The Lenoir-Rhyne Women’s Track and Field Team finished in second place of the 2023 SAC Indoor Championships.

Three Lenoir-Rhyne women were also recognized for their strong performances over the two-day event. Melody Jones was awarded the track athlete of the meet, while Kennedy Conner received the field athlete of the meet with Alexis Brown winning the freshman of the year title.

In addition, Kevin Paterson was named the SAC Women’s Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year.

Throughout the course of the regular season, the women have made statement performances in the sprints, and that was no different this weekend from the efforts of Brown and Jones.

Winner of two different short-track events, Brown took first place in the 60-meter (7.25) and 200-meter (24.59) dashes. Jones finished in third place in the two races but took a first-place finish in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.55.

Jordan Shealey also had a great day on the track with a second-place finish (25.28) in the 200-meter dash and a third-place finish (57.95) in the 400-meter run.

Conner recorded a 3189 to win the women’s pentathlon. The senior from Franklin, N.C., was a winner in three of the five events: the 60-meter dash, high jump and long jump. Also, of the top 10 finishers of the event, four of them represented Lenoir-Rhyne.

In the field, a few members of the women’s squad put together some dazzling displays including Holly Kone who won the triple jump with her 11.63-meter leap.

Pearl Ballard had a great showing in the pole vault with a 3.23-meter jump, which was good enough for a second-place finish. The Bears had plenty of success in that event with Lenoir-Rhyne taking five of the top 10 spots.

On top of having the best high jump score in the pentathlon, Conner also recorded a third-place finish in the individual high jump competition with a 1.62-meter clear.

The Lenoir-Rhyne Men’s Track and Field Team finished in second place of the 2023 SAC Indoor Championships.

Jacob Wadsworth swept the SAC indoor honors by taking home both the track athlete and field athlete of the meet. In addition, Kevin Paterson was named the SAC Men’s Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year.

After an impressive showing throughout the regular season, the men’s 4×400-meter relay team added another accomplishment to the mix, a first-place finish thanks to their 3:16.23 time. It was not the only relay that the Bears had a strong finish in with a second-place result in the distance medley.

Members of that 4×400-meter relay team also had a successful two days in their individual competitions, especially Wadsworth, who won an event on the track and field with his victories in the 400-meter race (48.07) and long jump (7.44 meters).

On the short track, Dario Matau secured a win in the 200-meter dash (21.45), sprinting just past his teammates Wadsworth (21.72) and Trent Davis II (22.198), who finished third and fourth place, respectively. The sophomore also took a second-place finish in the 60-meter dash after a 6.74 time.

In the men’s heptathlon, Philip Stomne recorded a 4854 score to win the event. The junior from Valbo, Sweden, was a winner in three of the seven events: the 60-meter dash, 1000-meter run and pole vault. Also, of the top 10 finishers of the event, five of them represented Lenoir-Rhyne.

Meanwhile, Mike Karicher recorded another first-place finish in the men’s pole vault with a 4.65 clearance; Noah Rhodes matched Karicher’s score, but the sophomore from Fairfax, Va. was able reach that mark first.

Orlando Descrates just fell short of winning the high jump competition with his second-place 2.03-meter jump; Wadsworth finished just behind his teammate in fourth place with his four-meter leap.

Both squads will have next weekend off before some participants travel to Virginia Beach, Va. for the NCAA Indoor Championships, which begin on Friday, March 10.