Texas State Women T&F Claim Second Straight Sun Belt Indoor Team Championship

“We are proud of both teams and how they competed during the championships. Both teams faced adversity and competed tough throughout,” said Jody Stewart, Director of Track & Field/Cross Country.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Texas State women’s track & field team put on another dominating performance to claim its second straight Sun Belt Conference Indoor Team Championship on Tuesday at the Birmingham Crossplex. Over the two days, the women totaled 135 points and won by 46.5 points while the men finished with 101 points to take third.

“We are proud of both teams and how they competed during the championships. Both teams faced adversity and competed tough throughout,” said Jody Stewart, Director of Track & Field/Cross Country. “It’s year three of our coaching staff, we’re still building but we’re excited about the youth, character and direction of our program.”

“Special thanks to Dr. Larry Teis, Lacy Needham, Don Coryell, our entire athletic administration and all of our supporters.”

For the second year in-a-row Tramesha Hardy won four gold medals, three of them in individual events, and totaled 32.5 points to earn Women’s Top Meet Scorer. The junior repeated in the 60m (7.50), 200m (23.68) and 400m (54.39), the closest race of the day for her that was decided by 0.02 of a second. Her fourth gold of the day came in the 4x400m relay when she ran the anchor leg and was joined by Sydni Willis, DeAijha Hicks-Boyce and Esther Oyetunde. All four of the times rank in the top 10 in Bobcat history.

Joining Hardy on the podium in the 200m was Hicks-Boyce, who earned the bronze with a time of 24.33. The senior also added a team point with an eighth-place finish in the 60m. Willis claimed the bronze medal in the 400m after crossing the line in 55.35.

In the first race of the day on the track, Devina Schneider fell just short of repeating as the mile champion. She finished third in 4:54.49, the second fastest in program history.

Kylah Smith earned her first career indoor gold medal with a win in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.45. Kaylee Krenek added five points to the team total with a fourth-place finish in the event with a mark of 8.67.

Both Mylana Hearn and Oyetunde claimed silvers in the triple jump and 800m, respectively. Hearn shared second as both she and Appalachian State’s Chelsey Hargrave leapt 12.43m (40-9.5) on their final attempts. Oyetunde was edged out by 0.01 of a second, the closest race of the championships, and finished in a time of 2:12.12.

Recording a point to the team total after finishing eighth in the triple jump was Taydria Nickerson.

McKynzie King placed fifth in the 5000m with a personal best 17:50.36. Schneider came in eighth in 17:56.88 to earn points in all three distance races of the meet.

The men saw three individuals claim gold. The first came from Ben Collerton in the heptathlon with 5,115 points by and by an 89-point margin. He became the first TXST athlete in program history to win a conference heptathlon title. Joining the sophomore to earn a team point in the event was Oliver Ryborg Kjeldsen.

Alvin Chikaeze won the triple jump with a leap of 15.16m (49-9) that came on his final jump of the day. Michael Madu added a fourth-place finish with a distance of 14.54m (47-8.5) and Ronnie Briscoe Jr. was fifth with a mark of 14.47m (47-5.75).

Repeating as shot put champion was T’Mond Johnson. The junior uncorked a toss of 19.05m (62-6) on his fourth attempt of the day. His mark was a personal best and ranks second in school history.

Posting bronze medal performances were Joe Austin and Joseph Meade. Austin placed third in the 800m with a personal best time of 1:52.51 while Meade earned his medal in the 5000m with a time of 14:46.07. Kyle Denomme (800m) and Jose Angel Gonzalez (5000m) picked up team points as well in the events.

One of the surprises of the day came from Collerton in the men’s high jump. He entered the championship with the 17th best clearance this season. The sophomore surprised many by placing fourth after getting over 2.04m (6-8.25) to set a new personal best.

The 400m saw De’Marcus Porter finish fourth in 48.10. Rounding out the final two spots of the final were Kelson Pierre and Christopher Green, respectively.

Also coming in fourth was Carlos Wilson in the 60m. He laid down a personal best 6.77 time. Porter added a sixth-place performance to earn three more points for the team standings.

Jaylen Allen rounded out the scoring for the men by coming in seventh in the 200m.

While the rest of the team prepares for the outdoor season, Chelsie Decoud will head over to College Station to compete in the NCAA Division I Indoor Championships taking place March 9-10 in the high jump after her record-setting performance on Monday.

For the latest on the Texas State track & field teams, visit the official website of Texas State athletics at www.txstatebobcats.com, follow Twitter at TXStateTrack.com.

Final Results: http://txstatebobcats.com/documents/2018/2/20/2018_SBC_ITF_Championships_Results_Final.pdf