By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – It was another strong day for the Tennessee Tech track & field team Thursday, as the Golden Eagles wrapped up competition at the Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships.
The purple and gold placed fifth among the 10 teams competing at the Birmingham CrossPlex, racking up 62 points total points and 40 alone on Thursday. After kicking off Wednesday with a runner-up showing in the long jump, Cayla Johnson took her performance to a whole new level on the second day of action, delivering a stellar display in the pentathlon.
The indoor rookie captured medalist honors in the event, posting a career-best 3,479 points to become the third Golden Eagle ever to win the pentathlon, joining Kehmani Roberts in 2018 and 2019 and Sharnique Leonce in 2017. Winning by more than 100 points overall, Johnson collected a huge 10 points for the Golden Eagle effort, a fourth of the team's total on the day.
Junior Anya Akili also collected points for the purple and gold in the pentathlon, finishing fifth overall with a personal-best total of 3,287 points. Throughout the event, the Tech veteran collected PRs in the 60-meter hurdles, the shot put, and the long jump, scoring four more points for the Golden Eagles.
Another Tech veteran produced at a high level for Tech, with Jalena Curbeam turning in a runner-up showing in the triple jump. She crushed her previous personal-best mark in the event to earn eight more points for the Golden Eagles, leaping to a distance of 11.84 meters (38'10.25"). Madison Cowan also earned a PR in the triple jump, qualifying for the finals with a mark of 11.16 meters (36'7.25").
In the 800-meter run, the purple and gold snagged three more points off a sensational showing from Britnie Dixon. The first-year Tech speedster clocked in with a time of 2:17.25 to finish sixth overall in the event.
A pair of Golden Eagles took home top-five showings in the 3,000-meter run, highlighted by a bronze-medal performance by Helen Pacurariu-Nagy. The indoor freshman scored six points for her squad with a time of 9:53.81.
Right behind her in fourth place, Ruby Wyles continued her strong display in her first OVC Indoor Championship action. After becoming just the second Golden Eagle ever to win the 5,000-meter run on Wednesday, she crossed the finish line with a time of 9:55.99.
Rounding out the scoring for the purple and gold was an impressive effort from Tech's 4x400-meter relay team. Trenia Stephens, Anya Akili, Diamond Rush, and Amara Nwajagu combined to finish fifth overall in the event, scoring four more points with a time of 3:53.23.
The Golden Eagles kick off the outdoor campaign at the Margaret Simmons Invite in Murray, Ky. on Friday, Mar. 25 and Saturday, Mar. 26.
Photos by Alex Boggis, UT Martin Athletics & Michael Wade, OVC
