HIGH POINT, N.C. - Athanas Kioko was named Most Valuable Athlete as Campbell track & field wrapped up competition at the 2021 Big South Championships.
The Campbell men finished runner-up as a team for the fourth-straight season while the women's team finished third overall in the team standings. High Point claimed both men's and women's team titles.
Kioko was named the Big South Runner of the Year after becoming just the third individual in conference history to win the 1500m, 5000m and 10000m races. Kioko becomes the sixth-straight Campbell runner to win the honor dating back to 2015.
In addition to being named to the All-Academic team, Hunter Gilbert was was selected as the Big South Scholar-Athlete of the Year, becoming the first Campbell outdoor track & field athlete on the men's side to receive the award in program history. Lize Botha was selected to the All-Academic team on the women's side.
ON THE TRACK
Kioko won the 1500m clocking in a time of 3:51.28 and later set a meet and facility record in the 5000m with a time of 13:54.07. Travis Koekemoer followed Kioko in the 5000m, taking second with a time of 14:18.12.
Dorcus Ewoi separated from the pack on the final lap of the women's 1500m to claim first overall in the event with a time of 4:30.47. Ewoi also took second in the 800m, posting a school record time of 2:08.57 and later took third in the 5000m behind a time of 16:50.08.
On the sprints side, Dominique Alexander and Samuel Adams finished first and second in the men's 100m with times of 10.53 and 10.63 respectively. Alexander later took the 200m individual title behind a time of 20.99 seconds.
Ryan Jackson took the women's 200m title behind a time of 24.11 seconds. The Campbell women's 4x400m relay team finished third overall in 3:52.98.
IN THE FIELD
C.J. McBride won the men's high jump after clearing 2.00m (6' 6.75") while teammate Andre Douglas finished fourth with a personal best of 1.95m (6' 4.75").
Douglas took third overall in the triple jump, clearing a mark of 15.26m (50' 0.75") while McBride followed in fourth with a personal best 15.14m (49' 8.25").
Josh Kudrick took home silver in the men's javelin behind a personal best mark of 61.41m (201' 5").
Hailey Huston Myles took second overall in the women's triple jump with a 12.25m (40' 2.25") mark.
2021 Big South Awards
Men's Most Valuable Athlete - Athanas Kioko, Campbell (30 points)
Men's Outstanding Performer - El Hocine Bouchrak, High Point
Men's Freshman of the Year - Chris Van Niekerk, High Point (26 points)
Men's Coach of the Year - Mike Esposito, High Point
Men's Scholar-Athlete of the Year - Hunter Gilbert, Campbell
Women's Most Valuable Athlete - Zoe Geis, High Point (28 points accumulated)
Women's Outstanding Performer - Sydney Horn, High Point
Women's Co-Freshman of the Year (3) - Lexi Crompton, High Point; Jewel Ash, Charleston Southern; Amanda Obijiaku, Charleston Southern (23 points)
Women's Coach of the Year - Mike Esposito, High Point
Women's Scholar-Athlete of the Year - Taylor Barnes, Charleston Southern
FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
MEN
1 - High Point 265
2 - Campbell 165
3 - Charleston Southern 125
4 - UNC Asheville 95
5 - USC Upstate 65
6 - Gardner-Webb 53
7 - Winthrop 34
WOMEN
1 - High Point 279.5
2 - Charleston Southern 137
3 - Campbell 129
4 - USC Upstate 76
5 - UNC Asheville 73
6 - Radford 57.5
7 - Gardner-Webb 49
8 - Winthrop 14
