Posted: Apr 21, 2025

Spartanburg Methodist Wins Inaugural CAC Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Championship

Spartanburg Methodist College (South Carolina) captured the inaugural Continental Athletic Conference Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championship, hosted Monday by Florida National University at the Ansin Sports Complex.

The Pioneers tallied 162 points from five event victories. Haskell Indian Nations University (Kansas) placed second with 93 points, while host Florida National (77 points) and Florida College (54 points) rounded out the team standings.

RESULTS

All of SMC's individual titles came in track events, with sophomore Sophia Outhous winning four races: the 1,500-meter run (5:19.45), 800-meter run (2:29.04), 400-meter hurdles (1:18.22), and 3,000-meter steeplechase (13:14.45). She earned the CAC Track Athlete of the Year award.

Spartanburg Methodist sophomore Polly Addington was victorious in the 400-meter dash (1:04.00) to round out the team's individual champions.

The Pioneers' Head Coach Peyton Shelton earned the CAC Coach of the Year award.

Meanwhile, Haskell Indian Nations' strength was in field events, sweeping three throwing events. Junior Therann Moore was a double winner in the discus throw (32.66 meters) and shot put (11.00 meters). Senior Aysa Benally placed first in the javelin throw (35.54 meters).

HINU's 4-x-400-meter relay team of Sandra St. Clair, Bailey Mike, Aysa Benally, and Neely Lasley placed first in 4:24.78.

Florida National freshman Khy Burdon won two sprint races, crossing the finish line first in the 100-meter dash (12.56 seconds) and 200-meter dash (26.36 seconds). Sophomore Lismar Bentancourt added 10 points to the Conquistadors' score by winning the 5,000-meter run (19:52.83). Bentancourt was named the CAC Newcomer of the Year.

Florida College freshman Emily Giles was named the CAC Field Athlete of the Year after placing second in the javelin throw (20.38 meters), shot put (9.44 meters), and discus (25.28 meters). Her individual performance accounted for 24 of the Falcons' 54 points in the meet.