Outdoor Track and Field Has 16 All-Conference Honorees; Unorji Wins Freshman of the Year

Kingsley Unorji SBC Freshman of the Year graphic

Outdoor Track and Field Has 16 All-Conference Honorees; Unorji Wins Freshman of the Year

5/17/2024 5:34:00 PM | Track & Field/Cross Country

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Southern Miss Outdoor Track and Field program saw 16 individuals earn All-Sun Belt Conference honors Friday afternoon, with Kingsley Unorji being voted Male Freshman of the Year by the league's coaches.

Unorji scored in two different events in the Sun Belt Championships, collecting second in the 100 meters and fifth in the 4x100 relay. His time of 10.28 in the 100-meter final marked a personal best. He won the Southern Miss Invite with a 10.37. He also registered a 10.30 time at the LSU Alumni Gold. Was part of one first-place finish with the 4x100 team, winning the Southern Miss Invite with a time of 40.61.

Seven Southern Miss student-athletes earned first-team honors including Trinity Benson, Trinity Flagler, Jada McDougle, Addison McLaurin, Alana Simon and Savi'a Varnell for the women, while Zayne Palomino made first team for the men's team.

Benson earned first team honors by winning the 400 meters race, along with being a part of the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams. McDougle and Varnell were a part of both the relay squads, while Flagler was a leg on the 4x100 and McLaurin part of the 4x400. Palomino won the men's high jump event.

Za'Isha Fraser was the lone Southern Miss female second-team selection for the triple jump, while Kaya Ludgood and Unorji earned second team on the men's side for the hammer throw and 100-meter race, respectively. The third team picks included Elijah Berry, Omar Austin and Jacoby Tanner for the 4x400 meter relay, Piers Cameron for the hammer throw, Javel Fullerton for the 400-meter hurdles and Tyler Nichols in the high jump.

Sixteen Golden Eagles qualified for 13 different events, seven women and six men, in the NCAA East Regional set for May 22-25 at the Kentucky Outdoor Track and Field Facility in Lexington, Ky.