Indoor Track and Field Completes Successful Opening Day at SBC Championships

Indoor Track and Field Completes Successful Opening Day at SBC Championships

2/19/2024 9:01:00 PM | Track & Field/Cross Country

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Southern Miss indoor track and field enjoyed a successful opening dayat the Sun Belt Conference meet, Monday, being held at the Birmingham CrossPlex.

The Golden Eagle men placed in three different events to register 26 points to hold fourth place on the men's side, while the women placed in one event and garnered four points to tie for 11th.

The women's team, though, had seven individuals qualify for Tuesday's final events, while the men added five of their own.

Southern Miss' biggest scoring event came in the men's weight throw, where three Golden Eagles placed in the top eight. Kaya Ludgood finished third in the event with a throw of 18.17 meters, while Piers Cameron placed fourth at 17.60 and Connor Mozee ended up in sixth with toss of 17.42.

De'Aundre Ward enjoyed the highest finish of the evening for the men with a second place in the long jump with 7.41 meters. The Golden Eagle distance medley team of Kelvin Chiku, Adrian Harris, Jaden Gray, Austin Bourne also placed fifth with a time of 10:27.35.

The women's distance medley relay team of Sarah Parnell, Jaellene Burgess, Kristina Stojanovic, Emme Bates also came in fifth to earn all the points for the women with a 12:10.02 on the opening day.

Qualifying for the Golden Eagles on the women's side also included Bates in the one-mile run (5:00.0), while Jada McDougle and Trinity Benson qualified in two different events. McDougle won her heat in the 60 meters with a 7.42, while also qualifying for the 200-meter championship with a 23.90. Benson tallied a 7.44 to qualify for the 60 meters as well McDougle, while also earning a spot in the 400-meter final with a 56.38.

Trinity Flagler was the third Golden Eagle to earn a spot in the women's 60-meter final with a time of 7.545, while Sav'ia Varnell will run in the 400-meter final with a qualifying time of 55.85.

On the men's side, Kingsley Unorji enjoyed the fastest qualifying time in the 60 meters with a 6.75. Warren Williams will also compete in the 60-meter hurdles final after putting up a preliminary time of 8.11. Chiku is set to compete in the 800-meter final by posting a 1:55.0, while both Omar Austin (48.21) and Elijah Berry (48.81) will run in the 400-meter final.

The meet resumes with the pentathlon at 10 a.m., with the field events starting at 11:15 a.m. and the running events getting underway at 1:30 p.m. Fans can follow the live scoring by clicking here.

Top 8 Finishes (Final Events Only)
Women
Distance Medley Relay: 5th – Sarah Parnell, Jaellene Burgess, Kristina Stojanovic, Emme Bates (12:10.02)

Men
Long Jump: 2nd – De'Aundre Ward (7.41 meters)
Weight Throw: 3rd – Kaya Ludgood (18.17 meters), 4th – Piers Cameron (17.60 meters),6th – Connor Mozee (17.42 meters)
Distance Medley Relay: 5th – Kelvin Chiku, Adrian Harris, Jaden Gray, Austin Bourne (10:27.35)