Results

WINSTON-SALEM (Feb. 18) – The senior duo of Kamden Johnson and Alex Smith-Fort'e combined for three individual titles, as the University of Mount Olive men's track & field program holds the top spot following the opening day of the Conference Carolinas Indoor Championships on Sunday.

The Trojans totaled 61 points in the team standings at the league championships with five events finished on Day 1. UMO scored in three events in the opening session with points rewarded in the weight throw, high jump, and long jump. UNC Pembroke currently sits second with 39 points, while Belmont Abbey rounds out the top three with 26 points.

In the weight throw, Mount Olive featured six individuals among the top-eight scoring positions to capture 33 of a possible 39 points in the event. Smith-Fort'e established a new meet record with a toss of 18.57 meters (60-11.25 feet) on his fourth attempt to claim back-to-back league championships in the event. He has received all-conference accolades at Mount Olive for the seventh time in his career.

Senior Dorian Tolbert placed second overall with a personal-best distance of 17.00 meters (55-9.25 feet), while junior Israel Long rounded out the podium in third following a toss of 16.42 meters (53-10.50 feet). Junior Micah Harrison finished fourth overall with a mark of 15.86 meters (52-0.50 feet) and freshman Matthew Heywood hit a season-best distance of 15.28 meters (50-1.75 feet) to finish in sixth place. Sophomore Tyrese Lavender registered a seventh-place finish in the event after a toss of 15.23 meters (49-11.75 feet).

Johnson, the reigning Indoor Field Athlete of the Year, delivered once again at the conference meet with a pair of league crowns. In the high jump, he captured back-to-back titles after clearing 2.00 meters (6-6.75 feet), while earning his first championship in the long jump after posting a distance of 7.05 meters (23-1.75 feet). Johnson is a seven-time all-conference recipient in his career at Mount Olive.

Freshman Ryan Wilson-McCoy placed fifth overall in the long jump with a personal-best mark of 6.70 meters (21-11.75 feet), while sophomore Kavon Poindexter set a personal record after clearing 1.92 meters (6-3.50 feet) to finish fifth in the high jump.

In the 60-meter hurdles, freshman Timothy Richardson placed second overall after crossing the line with a season-best time of 8.27 seconds in the prelims. Fellow freshman Khairi Steadman also qualified with a third-place finish after posting a personal-best time of 8.40 seconds. Both athletes are set to race in the final of the 60-meter hurdles, which will take place on Feb. 19, at 12:10 p.m.

Junior Brian Saul registered a second-place finish in the 400 meters with a time of 50.55 seconds to qualify for the finals. Junior Christopher Kirksey placed eighth overall with a time of 51.16 seconds. The duo will race for the final of the 400 meters on Monday at 12:30 p.m.

In the 200 meters, sophomore Jason Hart produced the fifth-fastest time after crossing the line in 22.49 seconds. Kirksey also placed seventh in the event with a time of 22.55 seconds. The two athletes will compete in the final 200 meters on Feb. 19, at 1:45 p.m.

Mount Olive returns to action at the Conference Carolinas Championships tomorrow, Monday, Feb. 19, with events starting at 10:30 a.m.