The Central Methodist Women’s Track & Field program made history this weekend, claiming the Heart of America Outdoor Conference Championship in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It marks the first outdoor conference title for the women in school history, completing the sweep of both the indoor and outdoor conference championships in 2023.

The Eagles won the team title with 179 total points, followed by Benedictine College (161.5 points) and MidAmerica Nazarene (104 points).

Gizel Clayton won the 100m with a time of 12.04 seconds and a third-place standing in the 200m finals in 25.16 seconds. In addition, Clayton won the title in the 100m hurdles in 13.47 seconds, setting a new school and conference championship meet record. Tre’breh Scott placed second in a time of 13.82 seconds.

Central swept the 200m finals, as Scott won the event in 24.74 seconds, followed by Dayana Montenegro in 24.79, and then Clayton. 

Montenegro claimed the conference title in the 400m in 55.86 seconds, while Baileigh Morris was the runner-up in the 5000m racewalk in a time of 28:49.68.

Kailey Johnson placed third in the 400m hurdles in 1:04.29, while teammate Yanira Paninka was right behind in 1:04.62 for fourth.

The 4x100m relay team of Natalie Garr, Scott, Sakoya Johnson, and Carter Hawkins landed on the podium with a third-place standing in 48.92 seconds. 

In addition, the 4x400m relay of Scott, Montenegro, KJ Johnson, and Sakoya Johnson won the title in a time of 3:55.70. The 4x800m relay team made up of Madeline Wieseman, Paninka, Garr, and Kjirsten Guilford finished as the runner-up in 9:35.49. 

Moving into the field events, Renee Finke won the high jump with a mark of 1.65 meters. Hawkins placed second in the pole vault with a vault of 3.40 meters, while Sarah Johnson was the runner-up in the triple jump at 10.97 meters.

Baylee Beard posted a second-place standing in the shot put with a mark of 13.33 meters. She also finished second in the hammer throw with a throw of 50.56 meters.

The top three finishers in each event are considered 2023 Heart Outdoor Track & Field All-Conference athletes. Fourth, fifth, and sixth-place finishers in each event are considered 2023 Heart Outdoor Track & Field Honorable Mention All-Conference athletes. 

The Eagles have qualified 11 women for the NAIA Outdoor National Championships, set to take place May 24-26 in Marion, Indiana.