BIRMINGHAM, Ala. | The Louisiana Tech men's and women's Track & Field team wrapped up Day 2 of the 2023 Conference USA Indoor Championships in style, grabbing three podiums and posting six more PRs, bringing the championship weekend's total to four top-three finishes and 17 personal bests. 
 
Day two was highlighted by Ulanda Lewis's gold medal in the Women's 60m. Lewis, a freshman from St. Vincent and The Grenadine, became the first LA Tech woman to win the 60m final since Kimberly Smith in 2013. Lewis smashed her previous personal best from yesterday's qualifying round (7.47) with a 7.36, which tied for the seventh fastest time in program history. 
 
"Ulanda is a special person, and she showed up today and performed very well," said Director of Track & Field Brian Johnson. "I am extremely grateful to have her on our team."

CROWN HER 🥇

Ulanda Lewis is your Women's 60m CHAMPION!!

She destroys her personal best with a 7.36 & ties the 7th fastest time in program history.

Take a bow, Ulanda. pic.twitter.com/XDwJ5NY814

— LA Tech T&F and XC (@LATechTFXC) February 19, 2023

 
LA Tech narrowly missed a clean sweep in the event, with Rodney Heath Jr. taking silver in the men's 60m final, tying his best of 6.64, which also ties his program record time. Heath Jr., a Kentucky transfer from Cincinnati, Ohio, has recorded four of the ten fastest times in program history (6.64, 6.64, 6.67, 6.67) in the last three weeks and has the 25^th fastest time in the country this season. 
 

Y'all...

If you looked up the LA Tech all-time top-10 in the 60m, you would find the name Rodney Heath Jr.

Not 1, not 2, not 3, but FOUR TIMES.

Remember the name. pic.twitter.com/IMMV4PfJKd

— LA Tech T&F and XC (@LATechTFXC) February 19, 2023

 
In the 60m H, Kayla Watson and Urijah Williams competed in their respective finals, with Watson grabbing bronze with an 8.52 and Williams posting a top-five position with an 8.27. 
 
LA Tech posted PRs on the men's and women's side of the 400m final and triple jump. Faith Tarver registered a 55.92, good for sixth, and freshman Laeden Tucker finished seventh with a 48.65 in the 400m final, while Mateo Smith (14.52m) and Tia Reder (11.80m) both finished ninth with personal bests in the triple jump.
 
In the Indoor finale, the LA Tech women's 4x400 team, composed of Faith Tarver, Nariah Parks, Chanel Honeywell, and Victoria Datta, ran their season's best with a 3:52.96.
 
"I am so happy with this weekend and how we performed as a team," said Johnson. "We still have a ton of work left to do, but we are dedicated as a team to improving and are excited about our future here." 

LA Tech men finished seventh overall as a team with 26 points, while the women finished ninth overall with 28 points. 
 

🏆 2023 ITF Women's 60m Hurdles Champions 🏆

🥇Marissa Simpson - @UTEPTrack
🥈Kat Duren - @UAB_TF_XC
🥉Kayla Watson - @LATechTFXC #CUSATF pic.twitter.com/5DWnkTvVJh

— Conference USA (@ConferenceUSA) February 19, 2023

 
UP NEXT
Louisiana Tech men's & women's Track & Field teams will move to the Outdoor portion of the 2023 schedule, which opens at home with the Jim Mize Invitational Friday and Saturday, Mar. 17-18, in Ruston, La.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For all the latest in Louisiana Tech Track & Field/Cross Country, follow them on Twitter (@LATechTFXC), Instagram (@LATechTFXC), and Facebook (Louisiana Tech Track & Field/Cross Country).
 
Below is a complete list of LA Tech athlete results: 
 
Pentathlon 60m H | Women's
Johannon Murray (3^rd) | 9.01
Leah Ellis (8^th) | 9.21
Jiana Stewartburgess (11^th) | 9.48
 
Pentathlon 800m | Women's
Johannon Murray (5^th) | 2:32:96
Jiana Stewartburgess (12^th) | 2:43:90
Leah Ellis (13^th) | 3:19:06 
 
Pentathlon High Jump | Women's
Jiana Stewartburgess (2^nd) | 1.63m (5' 4.25'')
Johannon Murray (3^rd) | 1.57m (5' 1.75")
Leah Ellis | 1.42m (4' 7.75")
 
Pentathlon Long Jump | Women's
Leah Ellis (1^st) | 5.70m (18' 8.5'') PR
Johannon Murray (5^th) | 5.34m (17' 6.25)
Jiana Stewartburgess (13^th) 5.08m (16' 8.0'') PR
 
Pentathlon Shot Put | Women's
Johannon Murray (3^rd) | 11.33m (37' 2.25'')
Leah Ellis (9^th) | 9.61m (31' 6.50'')
Jiana Stewartburgess (12^th) | 8.66m (28' 5.0'')
 
