SoCon Championships resume Tuesday with the resumption of decathlon at 11 a.m. and the heptathlon at 11:15. Live results, daily recaps and photos can be found at SoConSports.com. Day two will air on ESPN+ starting at 4:00 p.m. eastern.
Men’s results – Day 1
1.VMI – 56 points
2. Furman – 48
3. Samford – 42
Western Carolina – 42
5. ETSU – 16
6. The Citadel – 15
7. UNCG – 6
8. Wofford - 3
Women’s results – Day 1
1. Samford – 79.5 points
2. The Citadel – 31
3. ETSU – 30
4. Furman – 28
5. Mercer – 24
6 Wofford – 18
7. VMI – 12
8. Western Carolina – 9.5
9. UNCG – 2
10. Chattanooga - 0
Day 1 champions
Men: Hammer throw Andrew Granger, VMI (56.03 meters); long jump Keyandre Midgett, VMI (7.36 meters); pole vault Cameron Thomas, VMI (4.95 meters); javelin Kyle Kaufelds, Samford (62.40 meters); 3,000-meter steeplechase Cameron Ponder, Furman (8:52.32); 10,000-meter run Owen Shifflett, Furman (30:57.53).
Women: Hammer throw Hannah Daffin, Samford (51.50 meters); long jump Ellison Chadwick, Samford (5.90 meters); pole vault Diana Romero-Barba, ETSU (3.70 meters); javelin Ali Ruffin, The Citadel (47.44 meters); 3,000-meter steeplechase Nicole Matysik, Furman (10:40.45); 10,000-meter run Lillian Feingold, Furman (36:55.66).
Men’s All-Freshman – Day 1
Men’s hammer throw
Brent Bell, ETSU
Rafe Clendenin, VMI
Austin Ramires, Western Carolina
Men’s long jump
Zachary Denton, VMI
David Dorbin, Western Carolina
Jordan Chestnut, The Citadel
Men’s pole vault
Cameron Thomas, VMI
Jack Scott, The Citadel
Men’s javelin
Kyle Kaufelds, Samford
Michael Kolen, Samford
Arthur Parham, The Citadel
Men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase
Colton Kempney, Furman
Lawson Mecom, Western Carolina
William Murray, Samford
Men’s 10,000-meter run
Owen Shifflett, Furman
Women’s All-Freshman – Day 1
Women’s hammer throw
Hailee Jackson-Morgan, Western Carolina
Tyla Nicholson, ETSU
Women’s long jump
Ellison Chadwick, Samford
Heidi Hudson, Western Carolina
Eliza Ruch, ETSU
Women’s pole vault
Antonina Tereshenko, Samford
Libby Jackson, Samford
Bella Hilleary, Western Carolina
Women’s javelin
Jasmine Hampton, Samford
Heidi Hudson, Western Carolina
Women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase
Peyton Skoglund, Western Carolina
10,000-meter run
Lillian Feingold, Furman
Katherin Hopkins, Western Carolina
Samford’s women, who have won four straight SoCon outdoor crowns, totaled 79.5 points and won two individual titles handed out on Monday, with Hannah Daffin successfully defending her title. The Citadel followed in second with 31 points, and ETSU in third with 30.
On the men’s side, VMI accumulated 56 points on the strength of three wins of its own, with Andrew Granger winning his second hammer title and Keyandre Midgett and Cameron Thomas winning their first individual titles. Furman’s men are second with 48 points and host Samford is tied for third with Western Carolina at 42.
Diana Romero-Barba beat two-time champion Brittany Bishop for the pole vault clearing 3.70 meters on her first attempt. Freshman Antonina Tereshenko of Samford joined the podium in third.
The Citadel’s Ali Ruffin won her first title in the javelin, finishing more than 5 meters ahead of runner-up Jasmine Hampton with a throw of 47.44 meters.
Daffin claimed her third straight title in the hammer throw, claiming the crown with her toss of 51.50 meters.
Also claiming women’s title Monday were Samford’s Ellison Chadwick in the long jump, Furman’s Nicole Matysik in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and Chattanooga’s Lesley Green in the 10,000-meter run. Chadwick’s leap of 5.90 meters was good for the Bulldogs’ first win in the event since joining the conference, while Matysik’s title was the second event win for the Paladin who shaved 15 second off her 2022 title winning time. Feingold won Furman’s fourth 10K title in five years, finishing almost 20 seconds ahead of teammate Emma Jones.
