Eight Mountaineers Garner All-Conference Accolades

NEW ORLEANS, La. - Eight Mountaineers earned All-Sun Belt Conference accolades from their performances at the Sun Belt Outdoor Track & Field Championships, the league announced Wednesday. Senior Ryan Brown, graduate student Macki Walsh, and juniors Taylor Smith and Jada Branch earned Second-Team All-Conference honors. Senior De'Shawn Ballard, junior Eric Haddock Jr., sophomore Calbert Guest, and freshman Karsyn Kane earned Third-Team All-Conference nods.

Branch earned silver in the women's triple jump with a leap of 12.78m (41' 11.25"). Branch's jump surpassed the previous Ragin' Cajun facility record of 12.75m (41' 10"), which was set in 1999. Triple jump champion Eunice Ilunga Mbuyi of ULM now holds the record with a mark of 12.82m (42' 0.75"). In the NCAA East Region, Branch ranks 29th with a mark of 12.86m (42' 2.25"), which she set on April 7 at the Duke Invitational. 

Brown posted a second-place finish in the men's 3000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:06.55. At the conclusion of Championship Week, Brown ranks 35th in the NCAA East Region in the men's steeple from his App State school record of 8:51.28, set on April 7 at the Duke Invitational. Following closely behind Brown was fellow Mountaineer, Guest, who earned bronze in the men's steeple with a personal-best time of 9:11.71. 

In the women's 1500 meters, Walsh clocked a time of 4:36.36 to place second overall. In the preliminary races, Walsh won her heat and was second overall with a time of 4:40.44. 

In the women's long jump, Smith recorded a personal-best leap of 6.11m (20' 0.5") to secure second. Her mark also ties her for fifth all-time at App State and places her at 42nd in the NCAA East Region rankings. 

Ballard clocked a time of 10.33 in the men's 100 meters to earn his spot on the podium. He placed third overall at the meet and moved to fourth in the program record book. In the preliminary heats, Ballard stopped the clock at 10.60. 

In the men's long jump, Haddock Jr. took third with a personal-best leap of his own, recording a mark of 7.52m (24' 8.25"), which places him fourth all-time at App State. He also placed fourth in the men's triple jump (15.25m (50' 0.5")). 

Kane clocked a personal best in the women's 3000-meter steeplechase with a time of 10:56.39 to finish third. Her time places her ninth all-time at App State and qualified her for the 2022 USATF U20 National Championships, which will be held in Eugene, Ore. from June 23-25.