BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (2/24/25) – Both Arkansas State track and field squads lead in the team standings after the first day of the Sun Belt Conference Indoor Championships Monday inside the Birmingham CrossPlex.
The Red Wolves men's team totaled 57 points to own a 57-31 lead over second-place Louisiana, while the women's squad leads with 29 points ahead of Texas State's 27.
A-State swept the men's and women's weight throw. Michelle Ogbemudia threw a meet-record 21.75m (71-4.25) to break her own school record, while Noa Isaia won the men's event with a mark of 19.80m (64-11.5).
Three Red Wolves totaled 21 points in the men's 5000 meters, with Jacob Pyeatt (14:22.11) and Nati Enright (14:32.14) taking gold and bronze, with Evan Stevens (14:43.00) coming in fourth.
Miranda Burgett took silver in the pentathlon, totaling 3,803 points, which ranks fourth in school history.
A-State's men added 13 points in the pole vault, led by Bradley Jelmert's silver-medal mark of 5.41m (17-9). Jacob Dorrell and Gavin Schaer both cleared 4.96m (16-3.25), placing fifth and eighth. John Carswell rounded out the quartet with a clearance of 4.81m (15-9.25) to place 10th.
The Red Wolves capped the day with a silver-medal finish in the men's distance medley relay, clocking a time of 10:09.53. A-State was ninth in the women's race with a time of 12:14.03.
Kiara Strayhorn took bronze in the women's long jump with a mark of 5.91m (19-4.75). Nyima Williamson added two points with her seventh place jump of 5.66m (18-7). Brandi Echols finished 28th, leaping 5.24m (17-2.25).
Colby Eddowes placed fifth in the men's long jump, leaping 7.17m (23-6.25), while Matthew Williams jumped 7.06m (23-2) in an eighth-place finish. After the first four events of the heptathlon, he owns a 213-point lead with 3,176 points. He posted top marks in three of the first four phases.
In the women's 5000 meters, Olivia Walter scored three points with a sixth-place time of 17:07.23. Sammy Mason finished ninth, crossing the finish in 17:31.05.
Will Glass came in second in the men's 60-meter hurdles prelims, winning his heat in 7.92 to automatically qualify. Kenyon Parker will join Glass in the final, qualifying with a time of 8.15. Jourdan Clements finished just outside the top eight, crossing in 8.35 while Josh Jones finished 11th in 8.38.
Strayhorn and Tyra Nabors qualified for the women's 60-meter hurdles final, running times of 8.47 and 8.62 to place fifth and eighth.
A-State saw three runners advance to the final in the men's mile, led by Brett Jacobs (2nd, 4:15.59). Avinash Patel (4:16.33) and Kamil Przybyla (4:16.70) came in fifth and sixth in the prelims.
Przybyla later qualified for the final in the men's 800 meters, running 1:54.99 to place sixth. Brandon Williams (1:55.84) and Gabe Falting (1:57.28) came in 11th and 14th.
Camren Bailey advanced to the final in both the 60 meters and 200 meters, recording times of 6.85 and 21.54, the latter tying for fifth in program history. Javarian Otey finished 11th (6.88) in the 60, with Malik Hall finishing 13th (6.90). Spencer Taylor came in 11th in the 200 (21.69), with Otey following in 13th with a personal-best time of 21.74.
Maja Dzialoszewska qualified for the women's mile final, running 4:59.06 to place 10th. Her time ranks 10th in program history, and was one of three career-best marks in the event. Lizzee Winkler finished 15th (5:04.62) and Devyn O'Daniel was 16th (5:05.33). Mary Beth Bailey (5:10.90) and Abbey Coberly (5:27.75) finished 21st and 22nd.
In the women's 800-meter prelims, Malena Cybak was 13th with a personal-best 2:16.02.
Jada Buggs (13th, 56.83) and Kneila Watson (28th, 59.77) each recorded career-best times in the 400-meter prelims, and Je'Breiya Chapman (59.04) and Olivia Dixon (59.79) placed 22nd and 29th.
In the women's 60-meter prelims, Reneisha Andrews led three Red Wolves with a time of 7.65 to place 21st. Keniya Simpson was 39th (7.83) while AJ Allen ran a collegiate-best 7.88 in 42nd.
Competition resumes Tuesday at 10 a.m. with the final three events of the heptathlon, and ESPN+ will begin broadcasting events at 1:30 p.m.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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