ULM Track and Field Wraps up Successful Sun Belt Conference Meet

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – With five first-place finishes and nine regionally qualifying marks, the ULM men’s and women’s track and field squads enjoyed a successful Sun Belt Conference Outdoor Championship Meet in Murfreesboro, Tenn., late Sunday night.

 

The Warhawk men’s squad finished third overall with 121 team points, the program’s highest outdoor finish since joining the Sun Belt for the 2006-07 season. The women’s squad finished fifth overall with 90.2 team points.

 

“To score 121 points and finish third is a testament to how strong our conference is on the men’s side,” ULM head coach J.D. Malone said. “We really thought going in that we had a good chance at winning it, but realistically this is a good showing. On the women’s side, we did a lot better than we anticipated. We had a lot of individuals score points and came close to doubling what we thought we would. Overall, it was a long three days, but they were very productive.”

 

Headlining the men’s final-day push were a pair of regionally qualifying marks in the javelin. Kyle Kent came just shy of defending his outdoor championship from his freshman campaign with a mark of 63.95 meters. He was bested by teammate Richard McKay who, in his first Sun Belt Conference meet, posted a first-place throw of 64.22 meters.

 

The duo will be joined at the regional meet by Luther Ambrose who qualified in two events for the Warhawks, the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.44 seconds and the long jump with a 7.69-meter mark. Both were good for second place finishes.

 

Mychal Word claimed first in the 400 meter dash with a regionally-qualifying mark of 46.68 seconds and Isaac Combs led from day one in the decathlon. Combs’ 6944 points qualified him for the regional meet.

 

On the women’s side, Heather Davis made it three outdoor Sun Belt meets in a row to claim first and regionally qualify in the high jump. The senior cleared the bar at 1.75 meters. Marcie Richard also claimed first place and qualified for the regional meet with a 45.01-meter throw in the javelin.

 

Rounding out the regional qualifiers for the Warhawks, Destiny Montemayor returns to the meet in the discus throw after finishing second with a toss of 48.55 meters.

 

Western Kentucky won both the men’s and women’s team crowns, garnering 161 and 153 points, respectively.

 

ULM’s nine regional qualifiers will continue the outdoor season at the NCAA Mid East Regional Meet in Louisville, Ky., starting May 29.

 

Men’s Regional Qualifiers

Luther Ambrose, 100m – 10.44 (Second)

Mychal Word, 400m – 46.68 (First)

 

Luther Ambrose, Long Jump – 7.69m (Second)

 

Richard McKay, Javelin – 64.22m (First)

Kyle Kent, Javelin – 63.95m (Second)

 

Isaac Combs, Decathlon – 6944 points (First)

 

Women’s Regional Qualifiers

Heather Davis, High Jump – 1.75m (First)

 

Destiny Montemayor, Discus – 48.55m (Second)

Marcie Richard, Javelin – 45.01m (First)