HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana Track and Field team had 12 student-athletes named to the 2020 All-Southland Conference Indoor Track and Field team, the league office announced Friday.

The Southeastern men's team had eight selections to the team while third-year Lions' track and field head coach Corey Mistretta was named Coach of the Year. Under Mistretta's leadership, SLU captured their second men's indoor championship in school history (2014) Monday in Birmingham, Alabama.
 
"The Coach of the Year award is very humbling," said Mistretta.  "But it would never be possible without the selfless efforts from our coaching staff, athletic trainer Alex Daniel, and strength and conditioning coach Peyton Thomas. This recognition needs to be shared with all of them. I also would be amiss by not thanking former head coach, Sean Brady, for having faith that I could maintain the level of excellence he created during his time here when he recommended me for the job to Coach (Jay) Artigues (SLU Athletic Director)."

Johnathon Sawyer, a senior, was selected Newcomer of the Year after setting an all-time Southland Conference record at the indoor championships in the 400m running a 46.23 earning him first-team All-Southland in the event. The Austin, Texas native also earned third team honors after finishing third in the 200m.

Sophomore James Benson II, selected to the second team, finished second in the 400m running a 46.48. The times earned Benson and Sawyer the two fastest in Southland Conference Indoor Championship history in the 400m.

"When we signed Johnathon this summer, we all knew he had the potential to be a difference maker for us and he hasn't disappointed," said Mistretta. "I know Johnathon would want to share this award with his new teammates, especially James (Benson II)."

Slavko Stevic (high jump) and the men's distance medley relay team including Grant O'Callaghan, Gerald Coleman, Shea Foster and Anthony Cordero, also earned first team honors.

Stevic, a freshman from Sremska, Mitrovica, Serbia, won the conference championship after jumping six feet, 11 inches (2.11m) in Birmingham.

Coleman, Cordero, Foster and O'Callaghan set a school record in the DMR after running a 10:00.42.

O'Callaghan, a junior, also claimed second team honors in the 3K. The Flowery Branch, Georgia native ran 8:27.78 to claim the silver medal in the event.

Earning third team honors along with Sawyer was Riccardo Klotz (pentathlon) and Foster in the one-mile run.

Klotz, a sophomore from Scharnitz, Austria, finished third in the pentathlon compiling 5,270 points. Foster, a senior out of Cypress, Texas, claimed third team honors by virtue of a 4:15.84 in the one-mile.

On the women's side, the distance medley relay team earned second team honors finishing second. The group of Sophie Daigle, Tara Stunz, Jamira Patterson and Lindsey Hutcheson also set a school record in the event running 12:13.28.

"As we move into the outdoor season, we are committed to continuing our efforts to create a culture the Lion Nation can be proud of," said Mistretta.

Southeastern will begin the outdoor season Saturday, March 14 at the McNeese Cowboy Relays in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Men's Individual Awards
Men's Outstanding Running Events Performer – Jordan Rowe, Lamar
Men's Outstanding Field Events Performer – Branson Ellis, Stephen F. Austin
Men's Freshman of the Year – Tyler Richardson, Abilene Christian
Men's Newcomer of the Year – Johnathon Sawyer, Southeastern Louisiana
Men's Athlete of the Year – Jordan Rowe, Lamar
Men's Coach of the Year – Corey Mistretta, Southeastern Louisiana

Women's Individual Awards
Women's Outstanding Running Events Performer – Natashia Jackson, Northwestern State
Women's Outstanding Field Events Performer – Jasmyn Steels, Northwestern State
Women's Freshman of the Year – Mathilde Coquillad-Salomon, Stephen F. Austin
Women's Newcomer of the Year – Arina Kleshchukova, New Orleans
Women's Athlete of the Year – Natashia Jackson, Northwestern State
Women's Coach of the Year – Phil Olson, Stephen F. Austin

