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Samford men, women repeat as SoCon indoor champs
Bulldog women won their sixth straight title, men won second in a row
LEXINGTON, Va. – Samford won its sixth straight women’s title and its second consecutive men's title Sunday at the Southern Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships at VMI's Corps Physical Training Facility. Samford’s Matt Cahoon and Ty Kimberlin shared the Heath Whittle Award as the men's Most Outstanding Athletes and Wofford’s Netanya Linares earned the women's Most Outstanding Athlete award, becoming the first Terrier to do so.
The Samford women battled Wofford and ETSU all day, finishing with 155.5 points to become just the second women’s program to win at least six SoCon indoor titles in a row, joining former member Appalachian State, who won seven in a row twice. For Wofford, its 131 points and second-place finish were both program bests, while ETSU (125.5 points) finished in the top three for the sixth time in seven tries since returning to the league in 2014-15. Furman (102 points), Western Carolina (94), VMI (36), Chattanooga (12), The Citadel (6) and UNC Greensboro (1) rounded out the scoring.
On the men’s side, Samford totaled 191 points to easily outdistance runner-up Western Carolina, which finished with 129. Furman collected a program-record 118 points to finish third for the third straight season. VMI (66 points), Wofford (55), ETSU (51.5), The Citadel (45.5) and UNCG (7) completed the scoring.
Just three men’s teams accounted for the 12 event titles awarded Sunday, with Samford claiming a staggering eight of them to overtake day-one leader Western Carolina.
Three meet records fell Sunday, all on the men’s side. Furman’s Cameron Ponder struck first in the mile, turning in a time of 4:02.62 to successfully defend his title and erase one of the longest-standing league records, the 1982 mark of 4:03.97 set by ETSU’s Mark Scruton. Paladin Aaron Wier, the second of five straight Furman finishers to cross the finish line, also came in under the old mark in 4:03.14.
The heptathlon went final shortly thereafter, with Samford’s Kimberlin totaling 5,203 points in the event to smash the mark of 5,127 set by Samford’s Bo Ackerson-Gilroy in 2012. Kimberlin, who also defended his 2020 title, won four of the seven events and finished second in two others to dominate the standings from start to finish.
Kimberlin’s Bulldog teammate José Peñalver broke the final mark on the day, supplanting the record in the 800-meter run that stood for just one year. Peñalver’s time of 1:49.77 took 0.6 seconds off the time turned in by Furman’s Ryan Adams at last year’s meet.
Samford’s Evan Brooks and ETSU’s Nicole Johnson were both double winners on the day, each claiming the 60-meter dash and 200-meter run. Johnson’s 60-meter title was her second straight, as she set the meet record of 7.40 seconds last season.
Samford’s Titus Moore won his third straight title in the 60-meter hurdles, while teammate Justin Stuckey won his season straight high-jump title and Samford’s fifth straight overall. Samford’s Cahoon successfully defended his title in the weight throw, as did Brittany Bishop in the pole vault as the Bulldogs won that event for the fourth straight year.
Furman produced podium sweeps in both the men’s and women’s 5,000-meter runs. On the women’s side, the freshman trio of Madelynne Cadeau, Bethany Graham and Jonna Strange went 1-2-3, just like it did in the 3,000-meter run the day before. In the men’s race, the Paladins took six of the top eight spots, paced by Adam Beucler, Ares Reading and Daniel Bernal finishing first, second and third, respectively. Furman won the women’s race for the seventh straight season.
VMI’s men halted one of the most impressive runs in league history, as Jonathan Gray, Trent Whittaker, Jordin Poindexter and Johnnie Walker combined for an effort of 3:19.18 in the 4x400-meter relay, an event that was won by Western Carolina in each of the previous nine years.
Wofford’s Kerrington Johnson became the third Terrier to win the 60-meter hurdles in as many seasons, edging 2020 champion and teammate Destiny Shippy with a time of 8.49 seconds.
Western Carolina’s Victoria Solheim won her second career title in the weight throw, an event the Catamounts have won seven times in the last nine years.
Samford’s Jeb Jones won the men’s Pinnacle Award, given to the student-athlete with the top grade point average on the winning team, while the Bulldogs’ Amanda Dumar won the women’s Pinnacle Award for the second straight season.
The NCAA will announce the field for the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships on NCAA.com on Tuesday.
