Three Islanders Claim All-Southland Honors

CORPUS CHRISTI – Three members of the Texas A&M - Corpus Christi track and field teams were named to the Southland Conference Outdoor Track & Field All-Conference teams, the league announced today. Junior Ebony Collins collected first-team (200m) and second-team honors (100m), while freshman Kemar Mowatt was tabbed third team in the 400-meter hurdles, and sophomore Kerissa Wiley earned a spot on the third team in the high jump.

"I think that's really great that these student-athletes had great performances and stood out at the conference meet," Director of Track and Field Shawn Flanagan said. "Ebony and Kemar broke school records and lifetime bests and that's all you can ask for. Kerissa also had a really solid performance. Ebony and Kemar are likely to move onto the regional and hopefully nationals. It's a sign of how well the direction of the program is going."

Collins highlighted the women's team with two impressive performances at the championships. The San Antonio native earned first place in the 200-meter dash and a second-place finish in the 100-meter dash on the final day of competition. She set a school record in the 100 meters with a time of 11.59 to help the women's team earn an eighth-place finish, their best finish since 2012.

She clocked a first-place finish in the 200 meters with a time of 23.99 to became the first Islanders' woman to earn a Southland title in a sprinting event. She also became the first Islander to place in the top two in the 100 meters in program history. Collins claims her first two career all-conference honors.

Also impacting the women's team was Wiley who delivered a third-place finish in the high jump for the Islanders by clearing 1.70 meters on her first attempt at that height. The Elmaton, Texas narrowly missed clearing her personal-best 1.74 on her three attempts, but still earned eight points for her team with the performance. It marks her second third-team honor this season and her third of her career. She claimed the honor this season in the high jump during the indoor season, and also during the outdoor season of her freshman year.

Mowatt collects his first all-conference honor after posting a school-record and personal-best time of 51.13 to place third in the 400-meter hurdles. He shattered his previous best of 51.50 set the day before in the preliminary round.

Collins and Mowatt will find out next week if they will be competing in the NCAA West Regional in Austin, Texas, on May 28-30.

For the latest information, follow the teams on Twitter and Instagram (@IslandersTFXC) and Facebook (Texas A&M Corpus Christi Track & Field/Cross Country). Fans can also receive updates on the team by downloading the Islanders Front Row App at GoIslanders.com/frontrow.

Men's Individual Award Winners

Male Athlete of the Year: Sam Stabler, Lamar

Male Outstanding Field Events: Emmanuel Williams, Northwestern State

Male Outstanding Running Events: Sam Stabler, Lamar

Male Newcomer of the Year: Alex Young, Southeastern Louisiana

Male Freshman of the Year: Daniel Spickes, Central Arkansas

Leon Johnson Men's Coach of the Year: Phil Olson, Stephen F. Austin

Men's Outdoor Track and Field All-Conference Teams

*4x100-Meter Relay:   

1. Sam Houston State – (Dedrick Brooks, Justin Jenkins, Rodney Jones, Christopher Jefferson)

2. Abilene Christian – (Devan Brown, Johnathan Farqarshon, Osei Allyene-Forte, Deandre McBride)

3. UIW – (Jamarkese Williams, Jordan Epps, Randalle Williams-Diaz, Chris DeWitt)

*4x400-Meter Relay:   

1. Stephen F. Austin – (Will Gibson, Teddy Hawkins, Josh Taylor, My'Lik Kerley)

2. Northwestern State – (Keenan Jackson, Gabe White, Amir James, Anthony Taylor)

3. Central Arkansas – (Jeremiah Watson, Kelton Ray, Trevon Boyd, Chance Tanner)

Women's Individual Award Winners

Female Athlete of the Year: Demi Payne, Stephen F. Austin

Female Outstanding Field Events: Demi Payne, Stephen F. Austin

Female Outstanding Running Events: Simone Johnson, McNeese State

Female Newcomer of the Year: Demi Payne, Stephen F. Austin

Female Freshman of the Year: Evelyn Chavez, Lamar

Women's Coach of the Year: Phil Olson, Stephen F. Austin

Women's Outdoor Track and Field All-Conference Teams

*4x100-Meter Relay:

1. McNeese State – (Danielle Epps, Lauren Thompson, Simone Johnson, Maegan Moore)

2. Sam Houston State – (Danielle Demas, Elizabeth Ene, Jordan Grady, Paula Smith)

3. Southeastern Louisiana – (Daijah Washington, Kaelyn Smith, Shanetria Thomas, Nakiya Smith)

*4x400-Meter Relay:

1. Stephen F. Austin – (Tiffany Williams, Cierra Jefferson, Stephanie White, DeJernal Jordan)

2. Sam Houston State – (Camry Grigsby, Ruth Amaku, Brianna McCall, Jordan Grady)

3. Houston Baptist – (Ericka Rodriguez, Kiersten Santana, Gbemi Orundami, Ashley Johnson)