BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Southern University produced multiple record-setting performances and three event titles at the SWAC Indoor Track and Field Championships, held Saturday and Sunday at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
 
Southern captured three gold medals behind standout efforts from Tashina Alase, Camille Lewis, and Roman Smith, while Michael Fulton III added a program-record performance to lead a strong scoring weekend for the Jaguars and Lady Jaguars in the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship meet. Fulton III was also named the SWAC Most Outstanding Field Performer of the Meet after securing two medals. 
 
Alase continued her historic indoor season, winning the women's 60-meter hurdles title with a SWAC Indoor Championship record time of 8.17 seconds. Her prelim time of 8.04 surpassed her previous program mark of 8.08 set two weeks earlier at the UAB Green and Gold Invitational, her third consecutive meet breaking the school record. Alase also contributed a top-eight finish in the women's 60 meters to add valuable team points.
 
Smith led the Jaguars' men's squad by capturing the men's high jump championship with a clearance of 2.12 meters to score 10 points. Teammates Herman Batiste (fifth, 2.07m) and Landon Gibbs (seventh, 1.97m) also placed inside the top eight, giving Southern a strong presence in the event.
 
On the women's side, Lewis delivered one of the most productive performances of the meet for the Lady Jaguars, winning the women's high jump at 1.67 meters. Lewis also recorded a runner-up finish in the pentathlon and added a fifth-place finish in the long jump to contribute across multiple events.
 
Southern continued to stack points in the field events. Fulton placed second in the men's shot put (16.23m) before setting a program record in the weight throw with a mark of 18.03 meters to earn another silver medal. In the men's long jump, Koi Wedderburn finished sixth (7.14m), while Batiste added an eighth-place finish (7.08m).
 
The Lady Jaguars added several scoring performances in the field. Peyton Funderburk placed second in the long jump (5.86m), while Sahnya Lathon (fourth) and Mashayla Lazard (fifth) scored in the high jump. Lauren Joshua also secured a runner-up finish in the pole vault with a clearance of 3.06 meters.
 
On the track, Marcus Delcy finished sixth in the men's 800 meters, while freshman Keeton Johnson placed seventh to add additional points. The Jaguars' 4x400-meter relay team also scored with an eighth-place finish.
 
Southern's women's throws group contributed key points as well, led by Ariyonna Edmond, who placed fifth in the weight throw, and Mar'Rica Trone, who finished seventh in the shot put.
 
As a team, the Jaguars placed sixth overall with 52 points, while the Lady Jaguars finished third with 74 points, highlighted by three gold-medal performances and multiple top-eight finishes across the championship weekend.
 
Up Next
Southern will await to find out if Alase's time will be enough to make in to the NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas on March 13. The rest of the Jaguars will turn their attention to the outdoor season with the Louisiana Classic first up on March 20 at the Home Bank Soccer/Track Facility hosted by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

FOLLOW THE JAGUARS
For complete coverage of Southern University Athletics, please follow the Jaguars on social media at @SouthernUsports(Twitter), @SouthernUJaguars (Facebook), @southernusports (Instagram), or visit the official home of Southern University Athletics at www.gojagsports.com

#GoJags   #SouthernIsTheStandard   #ProwlOn   #BeyondTheStandard