HICKORY, NC.-- The UVA Wise track and field team concluded its 2025 outdoor season at the South Atlantic Conference Outdoor Championships this week, hosted by Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, North Carolina. Competing among the region's top talent, the Cavaliers saw standout individual performances, highlighted by multiple All-Conference selections and a remarkable haul of school records.
Junior Nia Rogers earned Second Team All-Conference honors in the women's shot put after placing second with a throw of 12.24m (40-02), while Mady Buchanan took home Third Team All-Conference recognition in the women's javelin, finishing third with a mark of 32.97m (108-02). They mark the first SAC All-Conference performers in track & field in program history.
In total, UVA Wise athletes broke an impressive 14 school records during the two-day meet. Caleb Yeary led the charge on the track, blazing to a school record in the men's 100m with a time of 10.40 (+0.5) and also placing fourth in the event. He added a fifth-place finish in the 200m (21.59), capping a strong individual showing.
On the women's side, Madison Sutherland etched her name into the record books in the 60m with a time of 12.60 (+1.1), while Haley Faulkner set a new standard in the 400m, running 1:00.24. Middle distance standout Lydia Slemp posted a record 2:28.73 in the 800m, and Alexsis Porter clocked 18:45.55 in the 5000m.
In distance events, Dorian Almer delivered a school-record time of 37:05.50 in the 10,000m, and Jonah Adams reset the bar in the 1500m with a time of 4:02.26. Adams also anchored the men's 4x400m relay team—alongside Francis Roberts, Nick Deboard, and Chad Douglas—which set a program-best 3:28.07. Francis Roberts also rewrote the record in the 400m with a 49.21 clocking.
In the field, Hunter Blevins (shot put – 14.57m), Bobby Cline (discus – 38.16m; hammer – 48.79m), and Nia Rogers (discus – 36.10m) all posted school-best performances. Raegan Cox matched the high jump record at 1.55m (5-01), and Braelynn Strouth totaled 3692 points in the heptathlon to set another school mark.
The Cavaliers also produced several top-10 finishes across both men's and women's events. Bennett Estremera (8th, high jump), Hunter Garrett (9th, pole vault), and Zach Owens (10th, javelin) added depth in the field, while Avone Noel placed 10th in the decathlon and set a school record with 4063 points.
The women's 4x100m relay team of Sutherland, Destiny Ansley-Cureton, Madison Outland, and Faulkner placed seventh (49.55), while the 4x400m relay squad of Sutherland, Slemp, Kylie Brodt, and Faulkner earned 10th (4:22.13).
UVA Wise wrapped up the meet 12th in the men's team standings (12.5 points) and 10th in the women's (21 points), as powerhouse Wingate University swept both team titles.
UP NEXT
With several key returners and a record-setting year under their belts, the Cavaliers will look to build on this momentum heading into the 2025-26 campaign.
--------------
All South Atlantic Conference
Nia Rogers: 2nd Team All Conference – Women's Shot Put
Mady Buchanan: 3rd Team All-Conference – Women's Javelin
School Records
Caleb Yeary: 100m -10.40 (+0.5)
Francis Roberts: 400m – 49.21
Jonah Adams: 1500m – 4:02.26
Dorian Almer: 10000m – 37:05.50
Francis Roberts, Nick Deboard, Chad Douglas, Jonah Adams: 4x400m – 3:28.07
Hunter Blevins: Shot Put – 14.57m (47-9.75)
Bobby Cline: Discus – 38.16m (125-02); Hammer – 48.79m (160-01)
Avone Noel: Decathlon – 4063
Madison Sutherland: 60m – 12.60 (+1.1)
Haley Faulkner: 400m – 1:00.24
Lydia Slemp: 800m – 2:28.73
Alexsis Porter: 5000m – 18:45.55
Paige Phillips: 100m Hurdles – 16.39 (+1.5)
Madison Sutherland, Lydia Slemp, Kylie Brodt, Haley Faulkner: 4x400m – 4:22.13
Raegan Cox: High Jump – 1.55m (5-01)
Nia Rogers: Discus – 36.10m (118-05)
Braelynn Strouth: Heptathlon – 3692
Top Ten Finishes
Caleb Yeary: 100m (4th) – 10.52 (+2.4); 200m (5th) – 21.59 (0.0)
Bennett Estremera: High Jump (8th) – 1.81m (5-11.25)
Hunter Garrett: Pole Vault (9th) – 3.90m (12-9.5)
Hunter Blevins: Shot Put (8th) – 14.57m (47-9.75)
Bobby Cline: Hammer (7th) – 48.79m (160-01)
Zach Owens: Javelin (10th) – 45.71m (150-00)
Avone Noel: Decathlon (10th) – 4063
Madison Sutherland, Destiny Ansley-Cureton, Madison Outland, Haley Faulkner: 4x100m (7th) – 49.55
Madison Sutherland, Lydia Slemp, Kylie Brodt, Haley Faulkner: 4x400m (10th) – 4:22.13
Raegan Cox: High Jump (9th) – 1.55m (5-01)
Nia Rogers: Shot Put (2nd) – 12.24m (40-02); Discus (6th) – 36.10m (118-05)
Olyvia Fleming: Discus (9th) – 33.36m (109-05)
Mady Buchanan: Javelin (3rd) – 32.97m (108-02)
Braelynn Strouth: Heptathlon (7th) – 3692
Team Scores
Men
1 Wingate 220
2 Lenoir-Rhyne 134
3 Carson-Newman 92
4 Catawba 64.5
5 Anderson (S.C.) 62
6 Limestone 50
7 Emory & Henry 44
8 Mars Hill 40
8 Newberry 40
10 Tusculum 33
11 Lincoln Memorial 13
12 UVA-Wise 12.5
13 Coker 10
Women
1 Wingate 249
2 Lenoir-Rhyne 113
3 Tusculum 82
4 Catawba 79
5 Anderson (S.C.) 73
6 Lincoln Memorial 71
7 Newberry 37
8 Carson-Newman 33
9 Limestone 24
10 UVA-Wise 21
11 Mars Hill 20
12 Coker 12
13 Emory & Henry 4
