Columbia Races to Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championship

women's outdoor track & field champion
April 20, 2025

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – It was a tight race to the finish for the championship, but Columbia scored just enough points to edge Montreat for the 2025 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Women's Outdoor Track & Field championship.

The three-day event was held at Tipton Stadium in Johnson City, Tenn.

Columbia collected 141 points, with Montreat garnering 137 for second. Brenau (112) placed third, while Milligan (107) and Tennessee Wesleyan (91) round out the top five. Making up the rest of the field are Truett McConnell (76), Columbia International (69), Reinhardt (62), SCAD Atlanta (33), Union (28), Bryan (15), Pikeville (15), and Bluefield (1).

This is Columbia's second women's outdoor title, having previously won the championship in 2022.

Samantha DeGrace of Tennessee Wesleyan was named the MVP of the meet. She scored points on the track and in the field. Degrace won the 100 hurdles, was fifth in the 200, and helped the Tennessee Wesleyan 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams to second- and fourth-place finishes, respectively. She finished second in the high jump and fifth in the long jump.

Also earning individual honors were Ellen-Mary Kearney of Milligan as the Track Athlete of the Year, Grace Jones of Truett McConnell as the Field Athlete of the Year, Heather Murphy as the Newcomer of the Year, Madison Kitson of Brenau as the Freshman of the Year, and the Columbia coaching staff as the Staff of the Year.

There were two women's records set on the final day. They were:

 

  • 4x400 relay – Montreat (Adrianna Gullette, Yessenia Castellanos, Emily Standifer, Dylan Garcia) (3:57.13)
  • Discus – Marquia White, Reinhardt (42.76 meters)

The other individual champions include:

  • 5000 – Heather Murphy, Montreat (16:48.49)
  • 800 – Ellen-Mary Kearney, Milligan (2:11.10)
  • 200 – Latrice Brown, Columbia (24.59)
  • 3000 steeplechase – Brooke Wiebe, Montreat (11:48.05)
  • Shot put – Kloey Pickens, Columbia International (12.74 meters)
  • Triple jump – Mackenzie Pringle, Columbia (11.81 meters)
  • Heptathlon – Emma Barnes, Montreat (4089 points)

 For a complete look at all of the results, click here.