2017 Indoor Championships Central
2017 Southland Performance Lists
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southland Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships return to the Birmingham CrossPlex for the fourth consecutive year, taking place on Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 22-23. The facility is one of only six 200-meter hydraulically banked tracks designed by Mondo in the United States and one of eight in the world.
Sam Houston State are defending champions on both sides after the Bearkat men and women swept the
2016 championships. It was the men’s first title and the women’s fourth.
A healthy amount of talent returns across the board, including six
2016 All-Conference First Team selections for the men and three for the women.
Sam Houston State returns the 2016 Outstanding Field Performer in Tyler Adams, headed by reigning Coach of the Year David Self. Adams scored a Southland-record 5,277 points in last year’s heptathlon.
Two-time 2017 Southland Track Athlete of the Week and 2016 60-meter champion Amir James returns for Northwestern State. James won in 2016 with a 6.76 and ran the same time this year at the LSU Purple Tiger meet, good for a current third-place spot in the conference. Teammate Micah Larkins currently leads the conference with a 6.68 60-meter time.
James holds the top conference spot in the 200-meter with a 21.08, followed by Sam Houston State’s Chris Jefferson (21.35).
The Bearkats also return Jeffrey Moore, who won both the 800-meter and mile run in 2016. He has continued to make his mark in his junior year, currently ranking second in the Southland with a 1:50.26 800m and third with a 4:08.21 mile.
Devin King, two-time 2017 Field Athlete of the Week enters the championships on an impressive hot streak in the pole vault. His 17-11.25 mark is the best in the conference and ranks 10
th in the nation. He has already secured a berth in the NCAA Championships and enters the week with five straight wins.
On the women’s side, Abilene Christian returns their 2016 400-meter champion in Kimone Green. She currently ranks fourth in the conference with a 56.29 personal best. She was also a member of last year’s second-place 4x400m relay team for the Wildcats.
Sam Houston State women will look to their depth again this year at distance running and field events. Camry Grigsby, the reigning 800m champion, seems poised to repeat, currently topping the Southland with a 2:10.58 personal best on the season. She was also a member of the second-place distance medley relay in 2016 and the winning 4x400-meter relay squad for the Bearkats.
Kristine Hanks won the shot put for the Bearkats in 2016 (48-9.83) and dominates the current leaderboard with a 52-8.25 personal record in 2017, almost six inches ahead of second place.
Lamar leads current Southland members with six men’s team titles. Northwestern State is second with four to their name. On the women’s side, Stephen F. Austin (8) and Sam Houston State (4) are the only current conference members with team championships.
For those athletes who achieve
qualifying marks, the NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships will be held in College Station, Texas on March 10-11.
The 2017 championships begin on Wednesday, Feb. 22 with heptathlon/pentathlon events running from 8:30 a.m. to ~2:15 p.m. Field events will begin at 1 p.m. and go until 5 p.m., while running events start at 12 p.m. and run to the end of day one at 7 p.m.
Day two begins with the heptathlon on Thursday, Feb. 23 with events at 8:30 a.m., ~9:35 a.m. and ~1 p.m. Field event finals run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. while running event finals will take place from 12 p.m. to the conclusion of the championships at 3:40 p.m.
Awards will be presented after each event’s final. Heat sheets will be made available on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at approximately 8 p.m.
The championships will be streamed live through both days on the Southland Conference Digital Network. Watch via
Southland.org/live and the
Southland Conference app.
Admission
Adult, All-Session Pass: $15.00
Adult, Single-Day Pass: $10.00
Southland Student, Single Day (with ID): Free
Children 13 and Under: $5.00
Parking: $5.00
Tickets are available only at the Birmingham CrossPlex ticket office and are not available online.
*Times and distances are as listed on TFRRS performance list rankings, which may be converted for track size or altitude.