2017 Southland Outdoor Track & Field Championships Begin Friday
Southland Conference
NEW ORLEANS, La. – For the first time in conference history, the Big Easy will play host to the Southland Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Tad Gormley Stadium from Friday, May 12 to Sunday, May 14.
Stephen F. Austin returns as the defending men’s champion – having won three of the last four men’s team titles with a one-point runner-up finish in 2014.
On the women’s side, Sam Houston State has begun to wrestle away the Ladyjacks’ stranglehold on the women’s team title. SFA had won five straight championships between 2009 and 2013 before the Bearkats won in 2014 and 2016. Former Southland member Texas State is the only team other than Sam Houston State or Stephen F. Austin to win a women’s team title since 2002.
Three individual award winners from 2016 return on the men’s side. Athlete of the Year Jeffrey Moore of Sam Houston State returns, now in his junior year. The Carrollton, Texas native took top finishes in 2016 in the 800-meter, 1,500m and was the anchor of the 4x400m relay team for the Bearkats. He continues to top the Southland in 2017, setting a season-best time of 1:49.07 in the 800m on April 22 and top time in the 1,500m (3:46.94) on April 13.
This year’s championship will feature one of the nation’s best pole vaulters in Devin King of Southeastern Louisiana, fifth on the national collegiate list at 18-04.5. He is joined by fellow Lion Alex Young who is fourth nationally in the hammer throw at 235-5.0.
Last year’s Freshman of the Year returns in New Orleans’ own Michael Nicholls. The sophomore standout will be a favorite to repeat as the 110m hurdles champion – he comfortably tops the Southland in 2017 with a time of 13.97 set on April 8.
The returning champion Lumberjacks will be led by four-time men’s and seven-time women’s Southland Outdoor Coach of the Year Phil Olson. In his 17
th year at the helm of both the men and women at Stephen F. Austin, he will look to lead SFA women to their eighth team title and the men to their fifth.
Dave Self returns as the reigning Women’s Coach of the Year, having led the Bearkats to their second title in three years (fifth overall) in 2016.
The 2016 Women’s Freshman of the Year returns in UIW’s Dominique Allen. In her sophomore campaign, she leads the league in the 800m (2:10.42) and ranks 10
th in the 1,500m (4:43.51).
In addition, last year’s Newcomer of the Year also makes her return – Texas A&M-Corpus Christi’s Hannah McWilliams. The pole vaulter took third in 2016’s championship with a height of 12-05.5 and ranks fourth in this season’s conference leaderboards with a top clearance of 13-01.5.
Northwestern State’s De’Shalyn Jones returns to defend her crown in the women’s 400m. The junior enters the conference championship with the top times in three events, 100m (11.50), 200m, (23.12) and 400m (53.61).
Action begins on Friday, May 12 with combined events beginning at 9:30 a.m. for men and 10:30 a.m for women. Field event finals begin at 10 a.m. while distance running event finals will start at 7:30 p.m.
Running event finals on Sunday, May 14 will go from noon to 3:35 p.m. and will be broadcast live on the Southland Digital Network, available via
southland.org/live and the Southland Conference mobile apps.
For a full schedule of events, live results, and additional information, visit the 2017 Outdoor Championships homepage.
Admission
Adult: (3 days) - $20 • (Single Day) - $10
Youth (6-17 yrs.): (3 days) - $10 • (Single Day) - $5
Children under 5: Free
All students of Southland Conference institutions admitted free with ID.
Cash Only
About Tad Gormley Stadium
Tad Gormley Stadium is a 26,500 seat multi-purpose outdoor stadium, located in City Park, New Orleans, Louisiana, named for long time college athletic trainer and one-time LSU men’s basketball coach Francis Thomas “Tad” Gormley.
Originally named City Park Stadium, Gormley features GameDay Grass MT from AstroTurf, a 400-meter all-weather track, three locker rooms, a press box seating 110 and press suite seating for 40. Built in 1937 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression, Tad Gormley Stadium has been used for football, track & field, and soccer.
In addition to serving as a home site for local high school football teams as well as host to college games by Tulane University and the University of New Orleans, it played host to the 1992 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials, the 1993 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field National Championship and the 1998 U.S. Outdoor Track & Field Championship in addition to several conference championship meets. The stadium was also home to the New Orleans Pelicans baseball team from 1958-1959, after the closing of Pelican Stadium in 1957. The New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers of the USL A-League played in the stadium from 1996-1997.