Furman’s Cameron Ponder won the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase in 8:52.32. This is the second consecutive 3,000-meter steeple chase win for the Paladins.
VMI freshman Cameron Thomas pulled out the win in the pole vault with a height of 4.95 meters. Samford’s Carter Ellis and VMI’s Isaiah Blount finished second and third, respectively.
Kaufelds became the fourth different Bulldog in as many years to win the javelin, with a throw of 62.40 meters.
Keyandre Midgett claimed the title in the long jump, leaping 7.36 meters with teammate Charles Male finishing in second and Western Carolina’s Noah Straley coming in third.
Furman’s Owen Shifflett won the 10,000-meter run crown. The freshman finished more than ten seconds ahead of teammate Micholas Goldstein who came in second place. To finish the Paladin podium sweep, Luke Taylor came in third place.
VMI’s Andrew Granger picked up the first men’s title of the day, unleashing a toss of 56.03 meters to win the hammer throw by almost four meters. ETSU’s Brent Bell claimed the second podium spot, while VMI’s Rafe Clendenin finished in third.
With half the decathlon in the books, Samford’s Werner, a freshman, leads with 3,607 points after winning three of the five events Monday – the 100-meter run, the long jump, and the 400-meter run. Williamson of Samford is second with 3,577 points and VMI’s Blount is in third with 3,504 points.
With four of the heptathlon events complete, Wofford’s Olivia Bagg leads with 2,887 points after winning the 100-meter dash. Samford’s Pettyjohn is in second with 2,848 points, and ETSU’s Baker has 2,825 points landing her in third place.
The SoCon Championships resume Tuesday with the resumption of decathlon at 11 a.m. and the heptathlon at 11:15. Live results, daily recaps and photos can be found at SoConSports.com. Day two will air on ESPN+ starting at 4:00 p.m. eastern.
Men’s results – Day 1
1.VMI – 56 points
2. Furman – 48
3. Samford – 42
Western Carolina – 42
5. ETSU – 16
6. The Citadel – 15
7. UNCG – 6
8. Wofford - 3
Women’s results – Day 1
1. Samford – 79.5 points
2. The Citadel – 31
3. ETSU – 30
4. Furman – 28
5. Mercer – 24
6 Wofford – 18
7. VMI – 12
8. Western Carolina – 9.5
9. UNCG – 2
10. Chattanooga - 0
Day 1 champions
Men: Hammer throw Andrew Granger, VMI (56.03 meters); long jump Keyandre Midgett, VMI (7.36 meters); pole vault Cameron Thomas, VMI (4.95 meters); javelin Kyle Kaufelds, Samford (62.40 meters); 3,000-meter steeplechase Cameron Ponder, Furman (8:52.32); 10,000-meter run Owen Shifflett, Furman (30:57.53).
Women: Hammer throw Hannah Daffin, Samford (51.50 meters); long jump Ellison Chadwick, Samford (5.90 meters); pole vault Diana Romero-Barba, ETSU (3.70 meters); javelin Ali Ruffin, The Citadel (47.44 meters); 3,000-meter steeplechase Nicole Matysik, Furman (10:40.45); 10,000-meter run Lillian Feingold, Furman (36:55.66).
Men’s All-Freshman – Day 1
Men’s hammer throw
Brent Bell, ETSU
Rafe Clendenin, VMI
Austin Ramires, Western Carolina
Men’s long jump
Zachary Denton, VMI
David Dorbin, Western Carolina
Jordan Chestnut, The Citadel
Men’s pole vault
Cameron Thomas, VMI
Jack Scott, The Citadel
Men’s javelin
Kyle Kaufelds, Samford
Michael Kolen, Samford
Arthur Parham, The Citadel
Men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase
Colton Kempney, Furman
Lawson Mecom, Western Carolina
William Murray, Samford
Men’s 10,000-meter run
Owen Shifflett, Furman
Women’s All-Freshman – Day 1
Women’s hammer throw
Hailee Jackson-Morgan, Western Carolina
Tyla Nicholson, ETSU
Women’s long jump
Ellison Chadwick, Samford
Heidi Hudson, Western Carolina
Eliza Ruch, ETSU
Women’s pole vault
Antonina Tereshenko, Samford
Libby Jackson, Samford
Bella Hilleary, Western Carolina
Women’s javelin
Jasmine Hampton, Samford
Heidi Hudson, Western Carolina
Women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase
Peyton Skoglund, Western Carolina
10,000-meter run
Lillian Feingold, Furman
Katherin Hopkins, Western Carolina