JONESBORO, Ark. – Little Rock's 2019 track and field schedule came to a close Sunday at the Sun Belt Conference Championships at the Arkansas State Track and Field Complex. The Trojan women finished tied for 11th overall with 12 points while the Trojan men placed 10th with seven points.
2019 Sun Belt Conference Championships Final Results (PDF)
On the final day of competition, Little Rock opened the meet by picking up a point in the women's 4x100 meter relay as the team of
Nicole Edison,
Helensia Green,
Brandi Allen and
Aaliyah Lacy finished eighth with a mark of 47.08 seconds.
Little Rock's first final of the day was the men's 1,500 meter run as Emilio Medina, the reigning indoor mile champion, just missed picking up points for the Trojans. Medina placed ninth with a personal-best time of 3:58.69, marking just the second time he had run a sub-four minute 1,500.
One of the most anticipated races of the day was the men's 100 meters, and it didn't disappoint as the top four finishers all crossed the line within 0.02 seconds of each other. In that fray was Little Rock's Keshawn Andrews, who ran a personal-best 10.32 to finish third, picking up six points for the Trojans.
Little Rock then gained another point on the men's side in the men's 800 meters as Noah Smith placed eighth with a time of 1:54.42. That time was just off the pace of his personal-best mark of 1:53.39, set Friday in the 800 meter preliminaries in Jonesboro.
The final point tally for the Trojans came in the women's 5,000 meters where
Shanieke Watson placed fourth in her final collegiate run, notching a personal-best time of 17:16.62. She finished nearly a full minute ahead of
Vianney Sanchez, who placed 18th at 18:13.16. Medina was the top Trojan male finisher, crossing the line with a time of 15:57.52 to place 23rd.
The final events of the day were the 4x400 meter relays as Little Rock just missed garnering points in both events. The Trojan women, comprised of Green,
Jessica Gray, Lacy and
Akeia Joyner, placed 10th at 3:57.63. They were followed by Emmanuel Olie, Ricardo Banks II, Jalen Black and Smith, leading the Trojans to a ninth-place showing at 3:19.07.
Two field competitors also saw action on the day for Little Rock as Nghia Dinh placed 11th in the men's triple jump (14.11 meters) while Ryan Amador finished 19th in the men's discus (42.09 meters).
The results in Jonesboro brings Little Rock's 2019 season to a close with lots to build on moving forward. First year head coach
J.P. Behnke has been busy on the recruiting trail with a significant number of commitments already under his belt. Coupled with a strong core of returners, Little Rock will look to build on this year's successes as it heads into 2020.
Sun Belt Conference Championships Little Rock Final Day Results
Men's 100 Meters
3. Keshawn Andrews – 10.32
Men's 800 Meters
8. Noah Smith – 1:54.42
Men's 1,500 Meters
9. Emilio Medina – 3:58.69
Women's 5,000 Meters
4.
Shanieke Watson – 17:16.62
18.
Vianney Sanchez – 18:13.16
28.
Hunter Paul – 18:57.76
Men's 5,000 Meters
23. Emilio Medina – 15:57.52
Women's 4x100 Meter Relay
8.
Nicole Edison,
Helensia Green,
Brandi Allen,
Aaliyah Lacy – 47.08
Women's 4x400 Meter Relay
10.
Helensia Green,
Jessica Gray,
Aaliyah Lacy,
Akeia Joyner – 3:57.63
Men's 4x400 Meter Relay
9. Emmanuel Olie, Ricardo Banks II, Jalen Black, Noah Smith – 3:19.07
Men's Triple Jump
11. Nghia Dinh – 14.11m
Men's Discus
19. Ryan Amador – 42.09m
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