BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southeastern Louisiana men's track and field team sprinted their way to winning the Southland Conference Indoor Championship at the Birmingham CrossPlex Monday afternoon.

The Lions finished with 99 points for the two-day meet on their way to claiming the school's second Southland Conference men's indoor championship (2014).
SLU put together a terrific second day scoring 66 points outlasting four-time defending champion Sam Houston State (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019) who finished second with 87 points.

"Wow, that was a grind," said SLU track head coach Corey Mistretta.  "These meets are always stressful and take their toll on both athletes and coaches. I am super proud of the way our men's team responded to the adversity from yesterday's events. There was a point during the meet yesterday where we lost two of our best guys to injury for the entire meet. We also had a great opportunity to score in an event that we let slip away. At that point, things were looking bleak. Then, we ended the day with the men's (distance medley relay) winning the event in a new school record time. Later that night, in our meeting, we were able to use the energy from the (distance medley relay) to motivate the team about doing everything in their power today to score in their respective events in the finals. The entire group responded today by doing their jobs and we were able to overcome yesterday's obstacles. After our runner-up finish last year, the team has been extremely focused on settling for nothing less than the title. Our focus has been very pointed and the guys responded like champions today when they got knocked down yesterday."

In the men's 400m final, SLU's Johnathon Sawyer set an all-time Southland Conference Indoor record winning the race in 46.23. James Benson II, who set the conference indoor record last week running 46.34, was second with a time of 46.48 as the two combined to give the men's team 18 points.

With their performances in the 400m, Sawyer  and Benson II recorded the fastest two times ever in the conference indoor championships breaking the previous mark of 46.49 (Cass Brown-Stewart – Stephen F. Austin – 2/17/15)

Sawyer, a senior transfer from Grambling, and Benson II, a sophomore from Charleston Illinois, also ran well in the 200m finishing third and fourth respectively adding 11 points to the Lions' total.  Sawyer ran a 21.02 while Benson II clocked in at 21.29.

Shea Foster picked up six points in the men's one-mile race finishing third. The Cypress, Texas native crossed the line at 4:15.84 less than two steps behind second place finisher Andrew Bosquez (4:15.03) of Sam Houston State.

Sophomore Parker McBride and junior Malik Burns each had fifth place finishes. McBride in the 800m (1:54.17) while Burns made his mark in the shot put throwing 49-0.25 (14.94m).

Sophomore Armonte Paulk scored in the 60m final finishing eighth. Out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Paulk ran a 6.93 picking up one point for the Lions.

The Lions added nine points in the men's heptathlon. Riccardo Klotz finished third for six points compiling 5,270 points while Brian Donna, the 2018 Southland heptathlon champion, finished fifth with 5,192 points giving SLU three more points.

In the men's 3k, Grant O'Callaghan finished second in a time of 8:27.78. The junior from Flowery Branch, Georgia added eight points to the Lions' total. O'Callaghan's performance in the 3k clinched the title for SLU as they had a 14 point lead going into the final event.

The men's 4x400 relay team wrapped up the day finishing fifth. The group of Benson II, Sawyer, Paulk and Gerald Coleman ran 3:13.29 for four points.

On the women's side, SLU finished the meet in seventh place with 44.75 points for their best finish since 2017 when they also placed seventh.

The Lady Lions racked up nine points in the shot put. Ashley Davis, the reigning Southland Indoor shotput champion, placed fifth in the event for four points with a mark of 46 feet, 6.75 inches (14.19m). Kristian Jackson was fourth throwing 46-10.75 (14.29m).

Junior Sophie Daigle scored in the women's 3K. The Donaldsonville, Louisiana native finished sixth in a time of 10:03.15 giving the Lady Lions three points. The junior also helped the distance medley relay team to a second place finish and had a fourth place showing in the 5k Sunday.

"The ladies were outstanding as well," said Mistretta. "We had the best finish since 2017. I am very encouraged by the way the ladies competed today. Some of our younger athletes stepped up, which is a great sign. And, of course, Sophie continues to shine. She was very special this week."

Also for the women, Cha'Kaylin Gilbert finished eighth in the triple jump giving the Lady Lions a point. The junior from Port Arthur, Texas jumped 39-0.50 (11.90m).

The women's 4x400 team added to the women's total finishing fifth. The group of Kimona Wilson, Maya Jackson, Indya Jackson and Jamira Patterson ran a 3:47.26 to give the Lady Lions four points.

Next up, Southeastern will begin their outdoor schedule Saturday, March 14 at the McNeese Cowboy Relays in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Final Team Standings
Men - (Points)
 
1. SLU (99)
2. Sam Houston State (87)
3. Abilene Christian (64)
4. Stephen F. Austin (63)
5. McNeese (59)
6. Lamar (58)
T7. Northwestern State (47)
T7. Central Arkansas (47)
9. Houston Baptist (45)
10. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (41)
11. UIW (31)
12. New Orleans (20)
 
Women – (Points)
 
1. Stephen F. Austin (138.75)
2. Northwestern State (117.50)
3. Abilene Christian (63)
4. McNeese (50.75)
5. Central Arkansas (50)
6. UIW (47.75)
7. SLU (44.75)
8. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (31)
9. Houston Baptist (29)
10. Sam Houston State (26.50)
11. Lamar (24)
12. New Orleans (22)
13. Nicholls (18)

PODIUM CLUB/S CLUB  
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the track and field program are encouraged to join the Podium Club. Lion alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners. All membership fees and donations to Podium Club are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern track and field program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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