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Samford sweeps Outdoor Track and Field Championships
Bulldogs claim both titles for first time since 2015
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Samford’s men and women swept the Southern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships for the first time since 2015 on Sunday at Western Carolina’s Catamount Athletic Complex. Highlights of the day included Samford’s Maggie Johnston becoming a four-time winner in the discus throw, Furman’s Megan Marvin setting a championship record in the 800-meter run and Samford’s Justin Stuckey setting a meet record in the high jump.
The Bulldog women finished with 229.5 points, with their 109-point margin of victory the largest at the SoCon women’s outdoor meet since Appalachian State won by 150 points in 1992. Samford’s title was its second straight and fourth overall. Wofford (120.5 points) matched its best-ever finish with its second straight runner-up showing, while Western Carolina finished third with 114 points.
Samford’s men overcame day-one leader and four-time defending champion Western Carolina early Sunday afternoon and never looked back, steadily building its lead throughout the day en route to 204.5 points. The Bulldogs’ title was their third overall and first since winning consecutive championships in 2014 and 2015. The Catamounts finished second with 139.5 points, while Furman, without the benefit of a single field athlete, had 122 points to finish third, its best showing since a runner-up finish in 1977.
Samford thrower Matt Cahoon was named the men’s Most Outstanding Athlete after totaling 32 points at the meet, while Mercer sprinter Cherrish Wright earned the honor on the women’s side with 28 points scored, becoming the Bears’ first winner of the award.
Wofford freshman Kerrington Johnson won three titles on Sunday, running the second leg on the Terriers’ victorious 4x100-meter relay and sweeping the 100-meter hurdles and 400-meter hurdles. Samford’s Johnston was a double-winner Sunday, capping her career with a fourth discus title in as many tries and successfully defending her title in the shot put. Mercer’s Wright won both the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash.
On the men’s side, Furman’s Ryan Adams defended both his 1,500-meter and 800-meter titles from 2019. Samford’s Michael McMahan swept the 110-meter hurdles and 400-meter hurdles and VMI’s Jordin Poindexter won the 200-meter dash and ran the second leg on the Keydets’ victorious 4x400-meter relay Sunday.
Furman’s Marvin led a Paladin sweep in the women’s 800-meter run, with her school-record time of 2:04.18 erasing the 2:07.93 posted by SoCon Hall of Famer Mary Jayne Harrelson of Appalachian State in 1999. Furman’s Gabbi Jennings (2:04.66) and Emma Kuntz (2:06.35) also came in under Harrelson’s mark.
Samford’s Stuckey cleared 2.19 meters to win the high jump, adding 0.01 meter to the old mark of 2.18 set by Appalachian State’s Daryl Saunders in 2012.
Samford’s Charlotte Krauss successfully defended her 2019 high jump title by clearing 1.74 meters, while Bulldog sprinter Emmanuel Tait won the 100-meter dash in 10.58 seconds after three straight runner-up finishes from 2017-19.
Furman freshman Bethany Graham won the 5,000-meter run, marking the Paladins’ sixth straight win in the event.
Samford’s Aiya Finch and Luke Dobbins won the Pinnacle Awards, which go to the student-athletes with the highest GPAs on the championship-winning teams.
Samford’s outdoor title sweep came on the heels of its indoor sweep in February.
The NCAA Regional fields will be announced on Thursday, May 20, via press release at NCAA.com.
Men’s results – Final
1. Samford – 204.5 points
2. Western Carolina – 139.5
3. Furman – 122
4. VMI – 113
5. The Citadel – 100
6. Wofford – 83
7. ETSU – 41
8. UNCG – 12
Women’s results – Final
1. Samford – 229.5 points
2. Wofford – 120.5
3. Western Carolina – 114
4. ETSU – 93
5. Furman – 88
6. Mercer – 59
7. The Citadel – 50
8. VMI – 34
9. Chattanooga – 30
10. UNCG – 0
Men’s Most Outstanding Athlete
Matt Cahoon, Samford
Women’s Most Outstanding Athlete
Cherrish Wright, Mercer
Men’s Pinnacle Award (highest GPA on championship-winning team)
Luke Dobbins, Samford
Women’s Pinnacle Award (highest GPA on championship-winning team)
Aiya Finch, Samford
Day 2 champions
Men: Decathlon Ty Kimberlin, Samford (6,659 points); shot put Ryan Eldridge, Western Carolina (15.74 meters); 4x100-meter relay Shon Pratcher, Marcus Brown, Tyler Manigault, David Miles, Western Carolina (40.95); 1,500-meter run Ryan Adams, Furman (3:53.88); 110-meter hurdles Michael McMahan, Samford (13.98); 400-meter dash Kane Duncan, The Citadel (47.89); 100-meter dash Emmanuel Tait, Samford (10.58); 800-meter run Ryan Adams, Furman (1:50.72); 400-meter hurdles Michael McMahan, Samford (51.00); high jump Justin Stuckey, Samford (2.19 meters)*; 200-meter dash Justin Poindexter, VMI (21.32); triple jump Edwin Rainey, Samford (14.80 meters); discus Matt Cahoon, Samford (49.98 meters); 5,000-meter run Noah Dolhare, Furman (14:18.19); 4x400-meter relay Jonathan Gray, Jordan Poindexter, Trent Whittaker, Johnnie Walker, VMI (3:12.99).
