LYNCHBURG, Va. – Highlighted by a conference championship from Mateo Smith, Louisiana Tech's track and field teams opened the Conference USA Indoor Championships at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex on Friday afternoon.
 
Smith was the second jumper of the event and, on his first attempt, soared 7.38m (24'1.25") to take the lead that he would not relinquish. Smith became the first Bulldog to win an indoor conference championship since Denzel Harper in 2020, who took home the conference championship in the long jump.
 
Johannon Murray and Jiana Stewartburgess put LA Tech on the board for the women with a fifth and sixth-place finishes in the Pentathlon. Murray had a score of 3341, while Stewartburgess finished with a 3321.
 
A'reil Williams and Tia Reder scored the other points for the women on the meet's first day. Williams finished sixth in her first-ever long jump event for the Bulldogs with a jump of 5.72m (18'9"), while Reder leaped 5.68m (18'7.5") to finish eighth.
 
On top of Smith's 10 points from his first-place finish, Cobe Johnson set a personal best of 7.17m (23'8.25") to take fourth in the long jump, giving the Bulldogs 14 points in the event.
 
Aiden Holland and Nemoy Cockett placed seventh in their respective events to add more points for LA Tech. Holland cleared a height of 4.38m (14'4.25") in the pole vault, and Cockett finished with a distance of 18.53m (60'9.5") in the weight throw.
 
Seventeen Bulldog athletes advanced to the finals of their respective events, while 14 athletes set their personal best.
 
UP NEXT
The CUSA Indoor Championships will conclude on Saturday, Jan. 24, starting with the combined events at 9:30 a.m. CT, the field at 11 a.m. CT, and running at 1 p.m. CT.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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LA Tech Athlete Field Events Results
 
Pentathlon | Women
Johannon Murray (5th) | 3341
Jiana Stewartburgess (6th) | 3321 PR
Leah Ellis (9th) | 3123 PR
 
Long Jump | Women
A'reil Williams (6th) | 5.72m (18'9'')
Tia Reder (8th) | 5.68m (18'7.5'')
 
Long Jump | Men
Mateo Smith (1st) | 7.38m (24'1.25'')
Cobe Johnson (5th) | 7.17m (23'8.25'') PR
 
Pole Vault | Men
Aiden Holland (7th) | 4.38m (14'4.25'') PR
 
Weight Throw | Men
Nemoy Cockett (7th) | 18.53m (60'9.5'')

LA Tech Athlete Running Events
 
60mH Prelims | Women's
Tonie-Ann Forbes | 8.17Q
Nike Praetzel | 8.53q PR
 
60mH Prelims | Men's
Urijah Williams | 8.29q
 
400m Prelims | Women's
Faith Tarver | 55.72q PR
Osaretin Usenbor | 55.87q PR
Jamara Patterson | 56.69
Nia Wiley | 57.05 PR
Nariah Parks | 58.46

400m Prelims | Men's
Laeden Tucker | 48.63q
Tim Rummelhagen | 48.70q
Phillip Gray Jr. | 49.23 PR
Cullen Hronek | 49.91 PR
Desmyn McCall | 51.32
 
60m Prelims | Women's
Shatalya Dorsett | 7.42Q PR
Tonie-Ann Forbes | 7.48q
Ulanda Lewis | 7.53q
 
60m Prelims | Men's
Rodney Heath | 6.75q
Julian Forde | 6.76q
Devin Walton | 6.86q
Mateo Smith | 6.90
Karo Oghomi | 6.90
 
800m Prelims | Men's
Evan Taylor | 2:00.33 PR
Micah Pernetter | 2:01.37
 
200m | Women's
Shatalya Dorsett | 24.14q PR
Saran Kouyate | 24.69
Chanel Honeywell | 25.33
 
200m | Men's
Valentino Rudolph | 21.43q
Devin Walton | 21.54q
Rodney Heath Jr. | 21.54q
Marshall Ellis | 21.91
Karo Oghomi | 22.34 PR