SFA/SHSU Lead Heading into Final Day of Outdoor Championships
Southland Conference
Day 2 Combined Results (PDF)
NEW ORLEANS, La. – As the weather cleared, a hot and sunny second day at the Outdoor Track & Field Championships saw 12 more champions named and finals set for Sunday’s running events. Entering the final day, Stephen F. Austin holds the top team ranking spot for the men (68 points) while Sam Houston State has edged into the top women’s team spot (70.50 points).
The rescheduled women’s discus finals took place in the early hours, with Northwestern State’s Cori Runnels coming out on top with a mark of 153-11 (46.92m). Tasha Crosse of Sam Houston State took silver (151-06/46.19m) and Stephen F. Austin’s Tierra Smith earned bronze with a mark of 143-10 (43.8m).
Baylee Lara brought home another hold for Sam Houston State, finishing with 4,919 points to win the women’s heptathlon. Madeline Kaufman narrowly missed an opportunity to repeat as conference champion, earning silver with a final point tally of 4,881. McNeese’s Ashley Johnson took bronze with 4,804 points.
On the men’s side, Hunter Key took gold for Stephen F. Austin in the decathlon, finishing with 7,017 points. A 1-3 finish for the Lumberjacks saw teammate Tanner Parks earn bronze with 6,253 points. Sam Houston State’s Kagan Ayers took silver (6,353).
Northwestern State earned their second team gold of the day with Kelsey Frank’s top distance of 156-03 (47.62m) in the women’s javelin. Morgan Woods of McNeese finished second with a 154-00 (46.94m) while Madeline Kaufmann got on the podium for the second time with a 139-04 (42.46m) for a bronze medal.
In the triple jump, Brian O’Bonna of Lamar won gold in a 1-2 podium finish for the Cardinals. He registered a 51-05.00 (15.67m) leap while teammate Tylen Guidry hit a 50-04.50 (15.35m).
Sam Houston State’s Tristyn Allen earned her second medal of the weekend and second of the day for the Bearkats with a winning 40-09.50 (12.43m) mark in the women’s triple jump.
Southeastern Louisiana registered its first of three gold medals on the day with Gennard Paul’s 255-04 (77.82m) cleared height to win the men’s javelin. McNeese earned silver with Donavon Banks’ 229-00 (69.79m) while Anthony Garcia of Sam Houston State cleared 211-05 (64.44m) for bronze.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi also earned their first gold of the 2017 championships with Hannah McWilliams’ convincing win in the women’s pole vault. She cleared a height of 12-11.5 (3.95m), four inches above second-place Kaylee Bizzell of Stephen F. Austin.
The 3,000m steeplechase races closed out the day’s track finals, with Jannika John of Lamar taking gold for the women. McNeese’s Christoph Graf was able to recover from a fall off the first barrier on the final lap, surging back and pulling ahead to take a commanding lead to an 8:56.47 winning time.
Last to finish were the men’s and women’s shot put, with Southeastern Louisiana earning gold in both events. Ashley Davis took first place for the women (51-03.00/15.62m) while Alexander Young hit 57-11.75 (17.67m) to win gold for the men.
Trials for all remaining track running events ran from 3 p.m. to 7:05 p.m. to close out day two and set the stage for Sunday afternoon.
Tomorrow’s schedule will feature all finals 10 a.m. to 3:35 p.m. Running finals from noon to 3:35 will be streamed live on the Southland Conference Digital Network, available via
southland.org/live or the Southland Conference mobile apps. For Sunday’s schedule and more information, visit our
championship homepage.
Live results will be available courtesy of Adkins Trak Associates
here throughout the weekend.
Team Standings Entering Final Day
| Men's Team |
Points |
Women's Team |
Points |
| Stephen F. Austin |
68 |
Sam Houston State |
70.50 |
| Sam Houston State |
57 |
Stephen F. Austin |
69 |
| Southeastern Louisiana |
41 |
McNeese |
43 |
| Northwestern State |
36 |
Northwestern State |
39 |
| McNeese |
31 |
Lamar |
36 |
| Abilene Christian |
28 |
Abilene |
21 |
| Lamar |
23 |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
19 |
| Houston Baptist |
15 |
Houston Baptist |
15.50 |
| New Orleans |
8 |
Central Arkansas |
14 |
| UIW |
3 |
Southeastern Louisiana |
13 |
| Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
2 |
UIW |
8.5 |
|
|
Nicholls |
2.5 |
Day 2 Champions
| Event |
Name |
School |
Distance/Height/Time/Pts |
| Women’s Discus |
Cori Runnels |
Northwestern State |
153-11 (46.92m) |
| Men’s Decathlon |
Hunter Key |
Stephen F. Austin |
7,017 |
| Women’s Heptathlon |
Baylee Lara |
Sam Houston State |
4,919 |
| Women’s Javelin |
Kelsey Frank |
Northwestern State |
156-03 (47.62m) |
| Men’s Triple Jump |
Brian O’Bonna |
Lamar |
51-05.00 (15.67m) |
| Men’s Javelin |
Gennard Paul |
Southeastern Louisiana |
255-04 (77.82m) |
| Women’s Triple Jump |
Tristyn Allen |
Sam Houston State |
40-09.50 (12.43m) |
| Women’s Pole Vault |
Hannah McWilliams |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
12-11.50 (3.95m) |
| Women’s 3,000m SC |
Jannika John |
Lamar |
10:23.02 |
| Men’s 3,000m SC |
Christoph Graf |
McNeese |
8:56.47 |
| Men’s Shot Put |
Alexander Young |
Southeastern Louisiana |
57-11.75 (17.67m) |
| Women’s Shot Put |
Ashley Davis |
Southeastern Louisiana |
51-03.00 (15.62m) |