WKU Track and Field competed in the Conference USA indoor championship meet this past weekend, and took home several first-place finishes.

The Toppers took home six event titles, five coming from the men’s team and one from the women’s team. Senior Ventavius Sears was by far the top performer of the weekend for WKU, as he contributed to three of the six titles himself.

“We faced some very good competition this weekend,” head coach Erik Jenkins said in a press release. “This league is loaded with NCAA championship caliber athletes. Both teams fought hard and I am proud of them.”

Senior Ventavius Sears won the men’s long jump, reaching a distance of 7.68 meters. Junior Desmond Mobley finished in third behind him, with a jump of 7.36 meters. Sears also won the men’s triple jump, clearing 15.40 meters. Mobley also competed in the men’s high jump, clearing a height of 1.99 meters and finishing tied for seventh.

Junior Morgan McIntyre contributed to the Toppers’ event wins, as she won the women’s pole vault by clearing 3.86 meters. Finishing behind her was sophomore Getter Lemberg, who tied for ninth at 3.41 meters.

Jonathan Hayden also picked up an event win, finishing first in the men’s 60-meter hurdles with a time of 7.98 seconds. Then senior Emmanuel Dasor tacked on, as he won the 400-meter dash with a time of 46.54 seconds. Sears also competed, finishing fifth with a time of 47.72 seconds.

Rounding out the first-place finishes for WKU were the men’s 4×400-meter team. The team, made up of Dasor, junior Julius Morris, sophomore Maor Seged and Sears, won the event with a time of 3:11.37.

Senior Jenessa Jackson continued her successful season in the weight throw, as she placed second with a throw of 19.69 meters. Jackson also finished fourth in the shot put with a distance of 14.84 meters.

WKU had multiple competitors in the men’s 60-meter dash final. Leading the pack was Morris, who ran a 6.78 and finished in second place. Junior Eli Minor finished fourth with a time of 6.79.

Another event WKU dominated was the men’s 200-meter dash, as they had several runners in the final. Dasor, Morris and Sears finished second, third and fourth respectively.

Senior Lindsey Hinken finished third in the women’s 5,000-meter run with a time of 17:15.34.

Competing in the women’s high jump final was Senior Sandra Akachukwu, who finished fourth with a jump of 1.71 meters.

Seniors Catika Slay and Kaila Smith competed in the women’s pentathlon for WKU. Smith finished fourth, and Slay finished right behind her at fifth. Among the events in the pentathlon, Slay stood out in the long jump, where she took home second place with a 5.55-meter jump. Smith stood out in the 800-meter run, where she finished second with a time of 2:19.96.

Slay went on to finish fifth in the individual women’s long jump, with a jump of 5.69 meters, and Akachukwu finished tied with her.

Next up for the Hilltoppers is the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships on March 10 and 11. After that, preparation for the outdoor season will begin.

Reporter Jeremy Chisenhall can be reached at 859-760-0198 and [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @JSChisenhall.