Lexington, Va. – Western Carolina women's track and field enjoyed a strong day two surge to climb onto the team podium with a second-place finish on Saturday at the 2026 Southern Conference Indoor Track & Field Championship, the highest for the Catamount women since 2019.

Additionally, the Catamount men's team took third at the conference championship meet, paced by Jacob Thomas, who earned his second-straight men's weight throw title, WCU's lone individual championship at the indoor meet that concluded at the VMI Corps Physical Training Facility.

Western Carolina's women's field squad earned much of the team's day two points, combining to collect 48 points coming from the high jump, the weight throw, and the triple jump. Dual-sport student-athlete Sadler Miller earned seven points with a tie for second-place in the women's high jump, while Jasmine Greene (2nd – 8 points), Raelyn Vadala (3rd – 6 points), Celia Gully (5th – 4 points), and Octavia Massena (6th – 3 points) combined for 21 points in the women's triple jump.

In the throws, Emmie Finley (2nd – 8 points), Lexie Durban (3rd – 6 points), Ericka Jackson (5th – 4 points), and Toria Roundtree (7th – 2 points) combined for 20 points in the women's weight throw as the Catamounts leapt up to second on the leaderboards.

The Catamount women's team closed the day with a podium finish in the 4x400m relay to secure their second-place team finish. Jada Erwin, McCarey Beaty, Leah Butler, and Kyndal Saunders passed the baton to take third in the relay.

WCU men's team was likewise anchored by the field crew, as well as an 11.5-point performance by two-sport student-athlete – football and track – Painter Richards-Baker in the short sprints. His top performances came in the 60mH as he took second place with an 8.12s finish, and in the 60m, where he tied for sixth and secured 2.5 points for his total.

Jacob Thomas defended his crown in the men's weight throw with a personal best 17.14m toss to secure 10 points. Austin Cline (4th – 16.56m), Dominick Dale (6th – 16.03m), and Austin Ramirez (7th – 15.84m) all combined for another 10 points.

The Catamount men's squad entered the final event of the day trailing second-place Furman by six points, but did not finish in the 4x400m relay, resulting in the third-place tally as a team.

WCU track & field turns its attention to both the NCAA Indoor Championships, as well as the start of the outdoor season, a six-event spring that culminates with Cullowhee hosting the 2026 SoCon Outdoor Track & Field Championships on May 11-12, at the Catamount Athletics Complex.

SoCon Women's Indoor Track & Field – Final Results

1. Samford – 151 pts

2. Western Carolina – 133 pts

3. Wofford – 128.5 pts

4. Furman – 94 pts

5. ETSU – 60 pts

6. VMI – 53.5 pts

7. Chattanooga – 27 pts

8t. UNCG – 8 pts

8t. The Citadel – 8 pts

SoCon Men's Indoor Track & Field – Final Results

1. Samford – 228.5 pts

2. Furman – 129 pts

3. Western Carolina – 123.5 pts

4. VMI – 71 pts

5. Wofford – 57 pts

6. The Citadel – 23 pts

7. UNCG – 23 pts

Catamount Scorers:

Daniel Coronell (17 points): Men's High Jump (4th – 1.99m); Men's Long Jump (2nd – 7.12m); Men's Triple Jump (5th – 13.23m)

Cymoria Thomas (14 points): Women's 200m (2nd – 24.47s); Women's 60m (3rd – 7.65s)

Katherine Hopkins (13 points): Women's 3000m (4th – 9:54.69); Women's 5000m (6th – 17:22.48); Women's 4000m DMR (4th – 12:11.48)

Jacob Thomas (12 points): Men's Weight Throw (1st – 17.14m); Men's Shot Put (7th – 14.88m)

Ericka Jackson (12 points): Women's Shot Put (2nd – 13.74m); Women's Weight Throw (5th – 15.26m)

Painter Richards-Baker (11.5 points): Men's 60mH (2nd – 8.12s); Men's 60m (6th – 6.98s); Men's 200m (8th – 22.12s)

Kyndal Saunders (11 points): Women's 400m (4th – 56.29s); Women's 4x400m (3rd – 3:48.75)

Austin Cline (11 points): Men's Shot Put (3rd – 15.99m); Men's Weight Throw (4th – 16.56m)

Jasmine Greene (11 points): Women's Triple Jump (2nd – 12.13m); Women's Long Jump (6th – 5.64m)

Lexie Durban (10 points): Women's Shot Put (5th – 12.70m); Women's Weight Throw (3rd – 15.92m)

Elias Barton (10 points): Men's 400m (4th – 48.58s); Men's 4000m DMR (4th – 10:19.82)

Leah Butler (10 points): Women's 400m (5th – 56.60s); Women's 4x400m (3rd – 3:48.75)

Kendal Hudson (9 points): Women's Pentathlon (5th – 3,341 points); Women's Long Jump (4th – 5.71m)

Bradley White (9 points): Men's 800m (8th – 1:57.64); Men's Mile (6th – 4:08.68); Men's 4000m DMR (4th - 10:19.82)

Celia Gully (9 points): Women's Pentathlon (4th – 3,355 points); Women's Triple Jump (5th – 11.78m)

McCarey Beaty (8 points): Women's Pentathlon (7th – 3,216 points); Women's 4x400m (3rd – 3:48.75)

Emmie Finley (8 points): Women's Weight Throw (2nd – 15.95m)

Christian Roberts (8 points): Men's 60mH (3rd – 8.21s); Men's 400m (7th – 49.85s)

Jada Erwin (8 points): Women's 400m (7th – 56.79s); Women's 4x400m (3rd – 3:48.75)

Nathan Williams (8 points): Men's Long Jump (6th – 6.80m); Men's Triple Jump (4th – 13.73m)

Raelyn Vadala (7 points): Women's Triple Jump (3rd – 11.88m); Women's Long Jump (8th – 5.49m)

Josh Flack (7 points): Men's High Jump (3rd - 2.04m); Men's Triple Jump (8th – 12.96m)

Sadler Miller (7 points): Women's High Jump (2nd – 1.68m)

Colby Capps (7 points): Men's Heptathlon (6th – 4,663); Men's Pole Vault (5th – 4.47m)

Kwan Oates (6 points): Men's Triple Jump (3rd – 13.85m)

Anthony Hawkins Jr. (4 points): Men's Shot Put (5th – 15.20m)

Octavia Massena (3 points): Women's Triple Jump (6th – 11.60m)

Morgan Edwards (3 points): Women's Pole Vault (6th – 3.34m)

Dominick Dale (3 points): Men's Weight Throw (6th – 16.03m)

Toria Roundtree (2 points): Women's Weight Throw (7th – 14.68m)

Austin Ramirez (2 points): Men's Weight Throw (7th – 15.84m)

Noah Brannon (1 point): Men's High Jump (8th – 1 point)

Bella Hilleary (1 point): Women's Pole Vault (8th – 3.19m)