BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Marshall Women’s DMR team broke a 24-year-old meet record as more than 175 student-athletes recorded personal best marks on the opening day of the 2025 Sun Belt Conference Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track & Field Championships, contested at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
The morning opened the event with the multis, as the Heptathlon completed the first four events, while the women completed the Pentathlon. Heading into the 800m to close out the Pentathlon, Troy’s Kady Schwietz trailed first place by 121 points in third. Schwietz closed out the 800m in 2:20.11 to win the heat and score 822 points. The junior recorded a personal best 3,809 total points to earn the gold medal by a margin of six. Arkansas State’s Miranda Burgett finished second with 3,803 points as Marshall’s Lara Check earned the bronze with 3,768 points. All three podium finishes were season best marks.
Through the first four events, Arkansas State’s Colby Eddowes won three of the four events to lead the field with 3,176 points. Easton Hammond from Texas State currently resides in second with 2,963 points with a pair of second place finishes. Nic Glass from South Alabama sits in third with 2,917 points to round out the top three.
In the women’s weight throw, Arkansas State’s Michelle Ogbemudia set a new meet record with a personal best mark of 21.75m/71-4.25 on her first throw to claim the gold. In her final throw of the finals, Utitofon Sam recorded a season best 20.23m/66-4.5 to earn the silver medal. Marshall’s Rebecca Merritt also recorded her bronze medal winning mark in the sixth round with a personal best mark of 19.58m/64-3.
12 track events ran heats to determine Tuesday night’s finals. Louisiana’s Lawson Jacobs highlighted the prelims with a meet record time of 46.70 in the men’s 400m.
The men’s long jump saw another personal best finish atop the podium as Algirdas Strelciunas from ULM recorded a mark of 7.66m/25-1.75. Marshall’s Addison Painter earned silver with a mark of 7.38m/24-2.5 that was recorded in the first round. Southern Miss’ De’Aundre Ward jumped a season best 7.37m/24-2.25 to earn the bronze.
Noa Isaia from Arkansas State claimed the gold in the men’s weight throw in the fourth round with a throw of 19.80m/64-11.5. Louisiana’s Oliver Jack secured his silver medal in the sixth round with a personal best distance of 19.79m/64-11.25. Another personal best mark earned bronze on the podium as Texas state’s Edward Ta’Amilo recorded a distance of 18.48m/60-7.75
A pair of App State Mountaineers finished atop the podium in the women’s 5000m. Jasmine Donohue finished first in 16:40.61 as her teammate Emma Russum ran a personal best 16:41.66 to finish second. Southern Miss’ Maria Kaylor also recorded a personal best time of 16:49.84 to earn the bronze.
In the men’s 5000m, Arkansas State earned three of the top four finishes. Men’s Cross Country champion Jacob Pyeatt earned the gold in 14:22.11 as Texas State’s Henok Hagos ran a personal best 14:28.50 to finish second. Natnael Enright joined Pyeatt on the podium in third with a time of 14:32.14.
Kyle Rademeyer made history in the men’s pole vault, as the senior set a new school record, meet record and Sun Belt record with a clearance of 5.73m/18-9.5. The mark is currently ranked third in the NCAA and was a personal best for the former outdoor national champion. Arkansas State’s Bradley Jelmert took silver with a clearance of 5.41m/17-9 as Louisiana’s Teodor Borgius cleared a personal best 5.21m/17-1.
Georgia Southern’s Imani Moore led the women’s long jump from her performance in round one. In her final jump of the event, Moore cleared 6.22m/20-5 to secure the top podium spot. Georgia State’s Valissa Brown recorded a personal best mark in the fifth round at 6.00m/19-8.25 to earn the silver. Arkansas State’s Kiara Strayhorn earned the bronze in the fifth round with a mark of 5.91m/19-4.75.
The final events of day one included the men’s and women’s Distance Medley Relay. Marshall was led by senior Kylee Mastin in the final leg as the Thundering Herd set a new meet record in 11:29.22, a record that had not been touched since 2001. Mastin was joined by Hannah Wyler, Brynn McKeever and McKenna Woodruff atop the podium with the season best time. App State finished the relay second in 11:35.52 as Texas State earned the bronze in 11:39.61.
ULM claimed the men’s DMR gold in 10:03.08 as the combination of Carlo Martinez-Jaramillo, Bradley Riccardi, Elijah Palao and Juwan Blignaut finished with the fastest split in each leg. Arkansas State finished second in 10:09.53 as Louisiana finished third in 10:12.05.
In the women’s team race, Arkansas State (29) holds a narrow lead over Texas State (27) and App State (26). Marshall (22) and Louisiana (21) are within striking distance as Southern Miss (18), Georgia Southern (10) and Troy (10) all finished in double figures.
The men’s team race remains open with 12 final events to be contested on Tuesday. Arkansas State (57) leads the competition with Louisiana (31) sitting in second. Texas State (25.5), ULM (24), South Alabama (23.5) and Southern Miss (20) are separated by six team points.
2025 Sun Belt Indoor Track & Field Championships (February 24, 2025)
Women’s Team Scores (through four events):
1. Arkansas State (29)
2. Texas State (27)
3. App State (26)
4. Marshall (22)
5. Louisiana (21)
6. Southern Miss. (18)
T7. Georgia Southern (10)
T7. Troy (10)
9. Georgia State (8)
10. South Alabama (7)
11. Coastal Carolina (7)
12. James Madison (6)
13. ULM (4)
Men’s Team Scores (through five events):
1. Arkansas State (57)
2. Louisiana (31)
3. Texas State (25.5)
4. ULM (24)
5. South Alabama (23.5)
6. Southern Miss. (20)
7. Marshall (13)
Meet Records Broken
Women’s DMR – Hannah Wyler, Brynn McKeever, McKenna Woodruff and Kylee Mastin, Marshall [11:29.22]
Women’s Weight Throw – Michelle Ogbemudia, Arkansas State [21.75m/71-4.25]
Men’s 400M – Lawson Jacobs, Louisiana [46.70]
Men’s Pole Vault – Kyle Rademeyer, South Alabama [5.73m/18-9.5]
Sun Belt Records Broken
Men’s Pole Vault – Kyle Rademeyer, South Alabama [5.73m/18-9.5]