Men’s results – Final
1. Samford – 191 points
2. Western Carolina – 129
3. Furman – 118
4. VMI – 66
5. Wofford – 55
6. ETSU – 51.5
7. The Citadel – 45.5
8. UNCG – 7
Women’s results – Final
1. Samford – 155.5 points
2. Wofford – 131
3. ETSU – 125.5
4. Furman – 102
5. Western Carolina – 94
6. VMI – 36
7. Chattanooga – 12
8. The Citadel – 6
9. UNCG – 1
Heath Whittle Award (Men’s Most Outstanding Athlete)
Matt Cahoon, Samford
Ty Kimberlin, Samford
Women’s Most Outstanding Athlete
Netanya Linares, Wofford
Men’s Pinnacle Award (highest GPA on championship-winning team)
Jeb Jones, Samford
Women’s Pinnacle Award (highest GPA on championship-winning team)
Amanda Dumar, Samford
Day 2 champions
Men: Triple jump Keyandre Midgett, VMI (14.53 meters); mile Cameron Ponder, Furman (4:02.62*); 60-meter hurdles Titus Moore, Samford (7.93); 60-meter dash Evan Brooks, Samford (6.80); heptathlon Ty Kimberlin, Samford (5,203 points*); 400-meter dash Michael McMahan, Samford (48.68); 800-meter run José Peñalver, Samford (1:49.77*) weight throw Matt Cahoon, Samford (17.30 meters); high jump Justin Stuckey, Samford (2.17 meters); 200-meter dash Evan Brooks, Samford (21.50); 5,000-meter run Adam Beucler, Furman (14:20.86); 4x400-meter relay Jonathan Gray, Trent Whittaker, Jordin Poindexter, Johnnie Walker, VMI (3:19.18).
Women: weight throw Victoria Solheim, Western Carolina (17.25 meters); mile Genevieve Schwarz, ETSU (5:01.46); 60-meter hurdles Kerrington Johnson, Wofford (8.49); 60-meter dash Nicole Johnson, ETSU (7.43); 400-meter dash Ariana Ruffin, VMI (56.74); 800-meter run Megan Marvin, Furman (2:07.72); 200-meter dash Nicole Johnson, ETSU (24.37); triple jump Morayo Bhadmos, Samford (12.57 meters); pole vault Brittany Bishop, Samford (3.80 meters); 5,000-meter run Madelynne Cadeau, Furman (16:32.11); 4x400-meter relay Hannah Lueders, Kaitlyn Cole, Katie Strozier, Amanda Dumar, Samford (3:52.44).
* meet record
Men’s All-Freshman – Day 2
Men’s triple jump
Keyandre Midgett, VMI
Edwin Rainey, Samford
Jayden Napier, VMI
Men’s mile
Carson Williams, Furman
Evan Guzman, ETSU
Men’s 60-meter hurdles
Landon Wright, Samford
Keyandre Midgett, VMI
Jack Rice, VMI
Men’s 60-meter dash
Noah Alleyne, Western Carolina
Christopher Sheppard, Wofford
Isaac Lockhart, ETSU
Men’s heptathlon
Landon Wright, Samford
Sebastian LaTorre, Wofford
Hunter Reed, VMI
Men’s 400-meter dash
Conor Murphy, Wofford
Isaiah Mills, ETSU
Kevin Haley Jr., Western Carolina
Men’s 800-meter run
Cooper Lindsey, Wofford
Men’s weight throw
Mason Robinson, Western Carolina
Andrew Granger, VMI
Marshall Gainer, Samford
Men's high jump
Louis Brogan, Samford
Don Morgan, Samford
Malachi Thomas, ETSU
Men’s 200-meter dash
Isaiah Mills, ETSU
Noah Alleyne, Western Carolina
Conor Murphy, Wofford
Men’s 5,000-meter run
Dylan Schubert, Furman
Andrew Hammel, Furman
Drew Zink, Western Carolina
Women’s All-Freshman – Day 2
Women’s weight throw
Emma Nolte, Samford
Anna Moore, ETSU
Judith Gonzalez, VMI
Women’s mile
Beth Donnelly, Furman
Ashtyn Hagood, Chattanooga
Kylie Wittman, Furman
Women’s 60-meter hurdles
Lindsay Cooper, ETSU
Dami Shodeinde, Western Carolina
Amaya English, Western Carolina
Women’s 60-meter dash
Madeline McNinch, Wofford
Kimbra Dunning, Chattanooga
Women’s 400-meter dash
Jasmine Jefferson, Wofford
Lindsay Cooper, ETSU
Mecca Jackson, The Citadel
Women’s 800-meter run
Megan Marvin, Furman
Janie Holecek, Wofford
Emmy Davis, Chattanooga
Women’s 200-meter dash
Madeline McNinch, Wofford
Mecca Jackson, The Citadel
Mikayla Turner, Western Carolina
Triple jump
Omare McBride, Western Carolina
Derica Currie, Western Carolina
Erica O’Neal, Western Carolina
Women’s pole vault
Kaelyn McCann, Samford
Alexis Cook, Samford
Emily Hickey, The Citadel
Women’s 5,000-meter run
Madelynne Cadeau, Furman
Bethany Graham, Furman
Jonna Strange, Furman
The Samford women battled Wofford and ETSU all day, finishing with 155.5 points to become just the second women’s program to win at least six SoCon indoor titles in a row, joining former member Appalachian State, who won seven in a row twice. For Wofford, its 131 points and second-place finish were both program bests, while ETSU (125.5 points) finished in the top three for the sixth time in seven tries since returning to the league in 2014-15. Furman (102 points), Western Carolina (94), VMI (36), Chattanooga (12), The Citadel (6) and UNC Greensboro (1) rounded out the scoring.