Women: Heptathlon Megan Dunn, Wofford (5,013 points); discus Maggie Johnston, Samford (50.79 meters); 4x100-meter relay Destiny Shippy, Kerrington Johnson, Rylee Jorgensen, Georgia McDevitt, Wofford (46.27); 1,500-meter run Gabbi Jennings, Furman (4:22.51); high jump Charlotte Krause, Samford (1.74 meters); 100-meter hurdles Kerrington Johnson, Wofford (13.27); 400-meter dash Carlandra Jones, Mercer (54.74); 100-meter dash Cherrish Wright, Mercer (11.63); 800-meter run Megan Marvin, Furman (2:04.18)*; 400-meter hurdles Kerrington Johnson, Wofford (1:01.42); 200-meter dash Cherrish Wright, Mercer (23.88); 5,000-meter run Bethany Graham, Furman (17:04.60); shot put Maggie Johnston, Samford (14.30 meters); triple jump Mekayla Brown, ETSU (11.95 meters); 4x400-meter relay Marissa Blakely, Dominiq Delisser, Mekyll Robinson, Kellsie Whitehead, Western Carolina (3:44.01).
* meet record
Men’s all-freshman – Day 2
Decathlon
Ty Kimberlin, Samford
Landon Wright, Samford
McCray Kelton, Samford
Shot put
Solomon Ghosh, VMI
Marshall Gainer, Samford
Mason Robinson, Western Carolina
1,500-meter run
Trent Whitaker, VMI
Evan Guzman, ETSU
Ares Reading, Furman
110-meter hurdles
Keyandre Midgett, VMI
Landon Wright, Samford
Liam McBride, VMI
400-meter dash
Kane Duncan, The Citadel
Conor Murphy, Wofford
Kevin Haley Jr., Western Carolina
100-meter dash
Evan Brooks, Samford
Marcus Brown, Western Carolina
David Miles, Western Carolina
800-meter run
Miguel Parrilla, ETSU
Trent Whittaker, VMI
Nick Epstein, Furman
400-meter hurdles
Matthew Grigg, Samford
Gabel Fulford, Samford
Jonah Dill, Furman
High jump
Stephen Kraeling, The Citadel
Prince Moody, The Citadel
Louis Brogan, Samford
200-meter dash
Marcus Brown, Western Carolina
Evan Brooks, Samford
Conor Murphy, Wofford
Triple jump
Edwin Rainey, Samford
Keyandre Midgett, VMI
Ty Kimberlin, Samford
Discus
Solomon Ghosh, VMI
Marshall Gainer, Samford
Spencer Fejeran, ETSU
5,000-meter run
Dylan Schubert, Furman
Andrew Hammel, Furman
Sam Sharnas, The Citadel
Women’s all-freshman – Day 2
Heptathlon
Netanya Linares, Wofford
Mia Milasinovic, Samford
Discus
Emma Nolte, Samford
Jenna Kirkland, VMI
Judith Gonzalez, VMI
1,500-meter run
Bethany Graham, Furman
Beth Donnelly, Furman
Kiera Snyder, ETSU
High jump
Makenzie Hooton, Samford
Mia Milasinovic, Samford
Imani Boyd, Western Carolina
100-meter hurdles
Kerrington Johnson, Wofford
Netanya Linares, Wofford
Imani Boyd, Western Carolina
400-meter dash
Jasmine Jefferson, Wofford
Kaitlyn Cole, Samford
Tara Davis, Mercer
100-meter dash
Mecca Jackson, The Citadel
Madeline McNinch, Wofford
Rylee Jorgensen, Wofford
800-meter run
Megan Marvin, Furman
Katie Strozier, Samford
Julia Karsten, ETSU
400-meter hurdles
Kerrington Johnson, Wofford
Imani Boyd, Western Carolina
Mallory Lowe, Western Carolina
200-meter dash
Mecca Jackson, The Citadel
Kaitlin Cole, Samford
Mekyll Robinson, Western Carolina
5,000-meter run
Bethany Graham, Furman
Emily Little, Furman
Kylie Wittman, Furman
Shot put
Emma Nolte, Samford
Jenna Reid, Wofford
Triple jump
Omare McBride, Western Carolina
Amaya English, Western Carolina
Rylee Joegensen, Wofford
Note: The SoCon is allowing last year’s freshmen to be considered for all-freshman and freshman of the year honors this season for all sports that did not administer all-conference awards last year, which includes outdoor track and field.
