DANVILLE, Ky. (February 24, 2024) – Flexing its depth all weekend, Centre staked claim to the first Southern Athletic Association men’s indoor track and field championship on Saturday.
 
The Colonels hosted the event at the new Champions Hall in Danville.

Results / Championship Central

Centre’s Nick Whitlow earned Athlete of the Meet honors behind silver medals in both the high jump and long jump, and fifth places finishes in the pole vault and triple jump. His coach Lisa Owens was voted the SAA Coach of the Year.
 
Centre racked up 205 points in the two-day event to hoist the team trophy. Berry was second with a score of 162 and Rhodes third with 102 points.
 
Justin Davis of Rhodes won the triple jump to get the day started, sailing 13.89 meters. Centre’s Phillppe NDia was second (13.40m ) and Birmingham-Southern’s Kobe King third (12.95m). Berry took the top two spots in the shot put with David Billiard’s toss of 15.04 meters winning. Dawson Livingston was second (14.48) and Hendrix Tristian Johnson third (13.90m). Logan Issacs of Centre won the pole vault with a height of 4.81 meters. Berry’s Alden McDonald was second (4.51m) and teammate Connor Johnson third (4.36m).
 
Austin Rhea of Rhodes won a thrilling mile race in a time of 4:25.56. Centre’s Reeve VanDemark was second in 4:25.73 and Oglethorpe’s Stephen Graffius third in 4:26.62. Rhodes’ Hugh Stokes won gold in the 60 meter hurdles in a time of 8.39 seconds. Berry’s Connor Cole was second (8.52) and Hendrix Ethan Armour third (8.54).
 
Berry’s Jahari Jones took the 400m dash in a time of 49.27. Centre grabbed the next two spots with Grayson Rahbany (50.10) in second and Jackson Heim (50.38) in third. TJ Clayton blazed to a win in the 60m dash, stopping the clock at 6.92 seconds. Jones of Berry was second in 7.01 and Oglethorpe’s Anthony Bonds third in 7.08.
 
Ashton Deriso of Oglethorpe win the 800 in a time of 1:56.83. Carter Russell of Centre was second (1:58.58) and Berry’s Ethan Smith third (1:59.64).
 
Clayton captured the 200 in a time of 21.95 seconds. Centre’s Jeremy Olliges was second in 22.70 seconds and Heim was third in 22.85 seconds.  
 
The 3k went to Graffius of Oglethorpe in a time of 8:43.36. Daniel Blaich of Rhodes was second in 8:47.62 and Berry’s Troy Backwood third in 8:47.87.
 
Olligesk Heim, Rahbany, and Corbin Ison teamed to give Centre the 4x400 meter relay win in a time of 3:28.83. Rhodes was second in 3:29.35 and Berry third (3:29.79).