(LEBANON, Ill., Feb. 19)—For the second consecutive year, the McKendree University women's track and field team has claimed the American Midwest Conference Indoor Track and Field Championship.
The Bearcats were crowned champions of the AMC Indoor Track and Field Meet, which was held Friday and Saturday at the Hearnes Center Complex in Columbia, Mo. The AMC Meet was held in conjunction with the Missouri Collegiate Challenge hosted by the University of Missouri.
McKendree collected a total of 252 team points to outdistance runner-up Hannibal-LaGrange University, which had 186 points. The Bearcats also won the inaugural event in 2010, which was also held in Columbia. This weekend, McKendree earned individual titles in six different events.
Sophomore Nadia Moore (Cahokia, IL/Cahokia) (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) was honored as the Women's Outstanding Field Event Athlete. Moore won the long jump and triple jump while taking second in the high jump. It is the second year in a row that Moore earned the honor from the league.
Also for the second consecutive time, McKendree's Neal West was recognized as the AMC Women's Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year. West has guided the Bearcats to both indoor titles as well as all three AMC outdoor crowns.
Moore took top honors in the long jump with a distance of 16 feet, 2 ½ inches, while she posted a distance of 35 feet, 8 ½ inches in grabbing the title in the triple jump. Moore was also second in the high jump as she cleared a height of four feet, 11 ½ inches.
Sophomore Kim Spencer (Pinckneyville, Ill./Pinckneyville) also won two events for the Bearcats, with both coming in sprints. Spencer was clocked in a time of 7.81 seconds in winning the 60-meter dash, while she finished first in the 200-meter dash with an effort of 26.19 seconds.
Junior Airika Tyler (Wood River, IL/East Alton-Wood River) (Wood River, Ill./East Alton-Wood River) won the 1,000-meter run in a time of 3:18.58. Tyler was also second in the mile run at 5:40.34 and the 3,000-meter run with a time of 12:02.14. Junior Lauren Richter (Mascoutah, IL/Mascoutah) (Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah) earned first place in the shot put. Richter was also third in the weight throw with a toss of 36 feet, 5 ¾ inches.
Senior Shilpa Hamilton (St. Louis, MO/Hazelwood Central) (St. Louis, Mo./Hazelwood Central) was second in the 60-meter dash at 8.03 seconds. Freshman LaTia Jefferson (Belleville, IL/Belleville East) (Belleville, Ill./Belleville East) was second in both the triple jump (35 feet, 4 ½ inches) and the long jump (15 feet, six inches).
In relay events, McKendree cruised to victory in the 4 x 400-meter relay, posting a winning time of 4:21.69. The Bearcats were also second in the 4 x 800-meter relay with a time of 11:17.49.
McKendree will now begin preparations for the NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships, which will be held March 3-5 in Geneva, Ohio.
