Men win second straight Outdoor title; Women fourth

LAFAYETTE, La. - Middle Tennessee captured its second straight men's Sun Belt Conference Outdoor Track and Field title on Sunday in dramatic fashion while the women finished fourth at the SBC Championships in Lafayette, Louisiana.

The men tallied 130 points to slip past second place Western Kentucky (126.33) and the women collected 87 points but well back of the first place Hilltoppers (143).

The Blue Raiders held a slim 1.67 point advantage over Western Kentucky entering the 4x400 meter relay which was the final event of the evening. The relay of Juan Walker, Sean Waller, Orlando Reid, and Pete Senatus ran a strong race to win the event over Western Kentucky's relay in a time of 3:08.80.

"The way it worked out we had to win the mile relay," said Hayes. "The guys responded and ran a great race. If they slipped up at all the Western would have won the championship by one third of a point. It was a great finish."

The outdoor title is the third overall for the Middle Tennessee men since joining the league in 2001. The men won the school's 14th SBC championship in seven years in the league while head coach Dean Hayes won his 43rd conference championship in 42 years at the helm of the program.

Hayes was also voted the Sun Belt Coach of the Year for men's track by his peers, his 27th Coach of the Year honor and 12th in the Sun Belt.

The men started off the final day with Carlos Morgan and Juan Walker recording a second and third place finish, respectively, in the long jump. Both had a mark of 25-06.25.

Morgan and Walker also scored in the triple jump with Walker coming in third and Morgan right behind in fourth.

The 4x100 meter relay team of Walker, Reid, Waller, and Samuel Adade recorded a time of 39.84 to easily win the event.

Walker also brought home a victory in the 110 meter hurdles in a time of 13.80 and Reid won the 100 meter dash.

On the women's side, Sangau Zamzam won the 1500 meter run, and then turned in a third place effort in the 5000 meters and the 800 meters to lead the way.

Stephanie Tamgho placed second in the long jump (20-02.50), Marjorie Gombert was second in the 800 meters, and Veronia Patterson finished second in the 400.

Women's Results
1) Western Kentucky 143
2) Florida Int'l 109
3) North Texas 93.50
4) Mid. Tenn. State 87
5) UL-Monroe 84.50
6) Troy 76
7) South Alabama 63
8) Florida Atlantic 58
9) Arkansas State 40
10) Arkansas-Little Rock 33
11) UL-Lafayette 31

Men's Results
1) Mid. Tenn. State 130
2) Western Kentucky 126.33
3) South Alabama 105.50
4) Arkansas State 99
5) North Texas 97
6) Troy 76.33
7) UL-Monroe 68
8) Arkansas-Little Rock 52.50
9) UL-Lafayette 47
10) Florida Int'l 16.33

Men's Most Outstanding Track Performer - Vincent Rono, South Alabama
Men's Most Outstanding Field Performer - Walt Williams, Louisiana-Monroe
Men's Most Outstanding Freshman - Terrill McCombs, WKU
Men's Top Meet Scorer - Vincent Rono, South Alabama
Men's Track and Field Coach of the Year - Dean Hayes, Middle Tennessee

Women's Most Outstanding Track Performer - Ajoke Odumosu, South Alabama
Women's Most Outstanding Field Performer - India George, Florida International
Women's Most Outstanding Freshman - Kellie Morrison, Western Kentucky
Women's Top Meet Scorer - Ajoke Odumosu, South Alabama
Women's Track and Field Coach of the Year - Curtiss Long, Western Kentucky

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