INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana — The Little Rock Men's Indoor Track & Field team dominated Wednesday's running events at the Ohio Valley Conference Championships, securing a second straight conference title for the program at the Fall Creek Pavilion in Indianapolis. Little Rock totaled 183 points to claim the team title, while the women's team finished as runners-up to Southeast Missouri for a second straight year.
"It feels great. These guys had to do multiple events, they locked in and got it done. The women fought to the end and I'm very proud of that group. We're excited to bring home another trophy." — Little Rock head coach J.P. Behnke
In addition to their stellar team finishes, several Trojans received All-OVC honors at the conclusion of the meet.
Alexia Washington was named Female Co-Field Athlete of the Year,
Andrew Payton won Male Track Athlete of the Year,
Morcellous Harris was named Male Co-Freshman of the Year,
TaVieon Neal won Male Co-Athlete of the Championship and
J.P. Behnke won another Men's Coach of the Year award.
During Wednesday's action,
Matthew Fox and
Patrick Young finished 1-2 in the Men's Heptathlon,
Aaliyah Mathis won the Women's Shot Put, Nick Newby and
Andrew Payton were 1-2 in the Men's Mile,
John Sanderson won the Men's 60m Hurdles, and
Chase Peterson was second in the Men's 400 meters.
Sutton Manatt finished third in the Men's Pole Vault,
Takia Palmer was third in the Women's 400 meters, and Little Rock swept the podium in the Men's 60 meters for the second year in a row.
TaVieon Neal,
Gabriel Torres, and
Braeden Bell went 1-2-3 in the event. Neal also won gold in the Men's 200 meters.
Navaeh Hill was second in the Women's 60 meters while
Alexia Washington and
Layloni Watson went first and second in the Women's Triple Jump. It was the second gold for Washington, who also won the Women's Long Jump on Tuesday.
Devin Stevens won the Men's 800 meters with Newby finishing second, and the women's team of
Majesty Omeye,
Talia Palmer,
Jasmine Torres, and
Aaliyah Booker finished second in the Women's 4x400, just 0.11 seconds behind SEMO.
The men finished 22.5 points better than runner-up SEMO, while Eastern Illinois was third (134), Tennessee State was fourth (53) and Southern Indiana, fifth (38). The women finished with 128.5 points, while SEMO took the title with 163. Lindenwood (66) was third, Southern Indiana (60) was fourth and Eastern Illinois (55.5) finished fifth.
