LAFAYETTE, La. – Joey Torres was voted the Sun Belt Conference Men’s Most Outstanding Field Performer for the second consecutive season and Latifah Johnson broke her own school hammer throw record for the third time this year to highlight University of South Alabama finishes on the final day of competition from the conference outdoor track and field championships in Lafayette, La.
 
Torres finished third in the hammer throw Sunday on a mark of 57.40m (188-04) after winning the discus throw on Saturday to earn the merit. Johnson’s new USA-record 60.24m (197-08) earned her a runner-up finish and eight individual points, the most by a member of either team on the final day, as the men finished sixth overall and the women, who led the field going into competition Sunday, held on to claim third place – the best outdoor finish for the Lady Jags since a runner-up standing in 2000.
 
The Western Kentucky men won their fifth-consecutive SBC title with 147 total points, ahead of second-place Louisiana-Lafayette (122) and Middle Tennessee (3^rd, 108.). The North Texas and WKU women each surged from behind USA on Sunday, particularly in the running events, to claim first and second, respectively, with point totals of 121 and 117. The Lady Jags finished with 104 points - the highest finish for a USA women's outdoor team since a runner-up finish in 2000.
 
Steven Nobles followed Torres in the men’s hammer, scoring three points after a 53.96m (177-00) effort put him sixth. Bobbie Williamson had a 54.34m (178-03) toss for five points and fourth place in the women’s division.
 
Lacy Barger threw a personal-best 43.10m (141-05) on her final attempt in the women’s javelin to move from sixth to third place and garner all-SBC honors, lead a trio of Lady Jags as Angela McCord (42.68m/140, 5 pts.) placed fourth and Leah Hixon (42.48m/149-04, 4 pts.) finished in fifth in the event.
 
Senior men Glen Odom and Stephen Calogrides each scored for USA in the men’s javelin, with Odom taking fourth on a 62.40m (204-09) toss and Calogrides following at sixth with a 61.33m (201-07) for a combined eight points.
 
Three top-eight finishers in the pole vault on Sunday gave the Jaguar men 8.5 team points. Connor Smith cleared a personal-best height of 4.86m (15-11.25, 4 pts.) to place fifth, followed by William Henley (4.71m/15-05.50, 3 pts.) and freshman Taylor Krause (4.56m/14-11.50, 1.5 pts.), younger brother of fellow Jag Ashton Krause, who later took seventh in the high jump on a season-best (1.91m/6-03.25, 2 pts.) effort.
 
Tori Lawson ran a time of 17:12.61 for third place in the women’s 5,000 meters to earn all-league honors and score six team points and the Ocala, Fla., native claimed five more when she finished fourth in the 1,500 (4:41.03). Melissa McCluskey completed the 200-meter dash in 24.99 seconds for sixth place and three team tallies.
 
Tyler Agee took fourth in the men’s 110-meter hurdles, clocking a personal-best 14.53-second finish. Lindsay Schwartz ran a 13.95 – her best-ever finish – in the women’s 100-meter hurdles to improve her runner-up all-time USA standing in the event.
 
Junior Alex Shields took third and six points in the men’s 800 meters, running a 1:56.45 to lead seventh-place freshman, Justin Housley (1:57.13, 2 pts.). Shields also finished seventh in the 1,500 meters with a personal-best time of 3:55.07. Freshman Derek Westbrook finished eighth in the men’s 5,000 meters for a single team point.
 
Full meet results can be found here.
 
FINAL TEAM STANDINGS

MEN
1. Western Kentucky - 147 pts
2. Louisiana-Lafayette - 122 pts
3. Middle Tennessee - 108 pts
4. Troy - 90.33 pts
5. Arkansas State - 84.83 pts
6. South Alabama - 79.5 pts
7. North Texas - 59 pts
8. Louisiana-Monroe - 50 pts
9. UALR - 48.33 pts
10. Florida International - 27 pts

WOMEN
1. North Texas - 121 pts
2. Western Kentucky - 117 pts
3. South Alabama - 104 pts
4. Arkansas State - 101 pts
5. Florida International - 90 pts
6. Middle Tennessee - 75 pts
7. Louisiana-Lafayette - 70 pts
8. Florida Atlantic - 51 pts
9. Troy - 43 pts
10. Louisiana-Monroe - 30 pts
11. UALR - 14 pts

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).