WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Lenoir-Rhyne Women's Track and Field Team finished in second place of the 2023 SAC Indoor Championships. 

Three Lenoir-Rhyne women were also recognized for their strong performances over the two-day event. Melody Jones was awarded the track athlete of the meet, while Kennedy Conner received the field athlete of the meet with Alexis Brown winning the freshman of the year title. 

In addition, Kevin Paterson was named the SAC Women's Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year. 

Throughout the course of the regular season, the women have made statement performances in the sprints, and that was no different this weekend from the efforts of Brown and Jones.

Winner of two different short-track events, Brown took first place in the 60-meter (7.25) and 200-meter (24.59) dashes. Jones finished in third place in the two races but took a first-place finish in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.55. 

Jordan Shealey also had a great day on the track with a second-place finish (25.28) in the 200-meter dash and a third-place finish (57.95) in the 400-meter run. 

Conner recorded a 3189 to win the women's pentathlon. The senior from Franklin, N.C., was a winner in three of the five events: the 60-meter dash, high jump and long jump. Also, of the top 10 finishers of the event, four of them represented Lenoir-Rhyne. 

In the field, a few members of the women's squad put together some dazzling displays including Holly Kone who won the triple jump with her 11.63-meter leap. 

Pearl Ballard had a great showing in the pole vault with a 3.23-meter jump, which was good enough for a second-place finish. The Bears had plenty of success in that event with Lenoir-Rhyne taking five of the top 10 spots.  

On top of having the best high jump score in the pentathlon, Conner also recorded a third-place finish in the individual high jump competition with a 1.62-meter clear.

The Lenoir-Rhyne Women Track and Field Team will have next weekend off before some participants travel to Virginia Beach, Va. for the NCAA Indoor Championships, which begin on Friday, March 10.