MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Louisiana Tech set a Conference USA Outdoor Championships record on the final day of the three-day meet at the Dean A. Hayes Track & Soccer Stadium on the campus of Middle Tennessee on Sunday. The Bulldogs picked up eight podium finishes to end in seventh for both the men and women.
 
After picking up individual medals earlier, Jamara Patterson, Osaretin Joy Usenbor and Tyhra Charles teamed up with Nia Wiley to set the CUSA Outdoor Championships record in the 4x400 at 3:33.60. The Bulldogs held a four-second advantage after the first half of the race and never looked back, winning by over five seconds. The mark ranks the quartet fifth all-time on the program's performance list.
 
The first podium finish of the day went to freshman Zachary Drake. On his final attempt in the finals, Drake threw 50.22m (197-7) to move into bronze medal positioning in his first conference meet.
 
Patterson and Usenbor entered the meet with the top two times in the conference for the women's 400m, and they did not disappoint. Usenbor edged out Patterson for gold with the third-fastest time in program history and a new PR at 52.67. Patterson wasn't far behind at 52.92 for the seventh fastest time in the record book.
 
Sabastian Bradley-Reed improved his personal best but came up just short of the 400m crown. The junior finished in second with the second top mark on the LA Tech all-time performance list at 45.88.
 
The Bulldogs had to wait a few events before their next podium, but Laeden Tucker picked up another medal in the 400m hurdles. The 2024 CUSA Outdoor silver medalist earned a bronze this year with a 52.36.
 
On the next event, Charles picked up her first medal in her inaugural collegiate season. The freshman clocked a 23.61 to claim the bronze.
 
Tech made it a sweep in the 4x400 when Tim Rummelhagen, Bradley-Reed, Cullen Hronek and Valentino Rudolph held off a late push by Kennesaw State. The Bulldogs crossed with the second-fastest time in program history at 3:05.77, just ahead of the Owls' 3:05.95.

QUOTEBALES
Head Coach Brian Johnson
 
"This team fought hard this weekend, and I am proud of the way we fought.  We are getting better year by year and now looking on how we compete at regionals in a few weeks." 
 
UP NEXT
Louisiana Tech will await the announcement on Tuesday of the athletes who have qualified for the NCAA East Regional. This year, the regional will be held in Jacksonville, Florida, hosted by North Florida at the Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium starting May 28.
 
Other Bulldog Marks
Women Javelin
Maria Ferreiro Pena – 42.65m (139-11) 5^th
Annie Jones – 42.25m (138-7) 8^th
Men's Javelin
Tucker McCoy – 57.59m (188-11) 6^th PR
William Estes – 54.33m (179-3) 8^th PR
Women's Discus
Kaitlyn Washington – 43.54m (142-10) 8^th
Women's Triple Jump
Tia Reder – 12.25m (40-2.25) 8^th
Men's Triple Jump
Demarko Lawler Jr. – 15.28m (50-1.75) 4^th PR
Cobe Johnson – 14.03m (46-0.5) 14^th
Men's 4x100
Walton, Rashid, Bradley-Reed, Rudolph – DQ
Women's 100m Hurdles
Kimeone McLeod – DNF
Men's 110m Hurdles
Tibet Sancak – 14.41 6^th
Women's 400m
Nia Wiley – 55.73 8^th

SUPPORT LA TECH ATHLETICS
Championships require championship resources.  Fans can make a direct impact on the success of LA Tech Athletics through LTAC, Aillet Society, T-Club, and Young Alumni program as well as the Bulldog Community Outreach which is the NIL collective that supports Bulldog and Lady Techster student-athletes.  Visit BuildTheLegacy.com today.  
 
BARK LOUDER
Our mission is to engage, develop, and advance the Louisiana Tech Athletics brand.  You can do that by spending time consuming our content and by investing your talents.  By barking louder with your time and talent, you can affect progress and brand advancement in a meaningful way.  Visit LATechSports.com/BarkLouder today.  You bark.  We bark.  Louder together.

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).