The Bulldog women finished with 229.5 points, with their 109-point margin of victory the largest at the SoCon women’s outdoor meet since Appalachian State won by 150 points in 1992. Samford’s title was its second straight and fourth overall. Wofford (120.5 points) matched its best-ever finish with its second straight runner-up showing, while Western Carolina finished third with 114 points.
Samford’s men overcame day-one leader and four-time defending champion Western Carolina early Sunday afternoon and never looked back, steadily building its lead throughout the day en route to 204.5 points. The Bulldogs’ title was their third overall and first since winning consecutive championships in 2014 and 2015. The Catamounts finished second with 139.5 points, while Furman, without the benefit of a single field athlete, had 122 points to finish third, its best showing since a runner-up finish in 1977.
Samford thrower Matt Cahoon was named the men’s Most Outstanding Athlete after totaling 32 points at the meet, while Mercer sprinter Cherrish Wright earned the honor on the women’s side with 28 points scored, becoming the Bears’ first winner of the award.
Wofford freshman Kerrington Johnson won three titles on Sunday, running the second leg on the Terriers’ victorious 4x100-meter relay and sweeping the 100-meter hurdles and 400-meter hurdles. Samford’s Johnston was a double-winner Sunday, capping her career with a fourth discus title in as many tries and successfully defending her title in the shot put. Mercer’s Wright won both the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash.
On the men’s side, Furman’s Ryan Adams defended both his 1,500-meter and 800-meter titles from 2019. Samford’s Michael McMahan swept the 110-meter hurdles and 400-meter hurdles and VMI’s Jordin Poindexter won the 200-meter dash and ran the second leg on the Keydets’ victorious 4x400-meter relay Sunday.
Furman’s Marvin led a Paladin sweep in the women’s 800-meter run, with her school-record time of 2:04.18 erasing the 2:07.93 posted by SoCon Hall of Famer Mary Jayne Harrelson of Appalachian State in 1999. Furman’s Gabbi Jennings (2:04.66) and Emma Kuntz (2:06.35) also came in under Harrelson’s mark.
Samford’s Stuckey cleared 2.19 meters to win the high jump, adding 0.01 meter to the old mark of 2.18 set by Appalachian State’s Daryl Saunders in 2012.
Samford’s Charlotte Krauss successfully defended her 2019 high jump title by clearing 1.74 meters, while Bulldog sprinter Emmanuel Tait won the 100-meter dash in 10.58 seconds after three straight runner-up finishes from 2017-19.
Furman freshman Bethany Graham won the 5,000-meter run, marking the Paladins’ sixth straight win in the event.
Samford’s Aiya Finch and Luke Dobbins won the Pinnacle Awards, which go to the student-athletes with the highest GPAs on the championship-winning teams.
Samford’s outdoor title sweep came on the heels of its indoor sweep in February.
The NCAA Regional fields will be announced on Thursday, May 20, via press release at NCAA.com.
Men’s results – Final
1. Samford – 204.5 points
2. Western Carolina – 139.5
3. Furman – 122
4. VMI – 113
5. The Citadel – 100
6. Wofford – 83
7. ETSU – 41
8. UNCG – 12
Women’s results – Final
1. Samford – 229.5 points
2. Wofford – 120.5
3. Western Carolina – 114
4. ETSU – 93
5. Furman – 88
6. Mercer – 59
7. The Citadel – 50
8. VMI – 34
9. Chattanooga – 30
10. UNCG – 0
Men’s Most Outstanding Athlete
Matt Cahoon, Samford
Women’s Most Outstanding Athlete
Cherrish Wright, Mercer
Men’s Pinnacle Award (highest GPA on championship-winning team)
Luke Dobbins, Samford
Women’s Pinnacle Award (highest GPA on championship-winning team)
Aiya Finch, Samford
Day 2 champions
Men: Decathlon Ty Kimberlin, Samford (6,659 points); shot put Ryan Eldridge, Western Carolina (15.74 meters); 4x100-meter relay Shon Pratcher, Marcus Brown, Tyler Manigault, David Miles, Western Carolina (40.95); 1,500-meter run Ryan Adams, Furman (3:53.88); 110-meter hurdles Michael McMahan, Samford (13.98); 400-meter dash Kane Duncan, The Citadel (47.89); 100-meter dash Emmanuel Tait, Samford (10.58); 800-meter run Ryan Adams, Furman (1:50.72); 400-meter hurdles Michael McMahan, Samford (51.00); high jump Justin Stuckey, Samford (2.19 meters)*; 200-meter dash Justin Poindexter, VMI (21.32); triple jump Edwin Rainey, Samford (14.80 meters); discus Matt Cahoon, Samford (49.98 meters); 5,000-meter run Noah Dolhare, Furman (14:18.19); 4x400-meter relay Jonathan Gray, Jordan Poindexter, Trent Whittaker, Johnnie Walker, VMI (3:12.99).
