BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – At the Sun Belt Conference Indoor Championships, both of the Texas State track & field teams finished third in the team standings. Overall, the Bobcats won eight gold medals with even individual titles and one coming from a relay.
 
Ronnie Briscoe brought home the first gold of the meet on the first day of competition in the men's long jump. He soared 7.43m (24-4.5) on his first attempt of the event. Also earning a point in the event was Jonas Acay with a leap of 7.12m (23-4.5) to finish eighth.
 
Closing out the first day of the championships with another gold was the men's distance medley relay. The team of Justin Botello, Taahir Kelly, Pedro Osorio Lopez and Johen Deleon combined to cross the finish line in 10:16.46, just over four seconds ahead of second place.
 
The second day of the heptathlon saw Julien Olivas begin in fourth and 137 points behind first. After the 60m hurdles, Olivas was the top point scorer in the pole vault with 895 points after clearing 4.95m and moving into third. He capped off 1,000m run in 2:47.90 to tally 788 points, which was just enough for him to leap into first and claim gold with a total of 5,324 points.
 
In the women's 60m dash, Sadi Giles easily bested all the other finalist but a clock issued caused the race to have to be re-run. During the re-run, Giles again blew past the competitors to official win the race with a school record time of 7.38 while teammate Alexa Valenzuela took seventh.
 
Katherine Stuckly helped TXST reclaim the women's high jump title for the first time in two years. The sophomore cleared 1.75m (5-8.75), a new personal best, on her first attempt for the gold medal. Tina Douglas finished in a three-way tie for sixth after a clearance of 1.64m (5-4.5).
 
The fourth gold for the men was claimed by Jaylen Allen in the 400m. Running in the second of two hearts, the junior turned on the jets to take over the lead on the final turn and crossed the finish line in a career best 47.31. Fellow classmate Kobe Daniels was seventh after posting a time of 48.88 in the first heat.
 
On her first leap of the day, Naomi Ferdinand flew a career best 12.44m (40-9.75) in the triple jump. Her distance held up as the best in the competition to earn her the gold medal.
 
The last gold for the Bobcats was picked up by Giles in the 200m. The sophomore came across the line in 24.03, a new personal best. With her two golds, Giles was named the co-women's top scorer at the championships.
 
Reaching the podium to receive a silver medal was Myles Anders (200m), Javlyn Cameron (60m hurdles), Noah Herring (triple jump) and Ferdinand (long jump). Picking up a bronze was Ariana Ealy-Pulido in the 60m hurdles.
 
GOLD
Jaylen Allen – 400m (m)
Justin Botello – Distance Medley Relay (m)
Ronnie Briscoe – Long Jump (m)
Johen Deleon – Distance Medley Relay (m)
Naomi Ferdinand – Triple Jump (w)
Sadi Giles – 60m (w) & 200m (w)
Taahir Kelly – Distance Medley Relay (m)
Pedro Osorio Lopez – Distance Medley Relay (m)
Julien Olivas – Heptathlon
Katherine Stuckly – High Jump (w)
 
SILVER
Myles Anders – 200m (m)
Javlyn Cameron – 60m Hurdles (w)
Noah Herring – Triple Jump (m)
Naomi Ferdinand – Long Jump (w)
 
BRONZE
Ariana Ealy-Pulido – 60m Hurdles
 
Texas State is now off until Mar. 20-21 when they open the outdoor season at the Roadrunner Invitational in San Antonio.
 
For the latest on Texas State track and field, visit the official website of Texas State Athletics at www.txstatebobcats.com and follow the team on Twitter at @TxStateTrack.