NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana won its third straight women’s team title and fifth in six years Thursday in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Tad Gormley Stadium.
The Gold Nuggets scored 268 points to break the GCAC women’s meet record for the second consecutive year. Senior Maliya Vaughan accounted for 37 1/2 points and was named the meet’s most valuable women’s track performer.
The Gold Rush’s 198 points are the most ever by a GCAC men’s runner-up. Freshman Shane Buchanan won four individual distance races — the 3,000-meter steeplechase, 1,500 and 5,000 Thursday — and scored 42 1/2 points to earn most valuable men’s track performer. Edward Waters scored 268 points to win its fifth consecutive men’s team title.
Yhann Plummer, hired in August to lead both XULA teams, was chosen women’s Coach of the Year.
XULA’s second-day women’s champions were Vaughan in the 1,500 and 3,000 steeplechases, Shalysa Wray in the 100 and 400, Taylor Price in the 5,000, Calah Williams in the discus and the 3,200 relay team of Ky’Reon McBride, Brianna Pace, Vaughan, and Price. XULA’s Thursday men’s champions were Edward Angel in the high jump, Thomas Donald in the shot put, Khalil Gallien in the 110 hurdles, Kadeem Burton in the 800 and the 3,200 relay team of Jordan Ashmore, Francis Patterson, Buchanan, and Burton.
XULA won six GCAC team championships in 2018-19, its most since winning eight GCAC/unaffiliated group championships in 2013-14.
Courtesy: XULA Athletics
