NEW ORLEANS – The Texas State track and field team earned three specialty awards due to performances at the 2019 Sun Belt Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Seniors
Tramesha Hardy and
T'Mond Johnson were named the most outstanding track and field performers, respectively, while head coach
Jody Stewart was awarded the league's Coach of the Year award for the eighth time in a four-year span, and the second specifically for the men's track program.
The Bobcat men won their first Sun Belt championship since joining the league and the first title since 2004 (Southland Conference), while the women finished as runner-up.
With the 2019 Sun Belt Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championship, coach Stewart has now collected eight league titles (including women's cross country in 2017), matching former Bobcat head coach Galina Bukharina for a program record. Coach Stewart led the Bobcat men to its second Sun Belt championship after winning the first in the 2016 indoor season.
Hardy was the top scorer in the championship meet behind 21.5 points. She won her third consecutive title in the women's 200-meter dash with a time of 23.14, placed second in the 100-meter dash after clocking an 11.35, and contributed to second and third-place finishes in the 4x400 and 4x100-meter relays, respectively. The Houston native has had a spectacular career that consists of winning the 2016 Sun Belt Conference Most Outstanding Freshman of the Year for both the indoor and outdoor season, a six-time recipient of the most outstanding track performer award from 2017-19 (three-time indoor, three-time outdoor), and a four-time top meet scorer for the league (indoor 2017-2019, outdoor 2019).
Johnson received his first specialty award from the league office after recording a 19.70m mark (64-7.75) in the men's shot put to secure his third consecutive gold medal in the event. He also finished third in the discus throw (52.17m; 171-2) and scored in the hammer throw with a 53.40m (175-2) hurl. The Killeen, Texas native is a six-time Sun Belt champion in the shot put with three titles in the indoor and outdoor season from 2017-2019.
Overall, at the 2019 Sun Belt Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Texas State crowned eight individual champions, established a new school record, and had 21
all-conference selections.
The Bobcats will be sending a group to the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field West Preliminary, including Hardy and Johnson, on May 23-25 in Sacramento, Calif. for an opportunity to advance to the 2019 NCAA Outdoor National Championships June 5-8 in Austin, Texas.
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