Austin Peay Flies Past the Competition in Jacksonville to Seal a Historic ASUN Final

Photo / APSU Athletics

JACKSONVILLE, FL - At Hodges Stadium, the Govs captured their best finish at an ASUN Track & Field Championship, placing third as a team with 104 points—an accomplishment built, event by event, until the final day became a celebration. When the night finally settled, Austin Peay posted a stellar performance, fueled by five podium performances and a relay victory.

The headline came in the 4x400-meter relay. Mia McGee, Taylin Segree, Alexis Arnett, and Mariah Mitchem ran the final stretch in perfect rhythm, clocking a 3:37.60. It was only a hundredth of a second from the program record and delivered the Govs’ second gold medal of the championship.

Earlier, the momentum started in the field. China Giaimo set a personal best in the discus. Emmani Roberts earned bronze in the triple jump with a personal-best 12.09, surpassing her own previous mark by a single centimeter. Amani Sharif then followed with a personal-best throw in the javelin, while Madelyn Kocik and Denim Goddard also contributed points and PRs that showed the depth of the group.

On the track, the Govs kept stacking results. Seven Pettus, Isis Banks, Mitchem, and Mallory Hodge won silver in the 4x100-meter relay with a record-breaking 44.85. Hallie Mattingly posted a personal best in the 1,500, nearly eight seconds faster than her earlier month PR, then Molly Brown and Roberts scored in the 100-meter hurdles.

Segree, McGee, and Mitchem reached the 400-meter dash, and Hodge finished fourth in the 100-meter dash which added to the great showing by the Govs. Laure Marie Kidukula earned silver in the 800 with a 2:10.11, and Segree added more points along the way. Hodge returned again for bronze in the 200.

By the meet’s end, Austin Peay collected seven medals—two gold, two silver, and three bronze—and left Jacksonville with 104 points, their highest total ever as members of the ASUN.