Chattanooga distance runner Lesley Boyd recorded a personal best in the 5000 meter run Sunday afternoon, earning all-conference honors for the second time this weekend at the 2024 Southern Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships.
Boyd finished second in the 5000 meter run with a PR time of 16:34.98. Leah Boyd also scored for the Mocs in the race, finishing seventh overall with a personal best time of 17:48.48.
“Lesley, again, was marked every step of the race and it was slow for the first kilometer,” Mocs head coach Andy Meyer said.
Boyd went to the front and slowly applied pressure until with 800 meters to go it was her and Furman’s Sierra Bower.
However, Bower had a kick that couldn’t be caught.
“Unfortunately Lesley could not match the closing speed of the Furman girl,” Meyer said. “She was very comfortable in second place.
“Leah [Boyd] hung on the back and measured her effort, picking up runners who had tried staying with the leaders and she closed hard, placing with a PR.”
Andrea Ellis won her heat, placing 13th overall with a PR time 18:17.60 and was named to the SoCon All-Freshman Team. Lola Baker posted a personal record time (18.42.61) and Allie Potter ran her fastest time this season.
“Andrea ran a great race, winning her heat big,” Meyer said. “She was patient and let the race come back to her and accelerated into the last 3K winning with a big PR.
“Lola was impressive, being patient and running a PR as well.”
In the women’s Mile Run, Maddie Wheatcroft finished fifth overall with a season-best time 5:00.54, just seconds off her PR. Kathryn Vradenburgh also scored for UTC placing seventh with a time of 5:08.51. Kennedy Reynolds was named to the All-Freshman Team.
“We got the day started well in the Mile,” Meyer said. “The race opened pretty fast and honest. Maddie [Wheatcroft] led the first chase group and Kathryn led the second. Maddie led her pack throughout the race and Kathryn finished strong in her last 400 to hold off her group.”
Chattanooga’s 4x400 meter relay ran a season best and won its heat, finishing sixth overall.
“In the 4x4 we ran another good race with a season best and winning our heat,” Meyer said. ‘Sarah [Unterholzner] got us started and was able to get Kathryn [Vradenburgh] the baton in second place. Kathryn maintained our position. Ava [McGue] closed the gap to first and Maddie [Wheatcroft] anchoring us made up 20 meters and passed the leader in the homestretch for first.”
Chattanooga finished seventh at the league championships with 37 points. Samford took first place followed by Wofford and Furman.
“Overall, we had a very strong conference meet,” Meyer said. “Many set season or personal best times. We are excited to see how this translates to the outdoor season after a little rest.”
The Mocs open the outdoor season March 22 and 23 at the Lee Invitational in Cleveland, Tenn.