WINSTON-SALEM, NC – Sophomore Rileigh Lacy captured the individual crown in the pole vault and sophomore Aukeyonna Sims placed third in the long jump, as Francis Marion University competed at Day 1 of the Conference Carolinas Indoor Track & Field Championships on Sunday (Feb. 22).

In the team standings, FMU women's track & field is tied for sixth overall after tallying 16 points with six events completed on Day 1. On the men's side, the Patriots will look to score points toward the team standings on Monday with 12 events remaining.

Francis Marion will return to the JDL Fast Track tomorrow, Monday, Feb. 23, for Day 2 of the conference championship, starting at 10:30 a.m. 

A Darlington, S.C. native, Lacy secured her second-ever Conference Carolinas title in the women's pole vault after clearing 3.32 meters. It is her first indoor championship in the event after winning the 2025 outdoor pole vault last spring. Lacy earns first-team all-conference honors after securing first place.

Sims, a product of Darlington High School, secured her second-ever medal at the league championship after reaching the podium with a third-place finish in the women's long jump. She broke her FMU record in the event following a leap of 5.72 meters on her fifth attempt. Additionally, the mark reached the NCAA Provisional standard and garnered third-team all-conference honors.

Sophomore Davin Staley qualified for the final of the men's 400 meters after placing eighth in the prelims with a personal best time of 49.47. Fellow sophomore Alex Lance also competed in the event and finished 12th overall after crossing the line with a personal best time of 49.59. Staley will compete on Monday (Feb. 23) in the finals of the 400 meters at 12:30 p.m.
 

CONFERENCE CAROLINAS CHAMPIONSHIP (DAY 1)
Women's 4000m DMR
11	Francis Marion (Roberts, Davis, Edmundson, Steen)	14:53.57
Men's 4000m DMR
	Francis Marion (Simpson, Vereen, Rigoni, Cedeno)	DQ
Women's 60mH (prelims)
13	Jordyn Perry	10.32 *
Men's 400m (prelims)
8	Davin Staley	49.47q *
12	Alex Lance	49.59 *
Men's 200m (prelims)
10	Ryan Hunter	22.02
Women's Long Jump
3	Aukeyonna Sims +6	5.72m #$*
Women's Pole Vault
1	Rileigh Lacy (CHAMPION) +10	3.32m
Men's Long Jump
14	Jaysson Howard	6.35m
* - Personal Best $ - FMU School Record # - NCAA II Provisional Qualifying mark