Trojans compete in four events at NCAA Championships

PUEBLO, Colo. – The University of Mount Olive women’s track & field program was featured in four events on the opening day of the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships hosted at the CSU Pueblo Thunderbowl May 25.

The 4×100 relay team featured sophomore Jamesha Howell, freshman Channie Jefferson, senior Jaiden Moody and sophomore Vinesha Briggs. Mount Olive placed seventh in heat one and finished 13th overall in the preliminaries with a time of 45.69 seconds, which set a new conference and school record in the event. The top nine times in the 4×100 earned a spot in the finals.

A 2022 All-American, senior Mary Brigid Keck finished 14th overall in the hammer throw following a toss of 55.20 meters on her third attempt. She fell two positions shy of All-American status and narrowly missed the finals in a highly competitive field. Keck concludes her career as a three-time national qualifier, three-time Field Athlete of the Year, seven-time conference champion and 11-time USTFCCCA all-region honoree.

In the 100 meters, senior Jaylin Reeves placed seventh in her heat and 23rd overall in the preliminaries with a time of 14.51 seconds. The top two times from each heat, plus the following three best times, advanced to the finals.

In her first appearance at the national meet, Jefferson also competed in the 400-meter hurdles and finished seventh in heat one and 21st overall in the prelims with a time of 1 minute, 3.19 seconds. The top two times from each heat, plus the following three best times, advanced to the finals.

— From University of Mount Olive Athletics