COLUMBIA, Ky. – The University of the Cumberlands women's track & field team captured the MSC Outdoor Championship for the fourth consecutive season, totaling 277 points while crowning multiple conference champions on the final day. Aliah Laster was also named MSC Freshman of the Year following her performance throughout the meet.
Cumberlands opened the day with a win in the 4x100-meter relay, as Abia Kante, Lillian Guzman, Ritorion Vigne, and MaQuoia Raglin combined to run 45.93. The mark hit the NAIA A standard and earned First Team All-Conference honors.
The Patriots dominated the 1500 meters, led by Elisa Helferich who captured the conference title in 4:52.90 to earn First Team honors. Heather Durrant followed in second (4:55.99) for Second Team honors, while Megan Kitchens placed third in 4:58.32 to sweep the podium. Rylee Schaffner (5th, 5:00.51) and Anslee Crosby (6th, 5:01.56) added key points, while Hope Boa (10th, 5:16.78) and Baylee Black (11th, 5:17.43) also competed.
Alina Boshchuk added another conference title in the 5000 meters, crossing in 17:54.43 to earn First Team All-Conference honors. Anslee Crosby followed with a fifth-place finish in 19:59.45, while Chloe Taylor placed eighth in 20:31.04 to round out the Patriots' scorers in the event.
Boshchuk and Helferich are now tied for second in program history with 11 MSC All-Conference medals. Boshchuk also ranks second with eight MSC titles.
Sprint finals saw MaQuoia Raglin earn Second Team All-Conference honors in the 100 meters with a time of 11.78, while Ritorion Vigne placed third in 11.82 to earn Third Team honors. Allie Bryson added an eighth-place finish in 12.27.
In the 200 meters, Abia Kante placed second with a time of 25.56 to earn Second Team honors, while Vigne added a third-place finish in 26.01 for Third Team recognition.
The 400 meters saw Lillian Guzman place second in 57.28 to earn Second Team All-Conference honors. Lennon Little followed in fifth (1:01.54), while A'yana Gray placed sixth (1:01.85).
The 800 meters produced another strong group effort, led by Helferich who placed third in 2:25.66 to earn Third Team honors. Grace Nelson followed in fourth (2:27.42), while Megan Kitchens placed fifth (2:30.95). Hope Boa (7th, 2:32.14) and Rylee Schaffner (8th, 2:32.18) also scored, while Kayleigh Burkhead (11th, 2:35.73) and Jasmin Ponce (14th, 2:37.62) added depth.
Over the hurdles, Abigail McKamey captured the conference title in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:08.52 to earn First Team All-Conference honors. Aliah Laster added a third-place finish in 1:15.74 to earn Third Team honors, while also placing fifth in the 100-meter hurdles (15.49). McKamey added an eighth-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles in 17.00.
Field events added key points throughout the day. Jaci Woods placed fourth in the triple jump with a mark of 10.78 meters. In the vertical jumps, Kaielle Gray placed second in the high jump with a clearance of 1.55 meters to earn Second Team All-Conference honors, while Analei Sarakatsannis followed in fifth at 1.45 meters.
The throws group continued to contribute as Delaney Deaton placed fifth in the discus with a mark of 33.01 meters, followed by Slade in sixth (30.82m) and Kelsie Peavler in seventh (30.66m). In the shot put, Slade placed fifth with a mark of 10.27 meters, while Peavler followed in seventh (9.87m) and Taylor Lunsford recorded 8.23 meters.
The Patriots closed the meet with a runner-up finish in the 4x400-meter relay, as Lillian Guzman, Lennon Little, MaQuoia Raglin, and Abigail McKamey combined to run 4:01.94.
Cumberlands finished atop the team standings with 277 points, followed by Lindsey Wilson (233), Georgetown (97), Campbellsville (70), Cumberland (59), Freed-Hardeman (19), and Bethel (12).
UC will compete in the Lee Last Chance meet this upcoming weekend before NAIA Nationals on May 20-22.
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