Women: Heptathlon Megan Dunn, Wofford (5,013 points); discus Maggie Johnston, Samford (50.79 meters); 4x100-meter relay Destiny Shippy, Kerrington Johnson, Rylee Jorgensen, Georgia McDevitt, Wofford (46.27); 1,500-meter run Gabbi Jennings, Furman (4:22.51); high jump Charlotte Krause, Samford (1.74 meters); 100-meter hurdles Kerrington Johnson, Wofford (13.27); 400-meter dash Carlandra Jones, Mercer (54.74); 100-meter dash Cherrish Wright, Mercer (11.63); 800-meter run Megan Marvin, Furman (2:04.18)*; 400-meter hurdles Kerrington Johnson, Wofford (1:01.42); 200-meter dash Cherrish Wright, Mercer (23.88); 5,000-meter run Bethany Graham, Furman (17:04.60); shot put Maggie Johnston, Samford (14.30 meters); triple jump Mekayla Brown, ETSU (11.95 meters); 4x400-meter relay Marissa Blakely, Dominiq Delisser, Mekyll Robinson, Kellsie Whitehead, Western Carolina (3:44.01).
* meet record
Men’s all-freshman – Day 2
Decathlon
Ty Kimberlin, Samford
Landon Wright, Samford
McCray Kelton, Samford
Shot put
Solomon Ghosh, VMI
Marshall Gainer, Samford
Mason Robinson, Western Carolina
1,500-meter run
Trent Whitaker, VMI
Evan Guzman, ETSU
Ares Reading, Furman
110-meter hurdles
Keyandre Midgett, VMI
Landon Wright, Samford
Liam McBride, VMI
400-meter dash
Kane Duncan, The Citadel
Conor Murphy, Wofford
Kevin Haley Jr., Western Carolina
100-meter dash
Evan Brooks, Samford
Marcus Brown, Western Carolina
David Miles, Western Carolina
800-meter run
Miguel Parrilla, ETSU
Trent Whittaker, VMI
Nick Epstein, Furman
400-meter hurdles
Matthew Grigg, Samford
Gabel Fulford, Samford
Jonah Dill, Furman
High jump
Stephen Kraeling, The Citadel
Prince Moody, The Citadel
Louis Brogan, Samford
200-meter dash
Marcus Brown, Western Carolina
Evan Brooks, Samford
Conor Murphy, Wofford
Triple jump
Edwin Rainey, Samford
Keyandre Midgett, VMI
Ty Kimberlin, Samford
Discus
Solomon Ghosh, VMI
Marshall Gainer, Samford
Spencer Fejeran, ETSU
5,000-meter run
Dylan Schubert, Furman
Andrew Hammel, Furman
Sam Sharnas, The Citadel
Women’s all-freshman – Day 2
Heptathlon
Netanya Linares, Wofford
Mia Milasinovic, Samford
Discus
Emma Nolte, Samford
Jenna Kirkland, VMI
Judith Gonzalez, VMI
1,500-meter run
Bethany Graham, Furman
Beth Donnelly, Furman
Kiera Snyder, ETSU
High jump
Makenzie Hooton, Samford
Mia Milasinovic, Samford
Imani Boyd, Western Carolina
100-meter hurdles
Kerrington Johnson, Wofford
Netanya Linares, Wofford
Imani Boyd, Western Carolina
400-meter dash
Jasmine Jefferson, Wofford
Kaitlyn Cole, Samford
Tara Davis, Mercer
100-meter dash
Mecca Jackson, The Citadel
Madeline McNinch, Wofford
Rylee Jorgensen, Wofford
800-meter run
Megan Marvin, Furman
Katie Strozier, Samford
Julia Karsten, ETSU
400-meter hurdles
Kerrington Johnson, Wofford
Imani Boyd, Western Carolina
Mallory Lowe, Western Carolina
200-meter dash
Mecca Jackson, The Citadel
Kaitlin Cole, Samford
Mekyll Robinson, Western Carolina
5,000-meter run
Bethany Graham, Furman
Emily Little, Furman
Kylie Wittman, Furman
Shot put
Emma Nolte, Samford
Jenna Reid, Wofford
Triple jump
Omare McBride, Western Carolina
Amaya English, Western Carolina
Rylee Joegensen, Wofford
Note: The SoCon is allowing last year’s freshmen to be considered for all-freshman and freshman of the year honors this season for all sports that did not administer all-conference awards last year, which includes outdoor track and field.
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