NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Lamar women and SFA men are atop the standings Friday after day two of the 2026 Southland Conference Track & Field Championship. 

Lamar has a total of 63 points, while Northwestern State (59.5) and SFA (56.5) are close behind in second and third, respectively.

On the men’s side, the Lumberjacks have a narrow one-point lead with 64 points over UIW, who sits in second. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is in third with 43 points.

Seven field events and two running events had podium finishes on Friday. Lamar’s Mariam Buenanueva-Saleme highlighted the day, claiming first with 5,679 points in the heptathlon. Her total after seven events over two days is the fourth highest heptathlon score in conference history, the highest since 2018. SFA’s Basia Mitchell placed second (5,452 points) and UIW’s Isabella Gonzalez-Velasquez placed third (5,129 points).

In the women’s shot put Texas A&M-Corpus Christi’s Natalia Rankin-Chitar claimed the top spot on the podium with a mark of 16.14m. UTRGV’s Eve Latham placed second (15.78m) and Northwestern State’s Ryan Dates (15.52m) placed third.

UTRGV junior La’Zariah Bethany claimed gold in the women’s triple jump, with a mark of 12.69m. Lamar’s Ke’Asia Hall jumped 12.46m for second and HCU’s Layloni Watson placed third (12.45m).

Northwestern State’s Anisha Gibbons threw 50.83m in the javelin to take home gold in the event. Teammate Tedora Samac claimed bronze (45.97m) and Lamar’s Neelie Schiel contributed eight points to the Cardinals’ leading score in second (49.71m). 

On the men’s side, Northwestern State’s Roy Morris (7.72m) claimed the 2026 Southland Outdoor Track & Field long jump title with a one centimeter win over Lamar’s Kenson Tate (7.71m). Elijah Rowe of the Demons took home bronze with a mark of 7.56m. 

In the shot put, Southeastern’s Josh - Ty Brown won gold (18.01m), A&M-Corpus Christi’s Emmanuel Ekuma won silver (17.63m) and Northwestern State’s La’Darion Dudley won bronze (17.45m).

Wrapping up field events was the men’s decathlon. SFA’s Sam Pavan earned gold with 7,512 points. UIW’s Mika Funck (7,363 points) and Tommaso Franze (7,263 points) rounded out the top three.

In the two lone running finals on Friday, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi’s Neele Heyne had a first place finish in the women’s 3,000 meter steeplechase (10:35.03). On the men’s side, SFA’s Devon Judelson won the event in 9:04.16.

The final day of action begins Saturday, May 16, at 11 a.m. CT with the women’s discus and men’s pole vault. Day three will be streamed on ESPN+ beginning at 5 p.m, with the championship presentation at the conclusion of all events. 

DAY TWO TEAM STANDINGS
Men's 
1. SFA - 64
2. UIW - 63
3. A&M-Corpus Christi - 43
4. Northwestern State - 29
5. Lamar - 25 
6. Southeastern - 20
7. East Texas A&M - 15
8. UTRGV - 8 
9. McNeese - 5
10. Nicholls - 1 
T11. HCU - 0 
T11. New Orleans - 0 

Women's 
1. Lamar - 63
2. Northwestern State - 59.5
3. SFA - 56.5
4. A&M-Corpus Christi - 48
5. East Texas A&M - 32
6. UTRGV - 29
7. UIW - 27
8. McNeese - 26
9. HCU - 6
T10. Nicholls - 4
T10. Southeastern - 4
12. New Orleans - 0