GAINESVILLE, Fla. – (RESULTS) The William Carey Women's Track & Field Team compiled 263 points to win the 2024 SSAC Women's Indoor T&F Championship, out-distancing the runner-up by 101. The Lady Crusaders' Joy Abu earned Championship Top Scorer honors with 26 points.
 
"With this being our 3rd Indoor title in a row. Its shows that we've had some great talent along with some great success over the last few years," said Head Coach Ryan McKenzie. "This year's team is easily the most well rounded team we've had here at Carey and we have been able to compete at a national level in multiple events this year, leading us to be ranked amongst the top teams Nationally. Our ladies did an outstanding job this weekend. Their performance was dominating from start to finish. Winning the SSAC Championship was great for our women as we were able to perform with a championship mentality."
 
Friday got underway with Salieci Myles and Tyeese Smith taking second and third in the 60m with times of 7.53 and 7.54.  In the 400m, Joy Abu, Maria Simancas, Fegor Clifford, and Jennifer Ezeoha went one through four in the 400m while Maria Tirado took first in the 1000m with a time of 2:56.
 
Finishing off the running events for the day was Blanca Conesa who posted a time of 17:55 in the 5000m to place first.  In the field events, Daena Dyer and Zaniyah Wilson posted marks of 1.54m and 1.51m in the high jump to take second and third place.  Just like in the 400m, Machaeda Linton, Smith, Clifford, Wilson, and Patrice Oatis took the top five places in the long jump.
 
Abu got things going on Saturday with a second place finish in the 200m with Ezeoha taking fourth.  Simancas posted a time of 1:32 in the 600m for a first place finish with Tirado taking second in the 800m with a time of 2:14.
 
In the mile, Hannah Mitchell and Isabelle Wheeler posted times of 5:35 and 5:46 to place second and third.  Continuing the strong showing in the running events, Conesa and Wheeler took first and second in the 3000m with Myles, Abu, An'Janae Latchinson, and Dyer going one through four in the 60m hurdles.  Rounding out the running events for the day was the relay team of Latchinson, Ezeoha, Simancas, and Tirado taking first in the 4x400m relay with a time of 3:51.
 
In the lone field event of the of the day, the Lady Crusaders once again posted the top marks, as Linton, Clifford, Wilson, Dyer, and Elisa Valle took the top five places in the triple jump.
 
 "This comes only a week before we have to compete against the highest level of competition at the NAIA National Championship.  So, we will hoist this championship high in regard to our accomplishment.  Yet there's a bigger goal that we've set to achieve and that's to win the National Championship. It's not an easy task but I wouldn't want to fight for it with no other group of young women."