Southland Indoor Championships Begin Monday
2/15/2015 7:14:00 PM | Track & Field
SOUTHLAND LIVE RESULTS
The Sam Houston State men's and women's track and field teams return to the nationally-recognized Birmingham CrossPlex in Birmingham, Ala., for the 2015 Southland Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships Monday and Tuesday.
The facility is one of only six 200-meter hydraulically banked tracks designed by Mondo in the United States and one of eight in the world. The complex is the site for the championships for the second successive year.
Last February, the Bearkats won the Southland women's championship and the men were league runners-up in Birmingham. The 2015 meet appears to come down to a battle between Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston State with Lamar and defending men's team champion Southeastern Louisiana in the mix
“It's always a dog fight,” Sam Houston head coach David Self said. “We've done our preparation, working hard since August as a track team. We've had some strong performances in our six meets and are ready for conference.”
The championship meet will start Monday with the men's and women's multi-events at 8:30 a.m. The women's weight throw will start Monday at 1 p.m. followed by select field events with the preliminary rounds of running events beginning at 3 p.m.
On Tuesday, men's multi-events will continue at 8:30 a.m. and field events will resume at 11 a.m. with running-event finals beginning after the opening ceremony at noon. Team championship trophies and the meet's top male and female high-point scorer will be presented at approximately 5 p.m.
This year's championships will feature all 13 league programs competing for a conference title. Twelve men's teams and 13 women's teams will be participating in the championship meet as Nicholls does not field a men's team.
Last year's women's indoor championship was Sam Houston's first Southland Conference team title since the women last captured both the indoor at outdoor titles in 2008.
Several Bearkat athletes rank among the leaders in the Southland in their events heading into the indoor meet.
For the men, Tyler Adams stands No. 1 in the high jump (7' 1.75”) and the heptathlon (5,201 points). William Stark is the league leader in the 60 meter hurdles (8.20).
Jeffrey Moore ranks No. 2 in the conference in the 800 meters (1:51.71) and fourth in the mile (4:14.22). Rodney Jones owns the Southland's second best times in both the 200 meters (21.53) and 400 meters (47.75). Jay Roberson stands third in both the pole vault (17' 4.5”) and the heptathlon (4,860).
Sam Houston's men's distance medley relay is the second fastest in the conference (10:09.08) while the men's 4x400 relay stands third (3:15.41).
Paula Smith and Kara Whitson appear to be strong contenders for points in the women's field events. Smith owns the league's top mark in the high jump (5' 8.5”) and ranks fourth in the long jump (18' 6.5”). Whitson stands No. 2 in the pole vault (13' 2.25”).
Avery Zamzow and Nicole Jenrette could pick up points for the Kats in the pentathlon as they own the third (3,435) and fourth (3,399) best totals in the league.
Danielle Demas stands No. 2 in the 60 meter hurdles (8.42). Smith also has the fourth best 200 meter dash time in the Southland this year (24.74). Ruth Amaku ranks third in the 400 meters (55.94).
The Bearkat women's 4x400 relay owns the Southland's second fastest time (3:43.30).
Championships to be Streamed Live on Southland Digital Network for First Time
For the first time, the Southland Indoor Track and Field Championships will be streamed live in their entirety on the Southland Conference Digital Network, available via southland.org/watch and the Southland Conference app. Live results of the championships can be found through the SLC championships home page as well as schedule of events and other important information about the meet, including a link to the live stream.
