Freshman Sprinters Lead SMC Women in AAC Indoor Championships Debut

The Spartanburg Methodist College women's track and field team made its first appearance at the Appalachian Athletic Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships on Thursday.

The Pioneers were led by freshman sprinters Carson Byrd and De'Nasia Robinson, who each secured a spot in Friday's finals in the 60-meter dash. Byrd clocked the fourth-fastest qualifying time at 7.91, while Robinson posted the eighth-fastest time at 8.09. Just missing the cut was fellow freshman Makhia Williams, who finished 11th with a time of 8.18.

Sophomore Da'Sani Kinlaw narrowly missed reaching the finals in the 60-meter hurdles, recording the 10th-fastest time at 10.08.

The youth movement continued as freshman Eva Sapp placed 12th in the 400 meters with a time of 1:03.60, and freshman Mckensley Parks finished 12th in the weight throw with a school-record toss of 35-0.25 (10.67 meters).

The two-day meet concludes Friday at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, N.C. The first track event will be the women's 60-meter hurdles at 10 a.m., followed by field events — women's shot put, pole vault, and long jump — beginning at 11 a.m.