WINSTON-SALEM, NC – Sophomore Aukeyonna Sims secured her first-ever league title in the high jump at the 2026 Conference Carolinas Indoor Track & Field Championships on Monday (Feb. 23), as Francis Marion University claimed sixth in the women's team standings while the men's program placed 14th at JDL Fast Track.

The Patriots competed at the indoor championships for the first time in program history and placed sixth overall on the women's side with 31 points in three events. The Francis Marion men's program finished 14th in the team standings with 10.5 points after scoring in three events.

FMU will be idle for nearly two weeks before beginning the outdoor campaign at the UNCW Seahawk Invitational Meet on March 6-7.

The University of Mount Olive captured the Men's and Women's Conference Carolinas Championships this year.

Sims, a product of Darlington High School, secured a first-place finish in the high jump after clearing 1.64 meters on her final attempt to capture the gold medal. It marked her first-ever individual championship and second-ever medal at the Conference Carolinas Championships. Sims earned All-Conference Carolinas First-Team honors and claimed a combined 16 points toward the team standings at the two-day event.

In the women's shot put, sophomore Jazmine McDonald-Craft earned fourth place after setting a new FMU program record with a toss of 12.51 meters, shattering her previous mark of 11.50 meters. She just missed out on a podium spot but still recorded five points to the team's overall score.

Sophomore Rashawn Byrd registered a fourth-place finish in the men's triple jump following a leap of 13.87 meters on his second attempt. His finish totaled five points for the team standings for FMU.

Freshman Justin Miller made his debut at the league meet and finished in a tie for fourth overall in the men's high jump after clearing a new personal-best of 1.90 meters, which claimed 3.5 points to the men's team score.

In the men's 400-meter final, sophomore Davin Staley placed seventh after crossing the line in 49.62 seconds, which totaled two points to the team standings.

   

CONFERENCE CAROLINAS CHAMPIONSHIP (DAY 2)
Men's 400m (final)
7	Davin Staley	49.62
Women's 4x400m Relay
11	Francis Marion	4:32.45
Men's 4x400m Relay
	Francis Marion	DQ
Women's Shot Put
4	Jazmine McDonald-Craft	12.51m $*
15	Skyy Ruben	9.88m *
Men's High Jump
T4	Justin Miller	1.90m *
Men's Triple Jump
4	Rashawn Byrd	13.87m
10	Cameron Glover	13.26m
	Justin Miller	NM
Men's Shot Put
11	Jordan Davis	12.70m *
Women's High Jump
1	Aukeyonna Sims	1.64m
T10	Katelynn Roberts	1.46m *
* - Personal Best $ - FMU School Record # - NCAA II Provisional Qualifying mark