CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Southern Illinois Track and Field Program claimed a total of 13 medals at the MVC Championship, eight gold medals, three silver medals, and two bronze medals. The men’s program finished in fifth place with 79 points, and the women finished in sixth place with 75 points.

“Congrats to all the teams that competed this weekend,” said Director of Track and Field, Richard Jones. “This weekend was a great representation of the MVC and how competitive it’s become. I am extremely proud of all the athletes but especially the sprints group. We represented well in front of the home crowd. We will take some time to regroup as we prepare for the first round of nationals.”

DAY ONE RECAP

DAY TWO – Finals
Track events started with the 4x100M Relay races. The women’s team, made up of KeyAnn Wilson, Teanna Bell, Trinity Cleaver, and Leah Thames, claimed the gold with a time of 44.62 seconds. This time improved their previous time by .29 seconds, putting them on the cusp of overtaking the third-place spot in school history. 44.62 seconds set a new facility record for Lew Hartzog Track and Field Complex, beating the previous record by .59 seconds.

The men’s team made up of Caleb Massiah, Xavier Preston, Christian Donatelli, and Andre Jackson II claimed the bronze medal with a time of 40.04 seconds. This time moves them into second place in school history.

Darrione Williams completed his weekend claiming his second medal, placing second in the triple jump event with a jump of 14.94M. He achieved this jump on his last attempt which set the same distance as the leader but was just centimeters short of getting the victory.

Andre Jackson II continued to dominate in the 400M dash, winning the gold medal with a time of 45.75 Seconds. This time sets a new personal record, facility record, and MVC Championship record.

“I am extremely proud of Andre Jackson II breaking the meet and facility record,” said Jones. “It is always great to see the results of hard work and focus come to fruition.”

Leah Thames and Teanna bell followed suit, with Thames claiming the gold medal with a time of 53.04 seconds, and bell taking home the silver medal with a time of 53.15 seconds. Both times set are personal records, and Thames grabs the new facility record in the event. The times also slot them into second, and third in school history in the event.

“Leah Thames has been focused on really performing well this weekend along with Teanna Bell, for them to go 1-2 was great to see,” said Jones.

Shane Ashton claimed gold in the 400M Hurdles, defending his 2024 Valley Championship in the event with a time of 50.54 seconds. Ashton dominated the field, beating the next closest finisher by 1.08 seconds. This time sets a new facility record in the event.

Kasha Neilly fought hard and claimed the bronze medal with a time of 1:00.86. This time sets a personal best time in the event.

Leah Thames would continue a stellar day, claiming her third gold medal in the 200M Dash, with a time of 23.38. This time is a personal best and moves her into second place in school history.

Closing the MVC Championship was the 4x400M Relay events, which saw the Salukis sweep both events and set new facility records at Lew Hartzog Track and Field Complex.

First up was the men’s team made up of Shane Ashton, Xavier Preston, Josh Delgado, and Andre Jackson II won the gold medal with a time of 3:06.17. This time moves them into 3^rd place in school history.

Next was the women’s team made up of Vashti Grey, Trinity Cleaver, Leah Thames, and Teanna Bell won the gold medal with a time of 3:38.89. This time moves them into fifth in school history.

“The women’s 4×1 was also great to see win as well and to close out the meet with a men’s and women’s 4×4 was a great way to close out the meet.”

Full Results for the 2025 Outdoor MVC Championship can be seen here.

AWARDS

Leah Thames was named the 2025 MVC Outdoor Most Valuable Female Athlete. She earned 25 points, which was the most of any female athlete at the Championship. Thames dominated winning the 200M Dash, 400M Dash, 4x100M Relay, and the 4x400M Relay. She broke a seven-year hiatus of the award, last won by Shafiqua Maloney in 2018.

Andre Jackson II turned heads at the MVC Championship, being named the 2025 MVC Outdoor Freshman of the year. Jackson earned 15 points winning the 400M Dash, 4x400M Relay, and placing 3^rd in the 4x100M Relay. He won the same award at the Indoor Championship earlier in the year. Jackson broke a four-year hiatus of the award, last won by Willie Johnson in 2021.

MVC Championship Records

Facility Records

• Women’s 4x100M Relay – 44.62 (Missouri State, 2014)
• Women’s 4x400M Relay – 3:38.89 (Indiana State, 2014)
• Men’s 4x400M Relay – 3:38.89 (Loyola, 2014)
• Shane Ashton – 400M Hurdles – 50.54 Seconds (Ryan Newtoff 2014)
• Leah Thames – 400M Dash – 53.04 Seconds (Mary Yinka Ajayi 2021)
• Andre Jackson II – 400M Dash – 45.75 Seconds (Willie Johnson 2021)
• Darrione Williams – Long Jump – 7.55M (Austin Bahner 2014)

