CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The Samford men's track and field team won its sixth-straight Southern Conference Outdoor Championship and the women's team finished second at the SoCon Championships held at the Catamount Athletic Complex Monday and Tuesday.
The Bulldog men earned 238.5 points, ahead of second-place Western Carolina with 180.5 and third-place Furman with 109 points. On the women's side, Western Carolina won the title with 182.5 points, with Samford just behind with 175.5 points, snapping a six-year winning streak for the Bulldogs.
The Samford men's team earned wins in 10 different events over the two days.
Cole Grande, who was named the Men's Most Outstanding Athlete, won the 400 meters and he was a member of the 4x100-meter relay winning team with
Ty Watkins,
Caleb Yeary and
Chase Webb and the 4x400-meter relay winning team along with
Samuel Werner,
Zephaniah Carico-McLennan and
Mac Meredith.
Also on the men's side,
Bradley Franklin earned wins in the 200-meter run and the 110-meter hurdles.
Carl Henry won the shot put, while Carico-McLellan took home the title in the 800 meters. Yeary won the 100 meters, while
Arthur Chitty won the high jump and
Kyle Kaufelds won the javelin throw.
Gilbert Stein took home the gold in the decathlon. Samford's
David Brown was named the Pinnacle Award winner as the student‑athlete with the highest cumulative GPA on the championship‑winning team.
On the women's side, Samford earned wins in six different events.
JT Shaw, who was named the Women's Most Outstanding Athlete, won the shot put.
Aaliyah Mbenda earned the win in the 400 meters, while
Jess Edwards won the 800 meters, setting a meet record.
Brenna Lynn won the javelin,
Ellison Chadwick won the long jump and
Lindsey Havens won the pole vault.
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