HOUSTON, Texas – The Southeastern Louisiana University track and field team picked up its first individual title on the first day of the 2024 Southland Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships as Terrell Webb went back-to-back as the conference's hammer throw champion on Thursday at the Wendel D. Ley Track & Holloway Field on the campus on Rice University.
 
Webb's repeat in the hammer throw started Southeastern's scoring in the 2024 SLC Outdoor Championships, picking up all 10 points that the Lions men would secure on the day. His second throw ended up being his longest, traveling a distance of 61.52 meters (201'10") as he continued to be the only SLC competitor in the hammer throw to have tosses go greater than 60 meters this season. He adds this year's hammer throw gold medal to the one he took from the 2023 SLC Outdoor Championships when he had a throw of 63.93 meters (209'9") to win the title.
 
The Lady Lions also got their first points of the Championships on the field thanks to the jumping prowess of Lara Zupanc. In the pole vault competition, Zupanc cleared 3.65 meters (11'11.75"), scoring a fourth-place finish and five points for the Lady Lions.
 
SLU's women's other five points on the day came on the track, and thanks to the legs of Ava Pitarro in the 10,000-meter run. Pitarro, running in her first collegiate 10K, crossed the line in 41:25.65, making her the fourth competitor to finish and securing another five points for the Lady Lions.
 
Two other Lions also got in position to get their team more points on Saturday as both Esther Nwanze and Olu Ogunyemi secured spots in the finals of the 400-meter hurdles competition on Thursday. Nwanze, who's held a top time in the discipline almost all season, left no doubt about her spot in the women's 400-meter hurdles final as she won Thursday's first heat, stopping the clock in 59.53 seconds. Ogunyemi, making his return to the discipline following an injury suffered during the indoor season, finished second in the first men's heat, crossing the line in 54.52 seconds. That time would hold up over the next two heats, giving him the fifth-fastest time of the prelims and securing him a spot in Saturday's men's 400-meter hurdles final.
 
Following the opening day of competition in the 2024 Southland Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships, both the Lions and Lady Lions had 10 points and stood in fifth-place in the team competition. Day two of the SLC Championships will see the shot put and long jump competitions on the field while the track will include prelims in the women's 100-meter hurdles, men's 110-meter hurdles, 100-meter dash, 400-meter dash, 800-meter run, and end with the 3,000-meter steeplechase final.
 
The 2024 Southland Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships are being held at the Wendel D. Ley Track & Holloway Field on the campus of Rice University in Houston, Texas. It is being live streamed on ESPN+ with live results available through the Southland Conference thanks to MileSplit.live.
 
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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