Personal Records

• Andre Jackson II – 200M Dash & 400M Dash – 20.94 Seconds, 45.75 Seconds
• Leah Thames – 200M Dash & 400M Dash – 23.38 Seconds, 53.04 Seconds
• Teanna Bell – 200M Dash & 400M Dash – 23.92 Seconds, 53.15 Seconds
• Darrione Williams – Long Jump & Triple Jump – 7.55M, 14.94M
• Na’Kyrah Cooks – Long Jump – 5.89M
• Nadir Langston – 110M Hurdles & 400M Hurdles – 14.46 Seconds, 53.74 Seconds\
• James Gaiters – 400M Hurdles – 53.63 Seconds
• Josh Delgado – 400M Dash – 48.42 Seconds
• Vashti Grey – 400M Dash – 56.02 Seconds
• KeyAnn Wilson – 200M Dash – 24.05 Seconds
• Trinity Cleaver – 100M Dash & 200M Dash – 12.01 Seconds, 24.50 Seconds
• Triniti Douglas – 100M Hurdles – 13.83 Seconds
• Kasha Neilly – 100M Hurdles & 400M Hurdles – 13.93 Seconds, 1:00.86
• Tiara Murray – Triple Jump – 11.31M
• Britany Ziemer – 3000M Steeplechase – 11:21.55
• Elise Greene – Discus & Hammer Throw – 35.02M, 44.58M
• Mark Ishman – Hammer Throw – 42.32M
• Henry Harsy – Javelin Throw – 45.46M
• Kelsey Pacha – Pentathlon – 4,402 Points

  • High Jump – 1.52M
  • 200M Dash – 26.31 Seconds
  • Long Jump – 5.31M
  • Javelin Throw – 24.17M
  • 800M – 2:32.98

• Jordan Smith – Decathlon – 6,008 Points

  • 100M Dash – 11.35 Seconds
  • Long Jump – 6.32M
  • High Jump – 1.80M
  • 400M Dash – 56.25 Seconds
  • 110M Hurdles – 16.55 Seconds
  • Discus – 37.57M
  • Pole Vault – 3.80M
  • 1500 – 5:41.70

• Dominic Martin – Decathlon – 5,006 Points

  • 100M Dash – 11.31 Seconds
  • 400M Dash – 53.49 Seconds
  • Discus – 26.13M
  • 1500M – 5:31.60

UP NEXT
The Salukis will regroup and look forward to the NCAA West Preliminary Round in College Station, Tex., athletes who qualified for the event will be announced on a further date.
FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
For the latest updates on the Salukis, follow the team on Twitter (@SIUTrackXC), Instagram (@SIUTrackXC) and Facebook (@SalukiTrackAndField).
 
                 
 
 
 
 

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee’s All-American setter Caroline Kerr earned a spot on the 2025 U.S. Girls U23 National Team, USA Volleyball announced Monday.
 
Being identified as some of the top athletes in the country for their age group, 18 athletes were selected for the team. Kerr will compete at training camp from July 18-25 at the National Training Center in Anaheim, Calif. If selected to the 12-member roster, she would represent the Red, White and Blue at the NORCECA Women’s U23 Pan American Cup in Leon, Mexico.
 
A rising redshirt junior, Kerr is two-time All-American after recording 2,314 assists between the 2023 and 2024 campaigns. She’s averaging 11.02 assists per set for her career, and she’s helped the Big Orange earn NCAA Tournament bids the last two years.
 
Last season, the Champaign, Ill., native helped the Lady Vol offense average 13.22 kills per set while hitting .277, which ranked 16th nationally and fourth in the SEC. Kerr eclipsed 40 assists in a match 12 times and 50 assists four times, including a career-high 57 assists on two occasions. She garnered All-SEC Second Team status after tallying 1,069 assists to mark the eighth most for a single year during the UT 25-point rally-scoring era.
 
Earlier this month, highly-touted incoming freshman Izzy Mogridge was named to the U19 National Team for the 2025 FIVB U19 World Championship in Osijek, Croatia and Belgrade, Serbia. The Class 3A Player of the Year from Florida was one of 26 prep standouts from across the country to play in the 2025 Under Armour All-American Game in January.
 
Former Lady Vol Nina Cajic earned a spot on the Serbian National Team roster for the Volleyball Nations League. After garnering All-America status for Tennessee in the fall, she helped lead the Indy Ignite to the PVF Championship match, tallying 214 kills, 146 digs and 14 aces in her rookie campaign. During the semifinals of the playoffs, she posted a career-high 21 kills, nine digs and four blocks to secure her team’s spot in the finals.
 
A member of the 2023 team, middle blocker Raeven Chase was invited to the Canadian National Team VNL training camp. However, she was not selected for the final roster. Chase played professionally this season in Switzerland, helping Viteos NUC win the Swiss League title.

GENEVA, OHIO – Eliza Bruncaj is making one last trip to nationals.
 
The star senior for the TCNJ women’s track and field team is headed to SPIRE Institute next week to compete in the 400-meter hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Bruncaj soared into 16^th on the Division III performance list with a season-best time of 1:01.94 at the AARTFC Championships, extending her career and putting her back on the biggest stage for one last hurrah.
 
Bruncaj’s decorated career has included now six appearances at an NCAA championship meet. She has been a three-time relay qualifier, and has also twice competed in the indoor pentathlon. This marks her second career ticket to run in the 400 hurdles championship and a call-back to the best performance of her TCNJ tenure when she placed fourth in the event at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Bruncaj is a 4-time NCAA All-American.
 
Bruncaj will compete in the 400 hurdles prelims at 6:25 p.m. on Thursday.