School records fall, Trojan teams in solid position after first day of OVC Indoor Championships

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana — A pair of Little Rock athletes broke school records Tuesday on the way to claiming gold during the opening day of the 2025 Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships at Fall Creek Pavilion in Indianapolis. Alexia Washington and Johnathan Jones won the women's long jump and men's high jump, respectively, while setting new program marks in the process.
 
After the first day of competition, Little Rock teams are in solid position to win conference titles as the women trail SEMO by just 11 points for the overall lead, and the men are just a single point behind eastern Illinois for second and 15.5 points behind SEMO for the lead. Tomorrow's final day of competition begins at 8 am, and concludes at approximately 3 pm with the running of the 4x400 relays.
 
Jones broke his own four-year-old mark in the high jump, clearing 2.17 meters (7-1.5) and was the only competitor to break seven feet in the event. His previous school record of 7-1 was set back in February of 2021. Deshawn Roberts finished third in the same event Tuesday.
 
Washington broke her record that was set less than a month ago on Feb. 1, clearing 6.12 meters (20-1) and outjumping her previous best of 19-9.75. Washington finished seventh at the indoor championship a year ago.
 
The men's Distance Medley Relay team, which has been among the nation's best all season, didn't disappoint Tuesday, beating UT Martin by almost five seconds to take gold behind the efforts of Shane Fisher, Tyler Moore, Devin Stevens, and Andrew Payton.
 
Other taking the podium for Little Rock on Tuesday include freshman Morcellous Harris (second in long jump), Brooklyn Marcee (second in pole vault), and Kyla Lochtefeld (third in 5000 meters). Several athletes qualified for Wednesday's finals during Day 1 prelims while three Trojans lead the men's heptathlon at the midway mark. Patrick Young (2965 points), Matthew Fox (2944 points) and Harris (2928 points) sit first, second and third, respectively. Others qualifying for Wednesday finals include:
 
Men's 60m Hurdles – John Sanderson, Matthew Fox and Tyler Moore
Men's 400 Meters – Chase Peterson and Juan Garza
Women's 400 Meters – Takia Palmer, Jasmine Torres and Majesty Omeye
Men's 60 Meters – Morcellous Harris, Gabriel Torres, TaVieon Neal and Braeden Bell
Women's 60 Meters – Nevaeh Hill
Men's 800 Meters – Nick Newby and Devin Stevens
Women's 800 Meters – Abby Machesky
Men's 200 Meters – TaVieon Neal, Chase Peterson and Gabriel Torres
Women's 200 Meters – Takia Palmer
 
TEAM SCORES – DAY 1
Men
1. SEMO                     57.5
2. Eastern Illinois        43
3. Little Rock               42
4. Southern Indiana    16
5. Western Illinois       16
 
Women
1. SEMO                     52
2. Little Rock               41
3. Southern Indiana    32
4. Eastern Illinois        23
5. Western Illinois       15