FLORENCE, SC – The Francis Marion University tandem of senior
Rileigh Lacy and sophomore
Aukeyonna Sims earned U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) all-region honors for their performances during the indoor season on Wednesday afternoon (Mar. 11).
The top-five individuals in each event from each region earned the all-region distinction, in addition to each of the members of the region's top-three relay teams.
The Patriots competed in their inaugural season of indoor track & field during the winter. FMU achieved an impressive sixth-place finish at the Conference Carolinas Indoor Championships after being picked 15th in the preseason poll.
Lacy, a native of Darlington, S.C., collected all-region honors in the pole vault after boasting the fifth-best mark in the Southeast after clearing 3.40 meters. She secured the mark at the Mondo College Invitational on Jan. 13, the season-opening meet for the Patriots. At the indoor championships, Lacy captured the individual crown in the pole vault with a mark of 3.32 meters to earn the gold medal. Lacy earns USTFCCCA honors for the second time in her career after previously receiving the distinction in the 2025 outdoor pole vault.
Sims, a product of Darlington High School, garnered all-region status in the high jump with the second-best mark in the Southeast of 1.68 meters. She was one of only two athletes in the region to hit an NCAA Provisional mark in the event this season. Sims achieved the mark at the Tryon Banked Invitational at the end of January and placed among the top-four in the high jump in all four indoor events. She delivered a stellar performance at the league indoor championships after collecting two medals and 16 points toward the team standings for Francis Marion. Sims placed third overall in the long jump before winning the high jump event. She earns USTFCCCA all-region honors for the first time in her career.
Francis Marion continues its outdoor season this weekend on Mar. 13-14 at the Myrtle Beach Collegiate Challenge at the Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium.
