Bulldogs Pick Up Six Podiums on Final Day of CUSA Indoor Championships

LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Louisiana Tech track and field teams finished with their highest conference finish in eight years at the Conference USA Indoor Championships at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex on Saturday.

The men finished fifth with 70.5 points, their highest finish since 2016 (4th) and most points since 2014 (77.5). The women totaled 53 points to close out the meet in sixth, their highest finish and points since 2015 (5th, 54).

The Bulldogs closed the meet with six more podiums and another CUSA Champion, the first time since 2018 with multiple champions.

The school record holder in the high jump was looking to add more accolades during her freshman campaign. Williams finished with a height of 1.72m (5'7.5''), and she claimed bronze in her first CUSA meet.

Another freshman having a sensational year is Tonie-Ann Forbes. Breaking the school record in the 60mH in her last event, Forbes also claimed a bronze medal with a time of 8.25.

Rodney Heath Jr. and Julian Forde have been at the top of the conference rankings all season for the 60m, and they did not disappoint. Heath Jr. and Forde had a photo finish, with Heath Jr. taking silver at 6.716 and Forde only four-thousandths of a second at 6.720 to claim bronze.

The 4x400 teams finished the meet with the final two podiums. Jamara Patterson, Faith Tarver, Osaretin Usenbor, and Saran Kouyate teamed up to run a season-best 3:41.24 to win silver.

Laeden Tucker, Tim Rummelhagen, Phillip Gray Jr., and Valentino Rudolph left their mark with the second-fastest time in program history with 3:13.08. They claimed the first 4x400 title since 2014.

UP NEXT
Louisiana Tech will turn their focus on outdoor season that starts with the Jim Mize Relays on March 15-16 at the Jim Mize Track and Field Complex.

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LA Tech Athlete Field Events Results

High Jump | Women's
A'reil Williams (3rd) | 1.72m (5'7.5'')
Jiana Stewartburgess (10th) | 1.59m (5'2.5'')

Triple Jump | Women's
Tia Reder (7th) | 11.59m (38'0.25'')
Leah Ellis (9th) | 11.17m (36'7.75'')

Triple Jump | Men's
Cobe Johnson (3rd) | 14.38 (57'2'')

LA Tech Athlete Running Events

60mH Finals | Women's
Tonie-Ann Forbes (3rd) | 8.25
Nike Praetzel (6th) | 8.54 PR

60mH Finals | Men's
Urijah Williams (8th) | 8.32

400m Finals | Women's
Faith Tarver (4th) | 54.47 PR
Osaretin Usenbor (7th) | 56.10 PR

400m Finals | Men's
Tim Rummelhagem (4th) | 48.03
Laeden Tucker (5th) | 48.13 PR

60m Finals | Women's
Shatalya Dorsett (5th) | 7.46 PR
Ulanda Lewis (7th) | 7.48
Tonie-Ann Forbes (8th) | 7.53

60m Finals | Men's
Rodney Heath Jr. (2nd) | 6.716
Julian Forde (3rd) | 6.720
Devin Walton (8th) | 6.97

200m Finals | Women's
Shatalya Dorsett (6th) | 24.28

200m Finals | Men's
Valentino Rudolph (5th) | 21.18
Devin Walton (7th) | 21.96
Rodney Heath Jr. (8th) | 22.57

4x400 | Women's
Patterson, Tarver, Usenbor, Kouyate (2nd) | 3:41.24 SB

4x400 | Men's
Tucker, Rummelhagen, Gray Jr., Rudolph (1st) | 3:13.08 2nd fastest in school history

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Players Mentioned

Leah Ellis: Multis/Jumps; 5' 11"; Sophomore

Julian Forde: Sprints; 5' 8"; Junior

Rodney Heath Jr.: Sprints; 5' 11"; Senior

Ulanda Lewis: Sprints; 5' 6"; Sophomore

Nike Praetzel: Sprints/ Hurdles; 5' 7"; Junior

Tia Reder: Jumps; 5' 6"; Sophomore

Tim Rummelhagen: Sprints/Hurdles; 6' 1"; Junior

Jiana Stewartburgess: Multis/Jumps; 5' 7"; Sophomore

Faith Tarver: Sprints; 5' 7"; Junior

Laeden Tucker: Sprints; 6' 3"; Junior

Players Mentioned

Leah Ellis
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: Multis/Jumps

Julian Forde
: 5' 8"; Junior
: Sprints

Rodney Heath Jr.
: 5' 11"; Senior
: Sprints

Ulanda Lewis
: 5' 6"; Sophomore
: Sprints

Nike Praetzel
: 5' 7"; Junior
: Sprints/ Hurdles

Tia Reder
: 5' 6"; Sophomore
: Jumps

Tim Rummelhagen
: 6' 1"; Junior
: Sprints/Hurdles

Jiana Stewartburgess
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: Multis/Jumps

Faith Tarver
: 5' 7"; Junior
: Sprints

Laeden Tucker
: 6' 3"; Junior
: Sprints