BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southeastern Louisiana University track & field team appears like it will have representation at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field National Championships next weekend as Slavko Stevic's school record-breaking high jump got him in line to qualify for the event following day one of the Southland Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships Sunday at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
 
Cole Palmer got the day started off fast as he tied a school record by winning his preliminary heat in the 60m hurdles in a time of 8.08 seconds, equaling the time Damian Manning ran in the event in the 2008 Conference Championships, and moving Palmer into Monday's Final. Palmer will not be the only Lion in the 60m hurdle Finals as Olu Ogunyemi also qualified on time by finishing in 8.18 seconds.
 
Jaimie Omalla secured a spot in the Final of the 200m dash as his time of 21.43 seconds moved him through from the prelims. In the men's 400m dash, two Southeastern runners qualified for the Final as Eugene Omalla and Omri Shiff both got in on time at 47.27 and 47.97 seconds, respectively.
 
Both of SLU's runners in the men's 800m dash will run in the Final as Noah Kiprotich won his prelim in a time of 1:55.06 while Javon-Taye Williams made it in with a time of 1:55.23.
 
In the field events where medals were handed out on Sunday, Lara Zupanc got Southeastern's first medal as her pole vault of 3.55m (11'7.75") was good enough for a bronze medal. Kristian Jackson equaled that with a bronze medal of her own in the weight throw with a toss of 18.06m (59'3"). On the men's side of the weight throw, Terrell Webb and Thomas Nedow both threw personal bests as Nedow threw 18m (59'0.75"), which placed him fourth, while Webb's throw of 18.36m (60'3") was also good enough for bronze.
 
But the highlight of the day for the Lions came in one of the day's final events, the men's high jump. With another competitor pushing him to the brink of a height never before jumped by any SLU athlete in indoor competition, Stevic went beyond it as he cleared 2.19m (7'2.25") to break the school indoor record and claim Southeastern's first gold medal of the 2023 Southland Conference Championships. With the gold in hand but looking to secure a place in the NCAA National Indoor Meet, Stevic continued on and raised the record further by clearing a height of 2.21m (7'3") before ending his run in the competition. By clearing 2.21m, Stevic is now tied for the ninth highest jump in the NCAA this indoor season, putting him in the top-16 in the country which is the cut-off point to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Meet.
 
The 2023 Southland Conference Track & Field Indoor Championships continue on Monday at the Birmingham CrossPlex with the Finals of all the track events while Monday's field events include both men's and women's triple jump and shot put, women's high jump, and the men's pole vault for the heptathlon.
 
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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