2020 Southland Conference Men's Indoor Track & Field All-Conference Teams
 

Event	First	Second	Third
60m	Zachary Jewell, UCA	Joshua Raphael, MCN	Jo'Vaughn Martin, SHSU
200m	Jo'vaughn Martin, SHSU	Zachary Jewell, UCA	Johnathon Sawyer, SLU
400m	Johnathon Sawyer, SLU	James Benson II, SLU	A.J. Bennett, SFA
800m	Matthew Hernandez, UIW	Christos Zachariou, HBU	Alex Hanson, UCA
Mile	Jordan Rowe, LU	Andrew Bosquez, SHSU	Shea Foster, SLU
3,000m	Jordan Rowe, LU	Grant O'Callaghan, SLU	Max Nores, UCA
5,000m	Gideon Cheplak, MCN	Matthew Arnold, LU	Isaac Vargas, AMCC
60m Hurdles	Darion Dunn, MCN	Joshua Smith, SHSU	Timor Barrett, AMCC
4x400m	ACU: A. Williams, R. Linton, B. Brownlow, J. Williams	SFA: A. Callahan, D. Sankey, J. Garcia, A. Bennett	SHSU: E. Woods, C. Brown, J. Austin, J. Smith
DMR	SLU: S. Foster, G. Coleman, A. Cordero, G. O'Callaghan	LU: E. Peveto, C. Joseph, M. Arnold, J. Rowe	MCN: A. Gilliam, T. Banks, L. Horgan, J. Croft
High Jump	Slavko Stevic, SLU	Jeremiah Gilliam, UIW	Asani Hylton, SFA
Pole Vault	Branson Ellis, SFA	Hudson Hall, HBU	Carter Scott, SFA
Long Jump	Markeit Steverson, NSU	Zachary Johnson, SHSU	Aaron Worrell, UNO
Triple Jump	Tylen Guidry, LU	Chris Welch, HBU	Quindarrius Thompson, NSU
Shot Put	Tyler Richardson, ACU	Marco Arevalo, NSU	Cobe Graham, SHSU
Weight Throw	Trenton Bridges, SFA	Jacob Mechler, ACU	Vojislav Gvero, UNO
Heptathlon	Colton Cohea, AMCC	Scott Boon, HBU	Riccardo Klotz, SLU

 
2020 Southland Conference Women's Indoor Track & Field All-Conference Teams

Event	First	Second	Third
60m	Sierra Temple, UCA	Taylor Tolen, ACU	Lynelle Washington, NSU
200m	Natashia Jackson, NSU	Ajah Criner, UCA	Imani Nave, SFA
400m	Natashia Jackson, NSU	Imani Nave, SFA	Hailey Alcorn, NICH
800m	LaSean Davis, SFA	Brianna Nolen, SFA	Ivette Alcantar, UIW
Mile	Kelsey Ramirez, SFA	Alia Henderson, UIW	Tamara Reeves, UCA
3,000m	Kelsey Ramirez, SFA	Gracie Hyde, UCA	Valentina Campos, AMCC
5,000m	Arina Kleshchukova, UNO	Valentina Campos, AMCC	Claire Crone, SFA
60m Hurdles	Mathilde Coquillaud-Salomon, SFA	Janiel Moore, NSU	Omo Oboh, NICH
4x400m	NSU: J. Moore, J. Fields, E. Wilson, N. Jackson	SFA: I. Nave, C. Burch, M. Coquillaud-Salomon, N. Kabongo	UIW: E. Sebastion, A. Brathwaite, R. Miles, D. Keys
DMR	SFA: L. Davis, D. Carr, N. Kabongo, K. Ramirez	SLU: T. Stuntz, J. Patterson, L. Hutcheson, S. Daigle	AMCC: A. Girard, A. Bustamante, Q. Johnson, V. Campos
High Jump	Lauren Clarke, NSU	Nissi Kabongo, SFA	Zoe Spinn, ACU
Pole Vault	Kaylee Bizzell, SFA	AnnMarie Broussard, NSU	Mackenzie West, ACU
Long Jump	Jasmyn Steels, NSU	Shaynea Redmond, SHSU	Dreunna Washington, MCN
Triple Jump	Lauren Clarke, NSU	Jasmyn Steels, NSU	Malaiya Jedkins, MCN
Shot Put	Annina Brandenburg, ACU	Alanna Arvie, MCN	Danielle Lorenz, UNO
Weight Throw	Alanna Arvie, MCN	Jemira Thomlinson, HBU	Kristin McDuffie, NSU
Pentathlon	Kaitlin Smith, HBU	Mathilde Coquillaud-Salomon, SFA	Parl Eelma, LU

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.
 
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