WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina - The University of Mount Olive women's track and field team won the 2020 Conference Carolinas Indoor Track and Field Championship at the JDL FastTrack in Winston-Salem, N.C. The championship is the seventh consecutive and overall for Mount Olive. Head Coach Earl Graves was named the Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year.
MEET INFORMATION
The Trojan men's and women's teams completed the indoor sweep for the fourth year in a row taking both Conference Championships. Mount Olive collected 163.5 total team points, 35.5 points above the runner up.
INSIDE THE RESULTS
On the women's side, Amber Owens (5000m|Mile|3000m), Malak Kafi (60mh), Sydney McCoy (60m), Candise Lockett (WT), Taylor Moncrief (HJ) all became Conference Carolinas Champions. McCoy also set an NCAA Provisional Qualifying mark in the 60m tying for 26th in Division II. She also took 6th in the 200m. Kafi also hit an NCAA Provisional mark in the 60mh as now 21st in DII. Lockett in the weight throw (16.82m) broke the conference and school record en route to becoming the conference champion. Jaiden Moody (1:00.49) moved into 8th all-time in the 400m. Mary Keck took sixth in both the shot put (11.62m) and weight throw (15.03m) moving in 7th and 5th all-time for UMO. Daphne Hawkins also moved into 5th all-time for UMO in the shot put. Tameia Morrison had the final move in the top-10 moving into 2nd in the weight throw (16.52m), also breaking the conference record in the event.
In other events; Brittany Beckford (4x400m|HJ), Jasmine Richardson (4x400m), Jacqueline Thring (4x400m|HJ), Jaiden Moody (4x400m), Taylor Moncrief (LJ|TJ), Malak Kafi (LJ), Tameia Morrison (WT), and Daphne Hawkins (SP) all earned all-conference for finishing in the top-three in their respective events. Jacqueline Thring also took sixth in the 400m after her two all-conference events. Lena Kester also competed in the triple crown distance events finishing 4th in the mile (5:38.19), 4th in the 3000m (11:14.90), and 5th in the 5000m (19:46.42). Jasmine Richardson also took sixth in the 60mh (9.25). The DMR team (14:22.63) of Erin Dilion, Madison Fields, Elizabeth Lopez, and Madeline Carkeet took sixth. Kamber Skeen (2.74m) took sixth in the pole vault. Mora Smith took 7th and 6th in the long jump (5.18m) and triple jump (10.79m). Samantha Tobin also took seventh in the shot put (11.50m).
COACHES COMMENTS
"I would have to describe the ladies performance as gritty. We had some ladies battling injury and some sick. No excuses were made, just great performances. Candy Lockett and Malak Kafi each broke a conference record. Amber Owens earned the distance triple crown (5000m, Mile, 3000m) and 30 big points for the team. Like the men it was a total team effort with all event areas contributing to their success," said head coach Earl Graves.
UP NEXT
Following the indoor championships UMO will have one final chance to qualify any Trojans for the NCAA DII Indoor National Championship to be held on March 13 in Birmingham, Ala. at the FastTrack Last Chance Invitational on February 28 in New York City, N.Y.