Heptathlon 60m | Men's
Aidan Holland (7^th) | 7.74
 
Heptathlon 60m H | Men's 
Aidan Holland (6^th) | 11.32
 
Heptathlon 1000m H | Men's
Aidan Holland (5^th) | 3:02.00
 
Heptathlon High Jump | Men's 
Aidan Holland (7^th) | 1.57m (5' 1.75'')
 
Heptathlon Long Jump | Men's 
Aidan Holland (8^th) | 5.6 7m (18' 7.25)
 
Heptathlon Pole Vault| Men's 
Aidan Holland (4^th) | 4.05m (13' 3.50'')
 
Heptathlon Shot Put| Men's
Aidan Holland (8^th) | 9.68m (31' 9.25") PR
 
60m Prelims | Women's
Ulanda Lewis (4^th) | 7.47 PR Q
DaLoria Boone (21^st) | 8.10
 
60m Finals | Women's
Ulanda Lewis (1^st) | 7.36 PR
 
60m Prelims | Men's
Rodney Heath Jr. (1^st) | 6.67 Q
Mateo Smith (14^th) | 6.84
Marshall Ellis (15^th) | 6.88
Karo Oghomi (19^th) | 6.98
Devin Walton (23^rd) | 7.16
Gerard Sapena | DNS
 
60m Finals | Men's
Rodney Heath Jr. (2^nd) | 6.64 T-PR
 
60m H Prelims | Women's 
Kayla Watson (2^nd) | 8.58 Q
Nike Praetzel (9^th) | 8.89 PR
Leah Ellis (13^th) | 9.22
 
60m H Finals | Women's 
Kayla Watson (3^rd) | 8.52
 
60m H Prelims | Men's
Urijah Williams (7^th) 8.46 Q
 
60m H Finals | Men's
Urijah Williams (5^th) | 8.27
 
200m Prelims | Men's
Marshall Ellis (15^th) | 21.96
Devin Walton | DNS
 
400m Prelims | Women's 
Faith Tarver (7^th) | 56.55 PR Q
Nariah Parks (18^th) | 58.91
Chanel Honeywell (21^st) | 1:00.87
 
400m Finals | Women's 
Faith Tarver (6^th)| 55.92 PR
 
400m Prelims | Men's
Laeden Tucker (7^th) | 48.95 PR Q
Micah Pernetter (18^th) | 51.45 PR
 
400m Finals | Men's
Laeden Tucker (7^th) | 48.65 PR
 
800m Prelims | Women's 
Victoria Datta (15^th) | 2:20.58
 
800m Prelims | Men's 
Trent Terminie (20^th) | 2:14.57
 
Mile Prelims | Men's 
Logan Bailey (16^th) | 4:47:69
 
3000m | Women's
Rebecca Quebedeaux (41^st) | 11:48.23
Lexa Thompson (42^nd) | 12:10.24
 
3000m | Men's
Hayes Gill | DNF
 
5000m | Men's 
Jacob Paulk | DNS
 
High Jump | Women's
Jiana Stewartburgess (10^th) | 1.62m (5' 3.75'')
 
Long Jump | Women's
DaLoria Boone (7^th) | 5.74m (18' 10.0'') PR
Tia Reder (13^th) | 5.55m (18' 2.50'') PR
Leah Ellis (22^nd) | 5.23m (17' 2.00'')
Pleasant Harris (26^th) | 3.45m (11' 4.00'')
 
Long Jump | Men's 
Mateo Smith (5^th) | 7.34m (24' 1.0'') PR
Javion Canna (12^th) | 6.33m (20' 9.25'')
 
Pole Vault | Men's 
Hunter Clayton | NH
 
Shot Put | Women's
Shania Parkinson (14^th) | 12.14m (39' 10.00'')
Natalie Moten | DNS
 
Shot Put | Men's
Nemoy Cockett (11^th) | 13.42m (44' 0.50'')
 
Triple Jump | Women's
Tia Reder (9^th) | 11.80m (38' 8.75'') PR
 
Triple Jump | Men's
Mateo Smith (9^th) | 14.52m (47' 7.75'') PR
 
Weight Throw | Women's
Elizabeth Sebera (11^th) | 15.80m (51' 10.0'')
Shania Parkinson (15^th) | 14.49m (47' 6.50'')
 
Weight Throw | Men's
Nemoy Cockett (5^th) | 18.78m (61' 7.5'')
 
4x400m | Women's
LA Tech (8^th) | Faith Tarver, Nariah Parks, Chanel Honeywell, Victoria Datta | 3:52.96
 
4x400m | Men's
LA Tech (8^th) | Laeden Tucker, Marshall Ellis, Rodney Heath Jr., Micah Pernetter | 3:23.17
 
Distance Medley | Women's  
LA Tech | Rebecca Quebedeaux, Nariah Parks, Victoria Datta, Lexa Thompson (11^th) | 13:42.20
 
Distance Medley | Men's 
LA Tech | Logan Bailey, Micah Pernetter, Trent Terminie, Hayes Gill (8^th) | 11:29.36