Track and field closes out strong at the SoCon Championship

CULLOWHEE, NC. Western Carolina’s track and field teams earned four individual and one relay victory and multiple personal best finishes as the Catamounts wrapped up the 2023 Southern Conference Outdoor Championship on Tuesday at the Catamount Athletic Complex.

The men’s team finished second for the third consecutive year, while the women’s team finished third in the team standings.

Riley Centerthe 2023 SoCon Indoor shot put champion, completed the annual sweep in the event with a top of 14.50 meters (47’7″).

on the track, John Davis earned his first career SoCon title when he ran the men’s 1500m in 3:54.76. Davis is the first Catamount to win the event since Adam Puett won the event three straight from 2004-2006.

Michael Harris was second in the men’s 400m and finished the race with a personal best of 47.51. Harris finished third in the men’s 200 meters in a new personal best time of 21.27. Teddy Ayden placed fourth thanks to a personal best 21.43 David Miles won eighth place with a time of 21.72.

Javell Brown finished second in the men’s triple jump with a personal best of 15.34 meters (50’4″). The javelin jump is the fifth best all-time in program history. Javon Brown placed third thanks to a jump of 15.25 meters (50’0.5″). Javell Brown placed third in the men’s high jump, clearing a personal best of 2.05 meters (6’8.75″).

Men’s 4×400 meter relay team Elias BartonAyden, Davis and Harris placed second in 3:14.42.

Competing in the men’s 100 meters, Miles finished fourth with a time of 10.64. He was closely followed in fifth place by Ayden, who broke the tape with a time of 10.73.

Davis finished fifth in the men’s 800 meters and crossed the finish line in 1:53.91. Henry Stecher finished seventh and crossed the finish line in 1:55:52.

Caleb Ambrose finished sixth in the men’s 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.13.

Dominick Dale was seventh in the men’s discus with a personal best of 38.80 meters (127’3″).

Jalen Elwell finished eighth in the men’s 1500 meters with a time of 3:58:43.

Women’s 4x400m relay team Imani Boyd, Brianna Gayle, Nytrinitey Jenkinsand Shaneil Lysight ended the match with a winning time of 3:46. 25. The event victory was enough to move the Catamounts to third overall as WCU went from third to first in the final stretch of the contest.

Jasmine Greene led a 1-2 finish in the women’s triple jump with a personal best of 12.11 meters (39’8.75″). Greene’s mark is tied for fifth best in program history. Derica Currie was second with a personal best of 12.04 meters (39’6″).

Jenkins won the women’s 400 meters with a new personal best time of 55.11. Jenkins took the race with a strong kick in the final 150 meters for his first SoCon individual title.

Women’s 4x100m Relay Team, Gayle, Jenkins, Mikayla Turnerand Mekyll Robinson finished second with a season’s best time of 46.19.

In the women’s 100-meter hurdles Imani Boyd finished third in a personal best time of 14.26, followed by Amount Shodeinde in the fourth at 14:29.

Boyd also placed third in the women’s 400-meter hurdles with a new personal best time of 1:02.15. Lysight was fourth and completed the race in 1.04.24.

Gayle finished fourth in the women’s 100m, crossing the finish line at 12:00.

Jenkins earned her second top-five finish of the meet, finishing fourth in the women’s 200m in 24.56.

Erica O’Neal placed fifth in the women’s triple jump with a leap of 11.38 meters (37’4″).

Kate Mattison finished fifth in the women’s 5000 meters with a time of 17:57.31.

Turner finished fifth in the 400 meters with a time of 56.96.

Toria Roundtree placed seventh in the women’s discus with a top throw of 36.65 meters (120’3″). She placed seventh in the women’s shot put with a top throw of 11.04 meters (36’2.75″).

Samford won the men’s and women’s championships for the third year in a row.

The NCAA East preliminary round participants will be announced on Thursday, May 16.

Keep up with all things Catamount athletics and WCU Athletics via social media on Facebook (fb.com/catamountsports) and Twitter (@catamounts, @catamountxctf).

Men’s results Final

1. Samford 251 points
2. Western Carolina 133
3. VMI 97
4. ETSU 91
5. Citadel 78
6. Furman 70
7. Wofford 65
8. UNCG 21

Women’s results Final

1. Samford 220 points
2. Wofford 134 points
3. Western Carolina 107.5
4. ETSU 104.5
5. Furman 70
6. Citadel 65
7. VMI 39
T8. Mercer 31
T8. Chattanooga 31
10. UNCG 7