D.J. Ruffin, Sarea Alexander Named 2019 Indoor Track & Field Athletes of the Year
FRISCO, Texas – Southeastern Louisiana’s D.J. Ruffin and Incarnate Word’s Sarea Alexander are the 2019 Southland Conference Indoor Track & Field Athletes of the Year, the league announced Tuesday. Additionally, the first, second and third team all-conference athletes and individual award winners were named. Southland Conference Athletes of the Year are presented by
Ready Nutrition.
Ruffin and Alexander were named the Athletes of the Year after stellar performances at the 2019 Southland Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Birmingham CrossPlex in Birmingham, Ala. Ruffin was named the men’s Most Valuable Performer after scoring 30 points throughout the meet, capturing first-place finishes in the high jump and long jump events. Alexander leaped her way to conference championships in the long jump and triple jump events and qualified for the NCAA Championship with a 20-11.2 leap in the long jump.
Sam Houston State’s Dave Self, who led his men’s squad to a first-place team finish, was named the Men’s Coach of the Year for the fourth consecutive year. Phil Olson of Stephen F. Austin was named the Women’s Coach of the Year after leading his Ladyjack squad to a team title at the conference championships.
Southland Conference indoor track & field superlatives are nominated and voted upon by the league’s head coaches. Voting for oneself or one’s own athletes is not permitted. All-Conference distinction is given to the first-, second- and third-place finishers in each championship event final.
For athletes that achieved
qualifying marks this season, the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships will be a two-day event hosted at the Birmingham CrossPlex from March 8-9.
The
2019 Southland Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be hosted by Northwestern State May 3-5 in Natchitoches, La.
Men’s Outstanding Field Events Performer – D.J. Ruffin, Sr., Southeastern Louisiana
D.J. Ruffin scored a pair of conference championships in the high jump and long jump events. Ruffin was responsible for 29.5 of Southeastern Louisiana’s 83 points for a runner-up team finish. The senior’s point-scoring performance stands as the second-most scored by an individual in Southland Conference Indoor Track & Field history.
Men’s Outstanding Running Events Performer – Jordan Rowe, Jr., Lamar
Jordan Rowe capped a strong showing at the indoor championships, tallying gold medals in the mile and 3,000-meter races. The junior put forth a 8:17.37 clip in the 3,000m event as well as a personal-best in the mile with a time of 4:08.17.
Men’s Freshman of the Year – Jo’vaughn Martin, Sam Houston State
Sam Houston State’s Jo’vaughn Martin cashed in an impressive performance in his first Southland Conference Indoor Championships appearance taking a silver medal in the 60m dash. His best performance, however, was saved for the 200m dash where he placed first overall while setting a SLC meet record after crossing the line with a 21.07 clip.
Men’s Newcomer of the Year – Jordan Rowe, Jr., Lamar
In addition to being named the Most Outstanding Running Events Performer, Jordan Rowe was also voted the Southland Men’s Newcomer of the Year. His pair of gold medals were crucial to Lamar’s 73 points and the team’s fourth-place in the overall standings. Rowe is in his first season with the Cardinals and made his way state-side after attending Loughborough University.
Men’s Athlete of the Year – D.J. Ruffin, Sr., Southeastern Louisiana
Ruffin was also crowned with the Men’s Athlete of the Year honor after his larger than life performance for the Lions last week. In addition to his two gold medal performances in his field events, the senior also found a spot on the podium for the 400m race and anchored the 4x400m relay team who finished second in the event.
Men’s Coach of the Year – Dave Self, Sam Houston State
Dave Self led his Bearkat men’s squad to its fourth-straight team title on the way to his fourth consecutive Men’s Coach of the Year accolade. The Sam Houston State head coach pushed his men’s squad to 112 points, beating the second-place team by 29 points. The team’s margin of victory stands as the largest of the past four years for Self.
Women’s Outstanding Field Events Performer – Sarea Alexander, RSr., Incarnate Word
Sarea Alexander put forth a pair of first-place finishes in the long jump and triple jump events, setting UIW program records in both events throughout the indoor season. The Cardinal’s jumper is the first-ever Incarnate Word competitor to win a title in multiple events at a Southland Conference Championships.
Women’s Outstanding Running Events Performer – Natashia Jackson, Jr., Northwestern State
Natashia Jackson was crucial for the Lady Demons’ second-place team finish securing medals in the 60m, 200m and 4x400m relay events. Jackson was named the Women’s Most Valuable Performer for the second consecutive year. The sprinter compiled 24 of Northwestern State’s 85 points.
Women’s Freshman of the Year – Nastassja Campbell, Stephen F. Austin
Nastassja Campbell entered her first indoor championship meet without missing a beat, capturing first-place in the pole vault event with a meet-record vault of 14-0.9. The freshman will continue her season at the NCAA Indoor Championships later this week in the pole vault. Campbell qualified for the national event earlier this season at the Ted Nelson Invitational where she logged a 14-4.75 vault.
Women’s Newcomer of the Year – Sophie Wood, Jr., Lamar
Sophie Wood was named the Southland’s Newcomer of the Year after a fourth-place finish in the 3,000m race. Wood ran a time of 10:01.32 to help the Cardinals finish in sixth-place among the final team standings. Wood joined the Lamar squad from Rotherham, United Kingdom where she attended Manchester Metropolitan University.
Women’s Athlete of the Year – Sarea Alexander, RSr., Incarnate Word
Sarea Alexander’s endeavors at the Southland Indoor Championships led to her being named the Women’s Athlete of the Year. The senior will continue her indoor season at the NCAA Championships after qualifying with a 20-11.2 leap at the Southland Conference Championships last week. Alexander will be UIW’s first competitor in program history at the NCAA National meet.
