MONTEVALLO, Ala. — Dillan Perry (shot put) and Silus Kipkoech (5,000-meter run) each picked up event titles and the UNC Pembroke men’s track & field team held off Nova Southeastern to capture its first Peach Belt Conference title in program history on Saturday afternoon.
Although briefly surrendering their lead after the second event of the day, the UNCP women’s track & field team came away with a second place showing – its best finish in the 5-year history of the PBC Championships. The Braves finished 55 points behind PBC affiliate member Nova Southeastern, but 4-1/2 points ahead of any of the other five traditional members of the league.
It is the 12th conference championship in the history of the men’s program. The Braves won 13 consecutive men’s track & field titles from 1977 to 1987 as members of the Carolinas Conference.
Head coach Peter Ormsby picked up PBC Men’s Track & Field Coach of the Year laurels for the second time in three years, while Kipkoech was decorated with both PBC Men’s Track Athlete of the Year and PBC Men’s Freshman Track Athlete of the Year recognition. Jeanna Cube was decorated with PBC Women’s Field Athlete of the Year honors, while Kelsi Sheldon was named the PBC’s Women’s Freshman Field Athlete of the Year.
Michael Zimmerman and Catherine George were named to the league’s All-Sportsmanship Team.
Eight more student-athletes picked up all-conference recognition on the final day of competition. The Black & Gold combined to win eight event titles over the weekend and log 26 all-PBC honors.
