Arkansas State track & field rack up 2023 SBC postseason honors

After sweeping the Sun Belt Conference Outdoor Championships for the second time in school history, the Arkansas State track and field teams raked in a plethora of postseason honors, the league office announced Thursday.

A-State Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Dr. Jim Patchell swept the conference Coach of the Year honors – the third and fourth of the track and field season and 19th and 20th of his career. The Red Wolves have won a combined 26 league crowns under his watch, with the women’s team capturing its league-leading ninth outdoor title and the men completing their first Triple Crown in program history.

Decathlon champion Colby Eddowes was named the Men’s Freshman of the Year after setting the meet and facility records with 7,349 points. Earlier in the season, the Canberra, Australia, native took down the season conference record with 7,543 points.

Pauline Meyer, who was also the women’s High-Point Scorer with 30 points, garnered Women’s Track Performer of the Year honors after taking gold in the 1500 meters, 5000 meters and 3000-meter steeplechase. During her stellar performance in Myrtle Beach, Meyer set meet and facility records in both the 5000 (16:16.24) and steeplechase (10:11.04).

Camryn Newton-Smith earned Women’s Field Performer of the Year accolades after setting meet, facility and conference records in the heptathlon with a total of 5,818 points before earning bronze in the high jump with a clearance of 1.73m (5-8).

Jaybe Shufelberger received Women’s Newcomer of the Year honors after taking silver in the 10,000 meters and finishing fourth in the 5000 meters. The Kansas State transfer led the conference during the season in the 10,000 meters with a time of 34:05.47.

Twenty total athletes earned All-Sun Belt Conference honors, based on athletes’ highest podium finish at the championships. Gold medalists earned first-team honors, while those winning silver and bronze received second and third-team laurels.

A dozen men earned all-league laurels, led by seven first-teamers: Eddowes, Hannes Fahl, Lasse Funck, Will Glass, Bradley Jelmert, Aimar Palma Simo and Myles Thomas. Three Red Wolves landed on the men’s second team: Jacob Pyeatt, Jacob Tracy and Danarrion Ard, while Patryk Baran and Grayson Young took third-team billing.

Eight women received all-conference honors, including Meyer and Newton-Smith on the first team. Rahel Broemmel, Jonae Cook, Elizabeth Martin, Jaybe Shufelberger and Selase Sampram took second-team nods, with Cheyenne Melvin earning a spot on the third team.

A-State will have four athletes competing at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, held June 7-10, in Austin, Texas. Aimar Palma Simo (hammer throw) and Bradley Jelmert (pole vault) are set to compete for the men’s squad, while Meyer (steeplechase) and Camryn Newton-Smith (heptathlon) have qualified for the women.

For the latest on the A-State track and field and cross country programs, follow @AStateTrack on Twitter and @Arkansas_State_Track on Instagram, while also liking the team’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/AStateTrackAndField.

2023 SUN BELT CONFERENCE OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD POSTSEASON HONORS

MEN

High-Point Scorers: Taahir Kelly, Texas State & Dominick Yancy, Texas State

Co-Track Performers of the Year: Kirami Yego, South Alabama & Taahir Kelly, Texas State

Field Performer of the Year: Ali Eren Unlu, ULM

Freshman of the Year: Colby Eddowes, Arkansas State

Newcomer of the Year: Grady Leonard, Texas State

Coach of the Year: Jim Patchell, Arkansas State

WOMEN

High-Point Scorer: Pauline Meyer, Arkansas State

Track Performer of the Year: Pauline Meyer, Arkansas State

Field Performer of the Year: Camryn Newton-Smith, Arkansas State

Freshman of the Year: Elisabet Runarsdottir, Texas State

Newcomer of the Year: Jaybe Shufelberger, Arkansas State

Coach of the Year: Jim Patchell, Arkansas State

2023 SUN BELT CONFERENCE OUTDOOR ALL-CONFERENCE

FIRST TEAM – 9

Women (2)

Pauline Meyer

Camryn Newton-Smith

Men (7)

Colby Eddowes

Hannes Fahl

Lasse Funck

Will Glass

Bradley Jelmert

Aimar Palma Simo

Myles Thomas

SECOND TEAM – 8

Women (5)

Rahel Broemmel

Jonae Cook

Elizabeth Martin

Jaybe Shufelberger

Selase Sampram

Men (3)

Danarrion Ard

Jacob Pyeatt

Jacob Tracy

THIRD TEAM – 3

Women (1)

Cheyenne Melvin

Men (2)

Patryk Baran

Grayson Young

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