LOUISVILLE, KY – The University of the Cumberlands women's track & field team captured its fourth consecutive Mid-South Conference Indoor Championship this weekend, continuing its dominance at the league level. The Patriots showcased their depth across every event group and were led by Abia Kante, who was named MSC Athlete of the Year.
 
Cumberlands totaled 11 individual and relay conference championships and recorded 26 All-Conference performances (top-three finishes) over the two-day meet. The Patriots also posted two NAIA A standards and five NAIA B standards, strengthening their national qualifying résumé.
 
The Patriots opened the meet in the 60m prelims as Ritorion Vigne (7.61) clocked an NAIA B standard to lead three qualifiers into the final alongside Abia Kante (7.73) and MaQuoia Raglin (7.74). In the championship final, Vigne placed second in 7.68, Raglin finished third in 7.69, and Kante took fourth in 7.74 to score 19 team points.
 
In the 60m hurdles, Aliah Laster placed fourth in 9.55, while Jaci Woods finished fifth in 10.26.
 
Raglin delivered a conference championship in the 200m with a winning time of 24.41, hitting the NAIA A standard in the process. Vigne added a third-place finish in 25.39, while Lillian Guzman took fifth in 25.91. Lennon Little (27.59) and A'yana Gray (27.71) also competed in the event.
 
The Patriots dominated the 400m, going one-two as Kante won in 58.11 and Guzman followed closely in 58.24. Little added a sixth-place finish in 1:00.80, Abigail McKamey placed eighth in 1:03.16, and Gray crossed in 1:04.91.
 
Cumberlands swept the 600m podium. Caroline Cronen claimed the conference title in 1:40.18, followed by Megan Kitchens in 1:40.86 and Grace Nelson in 1:40.92 to secure 24 team points.
 
In the 800m, Alex Cundiff captured the conference championship in 2:19.62. Kitchens placed second in 2:26.13, Cronen finished third in 2:26.15, and Nelson added a fourth-place run in 2:32.29. Hope Boa (2:34.07) and Kayleigh Burkhead (2:34.72) also scored.
 
Elisa Helferich earned All-Conference honors in the 1000m with a runner-up finish in 3:13.19.
 
Lea Kunstmann claimed the mile conference title in 5:29.20. Burkhead placed fifth in 5:40.12, Anslee Crosby finished seventh in 5:44.16, Hope Boa ran 5:45.64, Baylee Black crossed in 5:45.72, Lucy Sullivan posted 5:46.86, and Rylee Schaffner finished in 5:55.14.
 
Kunstmann doubled back to win the 3000m in 10:25.52. Patrober Jepchirchir placed second in 10:35.44, and Helferich finished third in 11:07.30 to complete a podium sweep. Black (11:48.28) and Schaffner (12:52.05) also competed.
 
Jepchirchir added another conference title in the 5000m, winning in 18:20.06, while Crosby finished second in 19:38.89 to secure additional All-Conference honors.
 
In the 3000m Race Walk, Heather Durrant captured the conference championship in 15:02.85 with an NAIA A standard. Lilian Bittencourt finished second in 16:21.25 to earn an NAIA B standard, and Lucy Sullivan placed third in 17:32.92, also hitting the NAIA B mark.
 
In the high jump, Kaielle Gray placed second at 1.55m (5-1.00), while Analei Sarakatsannis cleared 1.40m (4-7.00) to finish sixth.
 
Kante secured another conference championship in the long jump with a mark of 5.73m (18-9.75), hitting the NAIA B standard. Jaci Woods jumped 4.95m, Gray recorded 4.75m, and Sarakatsannis posted 4.51m.
 
Aliah Laster claimed the pole vault title, clearing 3.00m (9-10.00) to add 10 more points to the team total.
 
In the shot put, Katie Slade placed fourth with a throw of 10.11m (33-2.00), Kelsie Peavler finished sixth at 9.42m (30-11.00), Woods threw 9.13m (29-11.50), Delaney Deaton posted 9.02m (29-7.25), and Taylor Lunsford recorded 8.84m (29-0.00).
 
Woods added a fifth-place finish in the triple jump with a mark of 10.51m (34-5.75).
 
In the weight throw, Delaney Deaton earned All-Conference honors with a third-place toss of 12.20m (40-0.50). Slade finished eighth at 10.95m (35-11.25), Lunsford threw 10.70m (35-1.25), and Peavler recorded 9.25m (30-4.25).
 
The Distance Medley Relay team of Cundiff, Guzman, Cronen, and Kunstmann captured the conference title in 12:16.89 and hit the NAIA B standard. The 4x400 relay of Little, Raglin, Cundiff, and McKamey placed second in 4:01.12, while the 4x800 relay of Hope Boa, Kayleigh Burkhead, Grace Nelson, and Elisa Helferich won in 10:26.23.
 
With 11 conference championships, 26 All-Conference performances, and multiple national qualifying marks, the Patriots extended their MSC Indoor dynasty with a fourth straight title. Lindsey Wilson placed second with 197 points followed by Georgetown who broke into the top-three with 85 team points. Campbellsville and Cumberland University placed fourth and fifth with 79 pts and 35 pts with Bethel rounding out the top-six.
 
The Pats will now turn their attention to Gainesville, FL for the 2026 NAIA Indoor T&F National Championships. UC will look to battle for another banner on March 5th-7th. 
 
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