For the third time since joining Conference USA, the WKU Track & Field program has brought home top-five team finishes on both the men’s and women’s from the C-USA Indoor Championships. In total, 11 individuals earned All-Conference honors, while one relay team achieved the feat. Additionally, 26 individual performances and three relays ranked in the top-eight of the standings and earned points for the Hilltoppers.
“We faced some very good competition this weekend,” shared head coach Erik Jenkins. “This league is loaded with NCAA championship caliber athletes. Both teams fought hard and I am proud of them.”
WKU racked up six First-Team All-Conference accolades that come by winning an event title at the two-day meet held at the CrossPlex in Birmingham, Alabama. Among those individuals was senior Ventavius Sears who had a hand in three of the First-Team All-Conference performances (long jump, triple jump, 4x400m relay) and earned the High Point Scorer of the Meet recognition on the men’s side. Joining Sears in the first-place 4×400 meter relay (3:11.37) were Emmanuel Dasor, Julius Morris and Maor Seged.
Also working their ways onto the First-Team All-Conference list were Dasor, who took home the 400 meter crown (46.54) and Jonathan Hayden, the 60 meter hurdles champion (7.98), on the men’s side and Morgan McIntyre, who claimed the pole vault title (3.86m/12’8”) on the women’s side.
Bringing in Second-Team All-Conference honors were Morris (60m), Dasor (200m) and Jenessa Jackson (weight throw). Each of the second teamers also recorded at least one other performance that picked up points for the Red and White.
Third-Team All-Conference performers included: Morris (200m), Desmond Mobley (long jump) and Lindsey Hinken (5000m).
As a team, the WKU men’s side picked up an even 100 points to earn runner-up status. The squad has not finished outside of the top-two since joining Conference USA prior to the 2015 season. Middle Tennessee claimed the crown after snagging 130 points at the outing.
On the women’s side, WKU brought home a fifth place finish with 54 points. UTEP claimed the title with 113 points followed by Rice (110), Middle Tennessee (87) and UTSA (60). After a pair of runner-up performances the previous two campaigns, the Lady Toppers posted another top-five finish at the indoor championships in 2017.
All WKU point scorers are listed below:
MEN
60m
Julius Morris – 2nd – 6.78
Eli Minor – 4th – 6.79
Will Bush – 8th – 6.92
200m
Emmanuel Dasor – 2nd – 21.14
Julius Morris – 3rd – 21.16
Ventavius Sears – 4th – 21.20
Eli Minor – 8th – 21.66
400m
Emmanuel Dasor – 1st – 46.54
Ventavius Sears – 5th – 47.72
3000m
Endalow Takele – 8th- 8:30.62
5000m
Endalow Takele – 6th – 14:38.74
60m hurdles
Jonathan Hayden – 1st – 7.98
4x400m relay
1st – Emmanuel Dasor, Julius Morris, Maor Seged, Ventavius Sears – 3:11.37
Distance Medley Relay (DMR)
8th – Taylor Scarbrough, Denzel Villaman, Kyle Wilson, Julien Cuyeu – 10:25.07
High Jump
Desmond Mobley – 7th – 1.99m/6’6.25”
Long Jump
Ventavius Sears – 1st – 7.68m/25’2.5”
Desmond Mobley – 3rd – 7.36m/24’1.75”
Triple Jump
Ventavius Sears – 1st – 15.40m/50’6.25”
WOMEN
5000m
Lindsey Hinken – 3rd – 17:15.34
60m hurdles
Kaila Smith – 7th – 8.86
4x400m relay
7th – Ariel Terrell, Kaila Smith, Peli Alzola, Khadijah Valentine 3:50.30
High Jump
Sandra Akachukwu – 4th – 1.71m/5’7.25”
Pole Vault
Morgan McIntyre – 1st – 3.86m/12’8”
Long Jump
Catika Slay – 5th – 5.69m/18’8”
Sandra Akachukwu – 5th – 5.69m/18’8”
Shotput
Jenessa Jackson – 4th – 14.84m/48’8.25”
Weight Throw
Jenessa Jackson – 2nd – 19.69m/64’7.25”
Pentathlon
Kaila Smith – 4th – 3678 points
Catika Slay – 5th – 3584
Men: 2nd/10 100 points
Women: 5th/13 54 points
How to follow WKU Track & Field: For complete information on WKU Track & Field, follow the team on Twitter at @WKUTrackField.
-@WKUSports-
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Jessica Leifheit
Assistant Director
WKU Athletic Communications/Media Relations
