The women’s track and field team celebrating their Indoor SBC Championship win.

Story by Brayden Morse

The women’s track and field team won the Indoor Sun Belt Conference Championships for the fourth consecutive season. 

The women’s team finished with 106.5 points to stand alone at the top, while Coastal Carolina finished 30 points behind with 76.5.

Sophomore Cheyenne Melvin took gold with a time of 2:10.99 in the women’s 800-meter.

“Winning the indoor SBC Championship was a phenomenal experience. The energy was amazing and you just had to be there to feel it. Taking the 800-meter champion title was truly a blessing and I could not be more grateful. Arkansas State has put in so much work and it surely showed at championship time,” Melvin said. 

Senior Camryn Newton-Smith has been on fire, setting a school record and SBC record with a 4,356 pentathlon score at the Texas Tech Multis. Her score resulted in Sun Belt Indoor Field Athlete of the Week honors and world leader at the time, on Feb. 1.

Newton-Smith placed third in high jump (1.71m 5-7 1/4), 7th in the 60-meter hurdle prelims (8.51) and 7th in the official 60-meter hurdles while beating her prelim time with an 8.50 time. 

“I was ecstatic to win the championship again. There were so many amazing performances from the team that I am so proud to be a part of this program. My strength has definitely been my perseverance,” Newton-Smith said. 

With senior athletes getting ready to graduate, the younger class needs to step up. Arkansas State has a bright future with first-year Anna Hunter stepping up for her team this year. 

Hunter qualified for the women’s mile with a 5:02.77 time in the prelims and placed 10th in the official women’s mile with a 5:12.21 time. 

“I am so proud of this team. I think some of my strengths are being able to go out and race and always give it everything I have,” Hunter said. 

Melvin explained what it will take to win again in the outdoor season when she said, “We all look forward to bringing the same intensity to every meet and most importantly, SBC Outdoor Championships. I am so excited to see what else this group of wonderful athletes has in store and we cannot wait to bring home more rings and trophies in the near future.”

With the indoor season coming to an end with an end, the Red Wolves look to make a run in the NCAA Indoor Championships. The outdoor season begins on March 18.

Categories: Sports