BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Going into the Southland Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships, Roy Morris and Samari Finney led the Southland Conference in the men’s and women’s long jump. The pair once again proved it on the conference’s biggest stage.
They each took home the gold in their events at the first day of the SLC Indoors on Wednesday at the Birmingham Crossplex.
“We had a pretty good day today,” head coach Mike Heimerman said. “We were not perfect but really good. We have put ourselves in a good position to try and bring home some team titles. It won’t be easy but this group wouldn’t want it any other way.”
The Lady Demons are bidding to win their fourth straight SLC Indoor crown.
In his young career with the Demons, Morris had done just about everything. Last outdoor season, he was an All-American and he received a bronze medal in last year’s indoor meet. One accomplishment missing was that elusive SLC Championship gold medal.
That wait is over. The Evangel Christian Academy product led the entire way, punctuating it with a 24-9.75 on his final jump. Stephen F. Austin’s Bryson Williams came close with a 24-7.75, barely behind Morris’ leading jump at the time of 24-8.75.
“First of all, I want to thank my family and coaching staff for always believing in me and giving me that push I needed,” Morris said. “It feels amazing to walk away with the gold. After last season, I went back to the drawing board and physically and mentally prepared myself for this day.”
On the women’s side, Finney just did what she always does. As consistent as anyone in the league, she went 19-8.75 on her second jump to smoke the competition. No one else even broke the 19-foot mark—and Finney did that four times.
After a disappointing 12th place finish at last year’s indoor meet, she left no doubt in this one, winning her second straight long jump title after claiming gold at last year’s outdoor championships.
While the long jumpers took home the golds, they were not the only ones who reached the podium, as Randy Kelly (men’s high jump) took the silver with a 6-11 clearance and Thea Ring (women’s pentathlon) collected the bronze.
It is Kelly’s fifth time on the podium at a conference meet, including three silvers.
In her first SLC Championships, Ring posted a terrific performance that broke the school record with a score of 3726.
On the track, many Demons and Lady Demons qualified for Thursday’s finals.
Kalen Beavers won the prelims in the 200-meter dash, clocking a 21.06 to qualify for the finals. Teammates Elijah Rowe (21.72) placed fourth, Keontae Gaines (21.34) finished sixth and Will Achee (21.40) came in seventh to all join Beavers in today’s eight-man final.
Margaret Conteh (24.27) and Juvonna Cornette (24.28) finished fifth and sixth, respectively, to advance to the women’s 200 finals. Cornette’s time was a season best.
In the women’s 400-meter dash, Rushana Dwyer won the prelims with a run of 53.17, leading three NSU runners among the top five. Conteh (53.70) took third and Kahliyah Anderson (55.73) came in fifth.
Three of the top five in the men’s 400 were Demons, led by Achee, who ran a 47.49 to finish second. Desmond Duncan (47.91) and Kason Jones (48.06) came in fourth and fifth, respectively, to also qualify for finals.
Four Lady Demons are in the 60-meter dash finals, led by Sileena Farrell, who ran a 7.51. Cornette also ran a 7.51 to finish fourth and Dynia Lewis finished fifth. Maria Umoibang finished seventh with a run of 7.54.
Gaines finished second in the men’s 60-meter dash, while Beavers finished fourth and Eddy Vu came in fifth.
Dynia Lewis (8.64) and Brian Fisher (8.19) each reached the 60-meter hurdle finals for NSU.
The teams are back in action today on the second and final day which starts with the men’s heptathlon 60-meter hurdles at 9:40 a.m.