CHARLESTON, Ill. – Colleen McDonough and the men's 4x400 relay team each won conference titles as the SIUE men's and women's track & field teams wrapped up competition at the Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Championships.
"I'm really happy with our performance today," Head Coach Kareem Jackson said. "This atmosphere is amazing, and to see us come out today and win conference championships in two events; that's what it's all about."
McDonough took home first place honors in the women's shot put with a throw of 47 feet, 7.25 inches.
"It feels great," McDonough said after the meet. "With this being our first time competing at conference, I wanted to represent both our team and all of our past alumni well. I thought the whole team stepped up."
Jatavia Wright also had a big day on the women's side. She took second in the triple jump with a leap of 39-9.25 and also grabbed third in the 60 meter hurdles with a finish of 8.62 seconds. The time set a new women's school record at SIUE.
On the men's side, Thayer Harrison got the day rolling with a second place finish in the triple jump with a mark of 46-7.5.
Braxton Klavins also earned second in the 400 meters with a time of 48.87.
"We challenged our athletes to raise their intensity, and it showed in the performances," Jackson added. "We knew what we had to do today, and I thought we really brought the energy needed to be successful."
The day ended with a bang as the men's 4x400 relay team of Josh Thomas, La'Derrick Ward, Ahmad Evans, and Klavins took home the gold medal after an electrifying come-from-behind victory.
Klavins caught Eastern Illinois' Sean Wiggin in the race's final 50 meters to give the Cougars the conference title. SIUE finished in a time of 3:18.92.
"Everybody in the relay knew what they needed to do and they executed perfectly," Klavins said. "The guys set it up for me at the end, and I just needed to finish."
On the men's side, the Cougars finished fourth as a team with 82 points overall. Eastern Illinois, who hosted the meet, finished first.
The SIUE women finished fifth with 74 points as a team. Southeast Missouri grabbed the women's team title.
The Cougars will now prepare for NCAA Indoor National Championships in Fayetteville, Ark. March 8-9.