On the men’s side, Samford totaled 191 points to easily outdistance runner-up Western Carolina, which finished with 129. Furman collected a program-record 118 points to finish third for the third straight season. VMI (66 points), Wofford (55), ETSU (51.5), The Citadel (45.5) and UNCG (7) completed the scoring.
Just three men’s teams accounted for the 12 event titles awarded Sunday, with Samford claiming a staggering eight of them to overtake day-one leader Western Carolina.
Three meet records fell Sunday, all on the men’s side. Furman’s Cameron Ponder struck first in the mile, turning in a time of 4:02.62 to successfully defend his title and erase one of the longest-standing league records, the 1982 mark of 4:03.97 set by ETSU’s Mark Scruton. Paladin Aaron Wier, the second of five straight Furman finishers to cross the finish line, also came in under the old mark in 4:03.14.
The heptathlon went final shortly thereafter, with Samford’s Kimberlin totaling 5,203 points in the event to smash the mark of 5,127 set by Samford’s Bo Ackerson-Gilroy in 2012. Kimberlin, who also defended his 2020 title, won four of the seven events and finished second in two others to dominate the standings from start to finish.
Kimberlin’s Bulldog teammate José Peñalver broke the final mark on the day, supplanting the record in the 800-meter run that stood for just one year. Peñalver’s time of 1:49.77 took 0.6 seconds off the time turned in by Furman’s Ryan Adams at last year’s meet.
Samford’s Evan Brooks and ETSU’s Nicole Johnson were both double winners on the day, each claiming the 60-meter dash and 200-meter run. Johnson’s 60-meter title was her second straight, as she set the meet record of 7.40 seconds last season.
Samford’s Titus Moore won his third straight title in the 60-meter hurdles, while teammate Justin Stuckey won his season straight high-jump title and Samford’s fifth straight overall. Samford’s Cahoon successfully defended his title in the weight throw, as did Brittany Bishop in the pole vault as the Bulldogs won that event for the fourth straight year.
Furman produced podium sweeps in both the men’s and women’s 5,000-meter runs. On the women’s side, the freshman trio of Madelynne Cadeau, Bethany Graham and Jonna Strange went 1-2-3, just like it did in the 3,000-meter run the day before. In the men’s race, the Paladins took six of the top eight spots, paced by Adam Beucler, Ares Reading and Daniel Bernal finishing first, second and third, respectively. Furman won the women’s race for the seventh straight season.
VMI’s men halted one of the most impressive runs in league history, as Jonathan Gray, Trent Whittaker, Jordin Poindexter and Johnnie Walker combined for an effort of 3:19.18 in the 4x400-meter relay, an event that was won by Western Carolina in each of the previous nine years.
Wofford’s Kerrington Johnson became the third Terrier to win the 60-meter hurdles in as many seasons, edging 2020 champion and teammate Destiny Shippy with a time of 8.49 seconds.
Western Carolina’s Victoria Solheim won her second career title in the weight throw, an event the Catamounts have won seven times in the last nine years.
Samford’s Jeb Jones won the men’s Pinnacle Award, given to the student-athlete with the top grade point average on the winning team, while the Bulldogs’ Amanda Dumar won the women’s Pinnacle Award for the second straight season.
The NCAA will announce the field for the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships on NCAA.com on Tuesday.