Women’s Coach of the Year – Phil Olson, Stephen F. Austin
Phil Olson claimed the Women’s Coach of the Year award after leading his Ladyjack team to a first-place finish after scoring 141 points. Stephen F. Austin demolished the field beating the second-place team by a margin of 56 points. The team title stands as the ninth in program history for the Ladyjacks.
2019 Southland Conference Men’s Indoor Track & Field All-Conference Teams
| Event |
First |
Second |
Third |
| 60m |
Micah Larkins, NSU |
Jo’vaughn Martin, SHSU |
Chris Jefferson, SHSU |
| 200m |
Jo’vaughn Martin, SHSU |
Chris Jefferson, SHSU |
Tyler Smith, MCN |
| 400m |
Webster Slaughter, LU |
D.J. Ruffin, SLU |
Jared Williams, ACU |
| 800m |
Drake Murphy, SFA |
Alex Hanson, UCA |
Joe Austin, SHSU |
| Mile |
Jordan Rowe, LU |
Ryan Cleary, ACU |
Deion Hardy, UIW |
| 3,000m |
Jordan Rowe, LU |
Garett Cortez, UIW |
Grant O’ Callaghan, SLU |
| 5,000m |
Matthew Arnold, LU |
Markus Schweikert, UCA |
Grant O’ Callaghan, SLU |
| 60m Hurdles |
Fabian McCall, SHSU |
Tremayne Flagler, NSU |
Darion Dunn, MCN |
| 4x400m |
ACU: R. Linton, B. Brownlow, J. Williams, A. Williams |
SLU: D. Ruffin, T. Jones, C. Resais, D. Storr |
AMCC: T. Spivey, D. Baptiste, K. Humber, D. Nwachukwu |
| DMR |
LU: J. Gooch, K. Nelson,
B. Lantau, M. Arnold |
UCA: M. Schweikert, L. Colon,
S. Sullivan, J. Jeandree |
SHSU: J. Austin, E. Pouncy, M. Freeman, J. Leon |
| High Jump |
D.J. Ruffin, SLU |
Zach Seaman, AMCC |
Noah Berney, SFA |
| Pole Vault |
Branson Ellis, SFA |
Devin King, SLU |
Clayton Fritsch, SHSU |
| Long Jump |
D.J. Ruffin, SLU |
LaRon James, NSU |
Jacorious Jeter, NSU |
| Triple Jump |
Tylen Guidry, LU |
Ceaser Stephens, NSU |
Chris Welch, HBU |
| Shot Put |
Kai Schmidt, ACU |
Stevon Crooks, SLU |
Kevin Steward, SFA |
| Weight Throw |
Joshua Hernandez, SHSU |
Morgan Knight, ACU |
Aaron Akens, SHSU |
| Heptathlon |
Denim Rogers, HBU |
Rodney Littlejohn, UIW |
Scott Boon, HBU |
2019 Southland Conference Women’s Indoor Track & Field All-Conference Teams
| Event |
First |
Second |
Third |
| 60m |
Thai Williams, LU |
Aleyah Donald, MCN |
Natashia Jackson, NSU |
| 200m |
Natashia Jackson, NSU |
Ajah Criner, UCA |
Imani Nave, SFA |
| 400m |
Imani Nave, SFA |
Tiffani Mays, UIW |
Natashia Jackson, NSU |
| 800m |
Madison Compass, SFA |
Dominique Allen, UIW |
LaSean Davis, SFA |
| Mile |
Kelsey Ramirez, SFA |
Briahna Gerlach, ACU |
Alejandra Ruiz, UCA |
| 3,000m |
Brittany Innis, SFA |
Alex Eykelbosch, MCN |
Kelsey Ramirez, SFA |
| 5,000m |
Alex Eykelbosch, MCN |
Brittany Innis, SFA |
Valentina Campos, AMCC |
| 60m Hurdles |
Jerica Love, UIW |
Jillian Turner, SFA |
Megan Kirby, ACU |
| 4x400m |
NSU: C. Willis, D. Granados, K. Evans, N. Jackson |
UIW: E. Sebastion, D. Allen, D. Keys, T. Mays |
SFA: D. Jackson, A. Teel, M. Compass, I. Nave |
| DMR |
SFA: L. Davis, A. Compass, M. Compass, K. Ramirez |
AMCC: M. McCutchen, L. Manciaz, S. Wynn, V. Campos |
HBU: J. Rabius, S. Slaughter, S. Moore, J. Drews |
| High Jump |
Sashane Hanson, AMCC |
Hannah Noble, UCA |
Grace McKenzie, MCN |
| Pole Vault |
Nastassja Campbell, SFA |
Kaylee Bizzell, SFA |
AnnMarie Broussard, NSU |
| Long Jump |
Sarea Alexander, UIW |
Jasmyn Steels, NSU |
Deja Phillips, LU |
| Triple Jump |
Sarea Alexander, UIW |
Jasmyn Steels, NSU |
Lauren Clarke, NSU |
| Shot Put |
Ashley Davis, SLU |
Kayla Melgar, ACU |
Danielle Lorenz, UNO |
| Weight Throw |
Alanna Arvie, MCN |
Lonnie Smith, ACU |
Kayla Melgar, ACU |
| Pentathlon |
Sashane Hanson, AMCC |
Migle Muraskaite, LU |
Parl Eelma, LU |