Sophomore sprinter Jared Williams eked out win in the 400-meter dash with time of 46.70 at the Southland Conference Outdoor Championships Sunday, helping propel the men’s track and field team to an overall second-place spot in the meet for the second year in a row with 117 points.
Meanwhile, Kayla Melgar, senior thrower from Temple, Arizona, finished first in shot put, throwing 16.05 meters and second in discus and the hammer throw to earn women’s championship MVP, with 26 points. And senior thrower Annina Brandenburg, from Düsseldorf, Germany, was the women’s winner in discus, throwing 53.20 meters. Overall, the women placed fourth with 103 points.
Sam Houston State topped the men’s competition with 164 points, and Stephen F. Austin won the women’s with 195.5 points.
Brandenburg said the season has been great for her team, specifically the throwers.
“Speaking for me, the season has been going really well,” Brandenburg said. “But also for all of our throwers, it’s been a great year, with great results. I think for me the most exciting thing is that I could increase my personal records in all three events, which makes me very excited for two more years here at ACU.”
The men’s 4×400 meter relay team won, grabbing its third conference championship within the past four years.
Individually, the Wildcats posted several accomplishments, including one big honor for Melgar.
She ended her last meet at ACU with two silver medals, one gold medal and was named most valuable performer of the whole meet.
Melgar said she was thankful for the award but said she couldn’t take all the credit.
“It was a perfect way to wrap up a wonderful season with a wonderful team,” she said. “If I could, I would give it to Kai Schmidt. If it wasn’t for his injury, he would be the most deserving for this award. This award is just another achievement that I cannot solely accept. All the glory goes to God and the blessing of a team and coaches I have.”
Nine total medals were given out. The men finished with a total of 104 points to get them second place and the women scored 103 points to put them in fourth.
The Wildcats will conduct their Last Chance Meet in Abilene Sunday.
