Final Day Charge Pushes Trojans to Second Place Finish at Indoor Track and Field Championships

Tuesday, February 25

Birmingham, Ala.

All Day

Troy University

Sun Belt Championship

Final Day Charge Pushes Trojans to Second Place Finish at Indoor Track and Field Championships

2/25/2020 6:51:00 PM | Track & Field

Final Results (PDF)Photo Gallery

By: Troy Athletics Communications

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Led by stellar performances up and down the roster, the Troy Trojans women's indoor track and field program finished second in the Sun Belt Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships held at the Birmingham Crossplex Monday and Tuesday.

The Trojans finished with a program-record 89 total points. The second place finish is the Trojan's best finish in program history, while the 89 total team points are also a new school record, surpassing last season's 81-point output.

For the Championship, the Trojans earned seven total podium finishes, led by Gemma Finch and Tanner Guest who finished in the top first and second respectively in the 800m on Tuesday.

"This was a great meet for this team," director Marc Davis said. "Our 18 women scored almost 90 points and set a new school record. We had a lot go wrong, but we were still able to overcome the obstacles to finish well. We have a long way to go to close the gap, but with a performance like we had this week, we need to be thinking that we can challenge for a championship soon!"

Two members of the Trojans relay teams, Finch and Guest, also ran on the Trojans distance medley team that won gold, finishing with a time of 11:55.44 on Monday. The Trojans time was nearly 20 seconds quicker than Arkansas State who finished second with a time of 12:09.55.

The Trojans other Day One podium finisher was Macki Walsh who took home the bronze in the 5000m, posting a time of 17:13.41.

On Tuesday, the Trojans rode the momentum for the opening day of action, earning five individual medals and a team 4X400 medal.

The day got started well for the Trojans, as Madison Kennedy finished third in the 400m, running the event in just 55.64 seconds.

Madison Kennedy won the second medal of the afternoon for Troy, using a time of 56.69 to earn the bronze medal.

Other individual highlights included Precious Ogba finishing third in the 200 dash (24.30), Kennedy finishing third in the 400 (55.64) and Ines Garcia finishing second in the 800 pentathlon.

Needing a strong effort to solidify the second place finish, the Trojans got a strong effort from Ogba, Kennedy, Finch and Edita Sklenska in the championships final event.

The quartet, led by the anchor Skelsnka, won the third and final heat of the 4X400 with a time of 3:45.68, just a tick behind first place UT Arlington whose time of 3:44.51 earned the Mavericks gold.

Arkansas State (138 points) took home the women's team title, the Red Wolves first title since 2013.

The Trojans will next turn their attention to the Indoor NCAA Championships next month (Mar. 13-14) in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

FINAL STANDINGS: