SFA Looks for Another SLC Sweep
5/8/2014 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
May 8, 2014
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Performance Rankings: NCAA | Southland
Twitter: SFA | Southland
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Stephen F. Austin track and field looks to make it a repeat sweep this weekend at the Southland Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Conway, Arkansas. The Lumberjacks and Ladyjacks both won the conference crown last season and also in 2011 and hope to raise the team trophies again on Sunday.
This year’s Southland Conference Championship is hosted by Central Arkansas at the Bill Stephens Track and Field Complex. Action is set to begin Friday afternoon.
The Lumberjacks enter the meet as the favorite and ranked No. 28 in the nation. The Ladyjacks have won five straight outdoor titles. SFA’s women have won a total of six outdoor conference championships. Only UT-Arlington won as many before leaving the Southland.
SFA comes into this week’s championship meet with some of the top marks in the nation.
Pole vaulter Colton Ross earned his second Southland Conference Athlete of the Week honor after winning the Longhorn Invitational last week with a clearance of 5.70 meters (18-8.25). That mark is a new school record and Southland record as well as tying for the top mark in the world thus far in 2014.
The Lumberjacks have three vaulters ranked in the top 50 in the NCAA this season with junior Cameron Meyer and freshman Daven Murphree joining Ross. The trio finished 1-2-3 at the Southland Conference Indoor Championships and hope for a similar performance outdoors.
SFA’s sprinters are among the top in the Southland, led by Cass Brown-Stewart and Josh Taylor. Brown-Stewart is currently No. 23 in the nation in the 400 meters and Taylor is 16th in the 400 meter hurdles. They also represent half of the 4x400 relay that ranks 28th.
Jamal Peden is SFA’s top jumper and he stands ninth in the nation and leads the Southland by 10.25 inches.
Madison Johnston is SFA’s top-ranked female. The javelin thrower currently ranks 27th in the NCAA and is second in the conference.
With points awarded to the top eight finishers, having athletes finish in the top three along with depth to score multiple athletes in an event will be key to winning.
SFA’s men have 12 rankings in the top three in the conference while the women have nine. The Lumberjacks carry the No. 1 ranking in the league in five events heading into the meet.
Tickets for the conference championship meet are $15 for adult all-session passes. Students and youth all-session tickets are $10. Single-day passes are available for $10 for adults and $5 for youth. Students attending Southland Conference schools can get in free with their valid student ID. Children six and under also get in free.
Fans can follow the action online with live results provided by cfpitiming.com. Updates on the ‘Jacks will be available on Twitter by following @SFA_XC. The conference will also be providing updates on its official Twitter handle @SouthlandSports. Fans also are encouraged to follow and use the hashtag #SLCOutdoorTF to interact with the meet.
sfajacks.com
