ROME, Ga. - The Centre Colonels are now back-to-back Southern Athletic Association Outdoor Track and Field Champions, claiming their third overall title.
Final Standings:
1.) Centre - 227.5
2.) Trinity - 182
3.) Berry - 146
4.) Oglethorpe - 66
5.) Southwestern - 65.5
6.) Rhodes - 34
7.) Sewanee - 29
8.) Millsaps - 28
Earning back-to-back conference title, the Centre coaching staff was deemed the SAA Coaching Staff of the Year.
Centre dominated the field events with standout performances led by David Harless, who earned SAA Thrower of the Year honors. On day two, he placed third in the discus and second in the shot put behind teammate Luke Cole, who set a new SAA Championship record with a mark of 15.95m. The duo combined for crucial points for the Colonels.
Second-place finisher Trinity made its mark in the discus, where John Michael Martin claimed the title with an SAA record throw of 47.83m, earning 10 points. Berry’s Bryce Toomer followed closely in second at 46.82m.
SAA Men’s Jump Athlete of the Year Cree Ross captured the triple jump title with a leap of 14.31m, as Oglethorpe and Trinity rounded out the podium in second and third.
In the final field event of the meet, the high jump, Lukas Nowlin— the reigning indoor champion—cleared 2.01m to take gold. Centre’s Michael Smith secured silver, while Sewanee’s Sam Leonard earned bronze.
On the track, Zachary Benner claimed the 5,000m title with a time of 15:30.98, earning SAA Distance Athlete of the Year honors to cap his senior campaign for Oglethorpe.
Jackson Heim delivered a strong showing in the sprints, winning the 400m and finishing second in the 200m to earn SAA Sprints Athlete of the Year recognition.
Trinity continued its success on the track in the 110m hurdles, going one-two with Kris Duggan taking the win in 14.88.
Berry’s Andy Forsyth turned in a record-breaking performance in the 800m, clocking 1:53.21 to set a new SAA mark.
Contributing 15 points to Centre’s team total, Julian Veliquette was named SAA Rookie of the Year, highlighted by a runner-up finish in the 400m hurdles.
Centre closed strong in the relays, winning the 4x100m behind Cree Ross, Brayden Carman, Jackson Heim, and Beau Brown with a time of 41.34—just 0.04 seconds shy of the SAA record. Berry capped the meet with a victory in the 4x400m relay, as Corbin Dutcher, Braylon Kirkpatrick, Cameron Hewling, and Berkey Powell combined for a championship-record time of 3:17.39.
All-Sportsmanship Team:
Berry - Keenan Smith
Centre - Beau Brown
Millsaps - Greer Hernandez
Oglethorpe - Charlie Monroe
Rhodes - Liam Conroy
Sewanee - Lane Gamble
Southwestern - Ethan Sledge
Trinity - Orie Piken
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