Men’s results – Final
1. Samford – 191 points
2. Western Carolina – 129
3. Furman – 118
4. VMI – 66
5. Wofford – 55
6. ETSU – 51.5
7. The Citadel – 45.5
8. UNCG – 7
Women’s results – Final
1. Samford – 155.5 points
2. Wofford – 131
3. ETSU – 125.5
4. Furman – 102
5. Western Carolina – 94
6. VMI – 36
7. Chattanooga – 12
8. The Citadel – 6
9. UNCG – 1
Heath Whittle Award (Men’s Most Outstanding Athlete)
Matt Cahoon, Samford
Ty Kimberlin, Samford
Women’s Most Outstanding Athlete
Netanya Linares, Wofford
Men’s Pinnacle Award (highest GPA on championship-winning team)
Jeb Jones, Samford
Women’s Pinnacle Award (highest GPA on championship-winning team)
Amanda Dumar, Samford
Day 2 champions
Men: Triple jump Keyandre Midgett, VMI (14.53 meters); mile Cameron Ponder, Furman (4:02.62*); 60-meter hurdles Titus Moore, Samford (7.93); 60-meter dash Evan Brooks, Samford (6.80); heptathlon Ty Kimberlin, Samford (5,203 points*); 400-meter dash Michael McMahan, Samford (48.68); 800-meter run José Peñalver, Samford (1:49.77*) weight throw Matt Cahoon, Samford (17.30 meters); high jump Justin Stuckey, Samford (2.17 meters); 200-meter dash Evan Brooks, Samford (21.50); 5,000-meter run Adam Beucler, Furman (14:20.86); 4x400-meter relay Jonathan Gray, Trent Whittaker, Jordin Poindexter, Johnnie Walker, VMI (3:19.18).
Women: weight throw Victoria Solheim, Western Carolina (17.25 meters); mile Genevieve Schwarz, ETSU (5:01.46); 60-meter hurdles Kerrington Johnson, Wofford (8.49); 60-meter dash Nicole Johnson, ETSU (7.43); 400-meter dash Ariana Ruffin, VMI (56.74); 800-meter run Megan Marvin, Furman (2:07.72); 200-meter dash Nicole Johnson, ETSU (24.37); triple jump Morayo Bhadmos, Samford (12.57 meters); pole vault Brittany Bishop, Samford (3.80 meters); 5,000-meter run Madelynne Cadeau, Furman (16:32.11); 4x400-meter relay Hannah Lueders, Kaitlyn Cole, Katie Strozier, Amanda Dumar, Samford (3:52.44).
* meet record
Men’s All-Freshman – Day 2
Men’s triple jump
Keyandre Midgett, VMI
Edwin Rainey, Samford
Jayden Napier, VMI
Men’s mile
Carson Williams, Furman
Evan Guzman, ETSU
Men’s 60-meter hurdles
Landon Wright, Samford
Keyandre Midgett, VMI
Jack Rice, VMI
Men’s 60-meter dash
Noah Alleyne, Western Carolina
Christopher Sheppard, Wofford
Isaac Lockhart, ETSU
Men’s heptathlon
Landon Wright, Samford
Sebastian LaTorre, Wofford
Hunter Reed, VMI
Men’s 400-meter dash
Conor Murphy, Wofford
Isaiah Mills, ETSU
Kevin Haley Jr., Western Carolina
Men’s 800-meter run
Cooper Lindsey, Wofford
Men’s weight throw
Mason Robinson, Western Carolina
Andrew Granger, VMI
Marshall Gainer, Samford
Men's high jump
Louis Brogan, Samford
Don Morgan, Samford
Malachi Thomas, ETSU
Men’s 200-meter dash
Isaiah Mills, ETSU
Noah Alleyne, Western Carolina
Conor Murphy, Wofford
Men’s 5,000-meter run
Dylan Schubert, Furman
Andrew Hammel, Furman
Drew Zink, Western Carolina
Women’s All-Freshman – Day 2
Women’s weight throw
Emma Nolte, Samford
Anna Moore, ETSU
Judith Gonzalez, VMI
Women’s mile
Beth Donnelly, Furman
Ashtyn Hagood, Chattanooga
Kylie Wittman, Furman
Women’s 60-meter hurdles
Lindsay Cooper, ETSU
Dami Shodeinde, Western Carolina
Amaya English, Western Carolina
Women’s 60-meter dash
Madeline McNinch, Wofford
Kimbra Dunning, Chattanooga
Women’s 400-meter dash
Jasmine Jefferson, Wofford
Lindsay Cooper, ETSU
Mecca Jackson, The Citadel
Women’s 800-meter run
Megan Marvin, Furman
Janie Holecek, Wofford
Emmy Davis, Chattanooga
Women’s 200-meter dash
Madeline McNinch, Wofford
Mecca Jackson, The Citadel
Mikayla Turner, Western Carolina
Triple jump
Omare McBride, Western Carolina
Derica Currie, Western Carolina
Erica O’Neal, Western Carolina
Women’s pole vault
Kaelyn McCann, Samford
Alexis Cook, Samford
Emily Hickey, The Citadel
Women’s 5,000-meter run
Madelynne Cadeau, Furman
Bethany Graham, Furman
Jonna Strange, Furman
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