WINSTON-SALEM (Feb. 23) – Junior Kenisha Barnes and freshman Janara Bryant captured individual titles on Sunday evening, as the University of Mount Olive women's track & field program holds the top spot following the opening day of the Conference Carolinas Indoor Championships on Sunday.

The Trojans tallied 63 points in the team standings at the league championships with six events completed on Day 1. UMO scored in three events in the opening session with points in the weight throw, long jump, and pentathlon. Converse currently sits second with 52 points while UNC Pembroke rounded out the top three with 30 points.

In the long jump, the Trojans featured six individuals among the top-eight scoring positions to claim 30 of a possible 39 points in the event. Bryant captured her first-ever Conference Carolinas title in the long jump with a distance of 5.88 meters on her fifth attempt. Her mark was a personal best and hit the NCAA Standard to rank 20th in Division II.

Junior Channie Jefferson placed second overall and established an NCAA mark with a leap of 5.81 meters, matching a career-best. Junior Haniyyah Johnson finished third with a mark of 5.80 meters while senior Karla Hormazabal captured sixth following a distance of 5.38 meters. Senior Jamesha Howell registered a seventh-place finish with a leap of 5.37 meters and junior Keza Green rounded out the team scorers in eighth with a mark of 5.34 meters.

UMO featured five student-athletes among the top-eight scoring positions to claim 28 of a possible 39 points in the weight throw. Barnes captured her first-ever Conference Carolinas title in the event with a toss of 16.92 meters on her fifth attempt.

Senior Rolanda Desir-Moreau finished third overall with a distance of 15.56 meters and sophomore Elin Rydqvist placed fourth with a mark of 15.47 meters on her final toss. Senior Kaitlin Kenan claimed fifth overall with a career best mark of 15.43 meters, while junior Cynthia Thomas hit a personal best of 14.77 meters to finish sixth in the weight throw.

Senior Tylyia Triggs delivered a solid performance in the pentathlon to posted a fourth-place finish with 2812 points. She earned top three finishes in the 60-meter hurdles, shot put, long jump, and 800 meters.

In the 60-meter hurdles, Mount Olive qualified three individuals for the finals on Monday, Feb. 24, at 12:10 p.m. Jefferson tied the Conference Carolinas record in the event following a blistering pace of 8.64 seconds. It matches the UMO record held by McKenzie Connor and sets a new Conference Carolinas Championship meet record. Additionally, Jefferson hits the NCAA Standard in the event and ranks 29th overall in NCAA Division II this season. Senior Kiwanna Pemberton placed fourth with a personal best time of 8.97 seconds while freshman Zaria Washington finished fifth after crossing the line in 9.06 seconds.

The Trojans qualified three in the 60-meter dash for the finals on Monday at 12:50 p.m. Freshman Futoria Harris set a new Conference Carolinas Championship record with a time of 7.40 seconds to finish first overall while hitting the NCAA Provisional mark. Sophomore Heavan Roberts placed second after crossing the line in 7.58 seconds to establish an NCAA mark. Senior Lasira Nicholson secure sixth place with a mark of 7.75 seconds.

Jefferson also qualified for the final in the 400 meters at 12:30 p.m. on Monday after finishing fourth in the event with a time of 58.70 seconds.

In the 200 meters, Harris qualified for the finals set for tomorrow, Feb. 24 at 1:40 p.m. following a time of 24.62 seconds to place first overall. Roberts took second overall with a mark of 24.80 seconds while freshman Sanyiah Shields set a season-best time of 25.44 seconds to place seventh.

Mount Olive returns to action at the Conference Carolinas Championships on Monday, Feb. 24, with events starting at 10 a.m.

FRIDAY SCORING RESULTS
Long Jump
1. Janara Bryant – 5.88 meters (10 points)
2. Channie Jefferson – 5.81 meters (8 points)
3. Haniyyah Johnson – 5.80 meters (6 points)
6. Karla Hormazabal – 5.38 meters (3 points)
7. Jamesha Howell – 5.37 meters (2 points)
8. Keza Green – 5.34 meters (1 point)
 
Weight Throw
1. Kenisha Barnes – 16.92 meters (10 points)
3. Rolanda Desir-Moreau – 15.56 meters (6 points)
4. Elin Rydqvist – 15.47 meters (5 points)
5. Kaitlin Kenan – 15.43 meters (4 points)
6. Cynthia Thomas – 14.77 meters (3 points)
 
Pentathlon
4. Tylyia Triggs – 2812 (5 points)