BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Today we continue the 2020-21 season of Samford Sports Wrap Up, Presented by Alabama Power, a series highlighting Samford's coaches and staff throughout the academic year. Today's edition will feature head track and field, and cross-country coach Rod Tiffin.
 
Tiffin's teams recently won a sixth-straight Southern Conference Indoor Championship on the women's side and a second-straight for the men's squad. Tiffin talked about the accomplishments of his program.
 
"It is hard to put into words," Tiffin said. "The behind the scenes is just so overwhelming to our staff and to our kids to have that streak out there. It's just gets harder and harder every year, and no senior class wants to be the one that loses that streak. And we all know it is eventually going to go away, but we want to extend it as long as possible. And then, the men coming in and starting a streak of their own is pretty special. It makes that bus ride a lot easier coming back from Lexington when we're both celebrating and not just one team."
 
One of the standouts at the SoCon Championship was Justin Stuckey, who tied a program record in the high jump, winning the event, while also finishing third in the long jump.
 
"He continues to get better and better," Tiffin said of Stuckey. "He's still just learning the sport. He literally gets better every time he goes out to practice. That is the fun thing for him to keep his motivation up. And that's the fun thing for us to be able to be a part of watching him grow. Coach (Ashley) Shoemaker has done a great job with him and being able to help him develop and get better and better every year."
 
Evan Brooks won the 60-meter and 200-meter dashes and earned Most Outstanding Track Athlete honors for the men.
 
"Evan got a little bit of an injury there at the meet and was able to push through and get some things done," Tiffin said. "Even what he did at the meet is just a small part of what he is ready to do."
 
For the women's team, Hannah Daffin won the women's shot put and was named Most Outstanding Field Performer.
 
"She kind of got the meet started for us," Tiffin said of Daffin. "The throws were early, both days, and kind of set the tone for us, which we always really appreciate with our throws area because it's early. So, with some of our athletes coming rolling in when those events are finishing up and seeing her at the top of the leader board it kind of gets them fired up and they say, okay we're ready to go."
 
Matt Cahoon was named the Most Outstanding Field Performer on the men's side as well.
 
"Matt is a young guy that I'd keep around forever," Tiffin said. "He called me last year and said, 'hey, I'd like to come out for my COVID year.' And I said, 'please do.' He is a guy that has been a rock in our program, and he continues to get better and that's the exciting part."
 
The final event of the meet was the 4x400-meter relay, comprised of Hannah Lueders, Kaitlyn Cole, Katie Strozier, and Amanda Dumar. Tiffin said, though the championship was already clinched at that point, it was an exciting moment in the meet.
 
"There wasn't much drama in it until the last 100 meters of that last lap and Amanda came charging around and it put the whole crowd, not only our team, but it kind of put the whole crowd on edge," Tiffin said. "A lot of the workers there and the VMI employees just got so excited about it. And you can't say enough about Amanda, she's a young lady that has pulled herself up by the boot straps. She has gone from an athlete that we've enjoyed having in our program to start with to being a major, major player in our program."
 
Next up for the Bulldogs is the NCAA Indoor Championships, March 11-13 in Fayetteville, Arkansas, where Stuckey will compete. The outdoor season will begin with a meet at Georgia Tech, March 19-20.